Know
If you are a pet parent and are planning to leave your pup with a sitter or you are considering becoming a pet sitter, we are glad you’ve arrived here. This blog is designed to facilitate a smooth experience for everyone involved (the pups and the humans!).
For Pet Parents
Are you thinking about hiring a pet sitter? Why a pet sitter? Acutely aware of the stress that can accompany travelling away from your dog, a pet sitter will allow you to feel better about your pup being comfortable in his routine and environment. Your pup will be less stressed because the pet sitter will provide one-on-one attention and help you maintain your dog’s routine, and help keep your home secure.
- How to select the right pet sitter
- Request Recommendations
Ask around – family, friends or your veterinarian. There are a few best websites to find pet sitters locally, which are suited to finding local and trusted pet sitters. Each sitter has reviews, and you can specify preferred services like overnight care or needs for medication administration.
- Consider experience and reviews.
Make sure the sitter has experience with dogs, especially if your dog has special needs. Read reviews and look for certifications. Provide a local police officer with your selected pet sitter’s name as assurance and ask that the officer provide feedback for you.
- Meet in advance.
Always schedule a meet-and-greet, giving your dog time to interact with the sitter before finalising anything. This is a great way to judge their connection while ensuring the sitter understands your expectations.
- Staying Connected
You can stay connected with your sitter by asking for updates, videos and pictures. When you can see your dog happy and well taken care of, you can relax, knowing that everything is well. Communication replacements can be a fast text or a picture of your dog on its walk; they are simple ways to relieve any potential stress.
- Getting Ready for the Pet Sitter
- Stockther supplies
Leave enough food, toys, medications, treats, and cleaning materials for the length of the stay.
- Make a detailed routine.
Dogs thrive on routine, outline feeding time, bedtime habits and walk times, giving the sitter as much help as possible to keep things in some dimension of normalcy.
- Leave a detailed leave behind.
Ensure that you provide your sitter has all the necessary information to succeed.
- House Rules – Where they can’t go, what furniture they can get on, and any bedtime activities.
- Emergency Contacts – You must provide the vet, back-ups, and emergency contact details.
- Social Preferences – How they engage with people and animals.
- Behavioural Notes – Let your pet sitter know what your pet’s triggers, fears, and calming techniques are.
When it comes to Pet Sitting
Pet sitting is more than simply feeding and walking a dog; it is about finding a friend in the daily routine of the dog, to help them feel safe, and to provide companionship and love in the absence of their pet parent. If you want to be a pet sitter, but don’t know where to start, check out Doggy Nomads and connect with a pet parent in search of a sitter.
- Establish Trust and Routine
Enthusiastically take on the responsibility of caring for a dog, and give it time to feel safe with you, but also just to provide them with a positive experience while they are away from home. Building trust can also take time, so do not be discouraged if it seems to be taking longer than you expected. Follow these guidelines.
- Take your time
Allow the dog to approach you; you should never rush or overwhelm the dog on the first day; working at the dog’s pace is always best. When you do speak to the dog, use a soft tone and do not make sudden movements, as this may scare them. Use treats very sparingly. If the pet parent has approved treats, use them very conservatively; the treats are probably new, and the dog may not have been treated with them administratively before, which also puts them at risk of having an upset stomach or allergic reaction.
- Help the dog keep the routine as it is at home.
Everyone has a routine, whether they are dogs or any other species. Dogs feel safer if they can keep their routine, and when you follow the pet parents’ instructions, they are usually consistent with the food and feeding routines, play routines, and walking routines. Keeping their routine will help them feel safer and reduce stress for everyone.
- Reinforce good behaviour.
To get your relationship started on a very positive note, use verbal praise, and if you have been approved to use treats, use them to reward good behaviour. This is called positive reinforcement. The more good behaviour reinforcement you provide, the stronger you two will bond. You are trying to get the dog to feel comfortable with you, so the more positive experiences, the better.
- Keep the pet parent in the loop.
Keep the pet parent informed throughout the day; updates on the dog’s well-being can be helped by sharing photos, videos, and short messages throughout the day. The updates are also a great way to let the pet parent know that their dog is in good care, and it will also help foster trust in your ability to provide quality care for their dog and home.
- Getting Ready to Pet Sit
- Arrange a meet and greet.
Meet and greets are necessary to make sure the dog, pet parents, and sitter are the right fit for each other. A meet and greet helps you observe the dog’s personality and see how they react to new people, while learning about their routines and excitations from the pet parents. This stage is a great way to build trust, so everything is set up for a great, positive and stress-free pet-sitting experience.
- Collect vital information
Before getting started, ask questions about:
- What are the house rules?
- What is the dog’s schedule, or daily routine?
- Whom should you contact when there is an emergency?
- Are there specific allergies, behaviour quirks or medical conditions that you need to know?
If the pet parent hasn’t provided one, make sure they fill out a pet sitter leave-behind so you can
- Tour the home
Make sure you know where to locate:
- Cleaning supplies for accidents
- Food/s and treats
- Leashes and waste bags
Otherwise, is the pet coming to stay with you instead? You will want to get all their necessary food, medication, toys, etc. and take a few minutes to research that your property is secure and safe for your new guest.
- Closing Out the Pet Sitting Experience
As you end your time with the dog, it is important to leave a great impression not only on the dog but on their pet parent as well.
- Provide the Pet Parent with an update.
Provide the pet parent with a summary of your time with their dog when they are back with them. This will provide reassurance to the pet owner and document that you provided thoughtful care for their dog.
- Leave it tidy and organised.
If you stayed in the pet parent’s home, tidy up each of the areas you have used and leave the dog’s space neat and back to where you found it. Wash any used bowls, properly dispose of any waste, and put each toy back where it belongs.
- Give the dog a happy farewell.
Saying goodbye can sometimes be bittersweet, but it is possible to make the farewell a happy event for the dog!
