Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
When going on holiday, it is important that you have peace of mind that your pet is well looked after. Depending on your dog’s temperament, there are a few options to consider: friends and family, traditional boarding in kennels, home boarding, or a pet sitter. Choosing a pet sitter is an ideal option for multi-pet households or pets that are elderly or anxious.
Below are some tips and advice to help you find the best pet sitter so your pet can enjoy a staycation in their home.
Please don’t leave it too late before choosing a pet sitter.
I cannot stress this enough—don’t leave it too late to book a pet sitter. As soon as you know you are going away and have the dates fixed, it is important that you make arrangements for your dog or cat. Home boarders and pet sitters get booked quickly due to the limited number of pets they can give “personal” attention to.
Remember that doing your research thoroughly the first time you go away will save time and stress in the future. There is a good chance that you will use the information again and again, especially if you and your dog or cat are happy with it.
Please research when choosing a pet sitter.
Leaving your cat or dog behind is one of the hardest decisions to make when going on holiday, whether you leave them with friends and family, a kennel/cattery, a home border, or have a pet sitter come and stay at your house. You need to know they are professional, trustworthy, and experienced with looking after pets.
Therefore, you must do your research and ask them plenty of questions the same way you would when looking for a dog walker to help put your mind at rest. Knowing your pet is safe will enable you to relax and enjoy your holiday.
Check their ID tag and microchip.
Making sure your pet has an ID tag is essential, as should the worst happen, and they run off, the first thing most people will look for is an ID tag. Whilst you are away, you may consider changing the ID tag on your dog’s collar to that of whoever is looking after them. After all, if you are in Australia and the dog is found, you would not want a call on your mobile at 3 am, which would be worrying and expensive. It is much easier for the person to contact your pet sitter directly.
The details of the microchip can be left as they are, but please make sure these are up to date so that, in the worst-case scenario, the vet or dog warden can contact you—even if you are abroad.
Holiday care for dogs in your own home – pet sitters.
More and more people are opting for holiday care in their homes, allowing your pet to remain in a familiar environment with a professional pet sitter. Like dog walking, this is an unregulated industry, so it is important that once you have done your initial research, you make further checks.
Insurance.
Ask your potential pet sitter if they have suitable insurance covering them for a range of possible incidents such as public liability, accidents, injuries, and key loss and ask to see a copy of the policy.
DBS.
As you will be letting a stranger into your home, you must check to see if they have a current DBS (Derek Chambers has an Enhanced DBS via the Scouts). A DBS is an official check that will reveal any criminal record they may have, including previous convictions. If it flags up any issues, then walk away from them.
When choosing a pet sitter, check references and reviews.
Ask any potential pet sitter/walker if you can contact any previous clients for references. I would suggest that you ask for two references.
In addition to references, it is worth checking Google and Facebook for any recommendations they may have (sometimes, if you Google the name that left the reference, you can find an email to contact).
Questions.
As with a dog walker, ask your pet sitter plenty of questions to put your mind at risk, such as what they would do in an emergency, how long they will be gone from the house at a time, whether they will allow your dog to sleep on the bed with them (assuming your pet usually sleeps on the bed), etc.
Are they suitable?
It is important to ensure that your pet sitter is suitable to look after your dog, cat, rabbit, chicken, or whatever pet you may have, comfortable with your pet, and knowledgeable. After all, someone who loves cats may be scared or uncomfortable looking after dogs or have a phobia of snakes (erm, I don’t know who that is).
Price.
It is important to remember that the cheapest pet sitter may not necessarily be the right pet sitter. It is important to choose a pet sitter based on their training, merits, references, how well they understand your pet’s needs, and, more importantly, if your pet likes them – after all, this will be like a mini staycation for him.
What does your pet think?
Once you have satisfied that the pet sitter you are considering is trustworthy and understands your pet, it is essential to ensure your pet likes them. After all, they will be spending a lot of time together. They may not be the right match if he seems shy or nervous about them.
I hope this article about choosing a pet sitter will help you decide on the best pet sitter for you, and you may wish to check out either our cat sitting or pet sitting services along with our FAQs
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