You love your dog like any other member of your family. To you, your dog is not an animal, but a small child that just happens to be covered with fur. Leaving your pet behind while you go on vacation is a thought that fills you with anxiety. Don’t let it.
Whether you are spending a single night out of town or an entire month out of the country, there is a pet sitting service out there for your treasured canine. Forbes magazine reports that the pet care industry is booming. People who were forced to rely on impersonal boarding kennels in the past now have a variety of pet sitting services to choose from.
According to CNN, there are ways to make sure that your pet has a good time while you’re on vacation. These include finding not only finding a great pet sitter, but asking the right questions. Here’s how to vet any pet sitter that you are considering.
The Questions That Need Answered
1. Do You Have Insurance?
This is the first question that you should ask of anyone you are thinking of letting care for your pet inside of your home. Insurance is a layer of protection that your pet should not be without. Policies held by pet sitters typically cover any accidents involving your dog that are caused by negligent or willful behavior on the part of the sitter. Keep in mind that accidents that are caused by behavior that is not negligent or willful are not covered.
2. Are You Bonded?
While insurance covers your pet, bonds protect your property. Should something come up missing or damaged at the hands of your pet sitter, you will be covered. Think of this as a type of property insurance that gives you peace of mind while you are away.
3. Do You Have References?
We talked with Blue Chip Pet Care of Nashville about this topic, and they said, “Any person that you are going to trust with your dog must be able to provide you with personal and professional references. Be wary of a person or company that refuses to provide names of clients.” Keep in mind that it may take a day or two for the company to get permission from clients to share their contact information, but no company should refuse to give you the names of satisfied customers.
4. Can You Deal with Difficult Dogs?
Every dog has a quirk or two. Perhaps your dog is on medication but is tough to pill. Maybe your dog is a lover in the house and a terror on a leash. A good pet sitter will have a trick or two up there sleeve for dealing with dog’s idiosyncrasies. If you know how your dog will challenge the pet sitter, ask specific questions. At the very least, the pet sitter should take your suggestions and tips on board when learning how to get along with your dog.
5. Are You First Aid and CPR Certified?
You don’t care if your pet sitter knows how to save a human’s life, you care that they know how to save your dog’s life. Many professional pet sitting companies require that their employees and independent contractors become certified in pet first aid and CPR. If a pet sitter tells you that they are certified, ask to see their credentials.
6. Are You Flexible?
You may be surprised at the number of pet sitters who will only come to your house two or three times a day. Ask any potential pet sitters how flexible they are with their scheduling. Perhaps you want a pet sitter to run over if there is a thunderstorm. Maybe your dog only likes to walk very early in the morning. You may want someone to both pet and house sit. Be sure that the pet sitters you are considering are able to stick to the schedule you desire.
While you can ask any question you like of a potential pet sitter, those listed above should be on your list. Pay attention to the sitter’s answers but, more importantly, pay attention to your gut and the reaction of your pet. At the end of the day, the best answers don’t necessarily make the best pet sitter for your canine companion.
