Hiring a Pet Sitter for the First Time for a Big Trip? Here's How to Be Prepared!

Planning a big trip or fun vacation can be exciting, but when you have furry loved ones like dogs or cats waiting at home, it can also cause concern or worry.

Hiring a pet sitter for the first time is a big step towards ensuring your pet's well-being while you're away. It's natural to have questions and uncertainties, but with the right preparation, you can set yourself and your pet up for a successful experience. In this article, we'll cover some essential tips to help you feel confident and prepared when hiring a pet sitter for your upcoming trip.

Research:

When researching pet sitter options in your area, look for reputable companies with positive reviews and satisfied customers. Testimonies from others who have used that company are a great way to gain insight. Ask friends, family, or neighbors for recommendations, and search online for local pet sitting services. Take the time to talk with companies that look like a potential fit for you to learn more and understand the details of what their care for your pets would look like.

Pet Sitting Insurance:

Don’t forget to ask about insurance, and whether that is provided or included in the cost. Having a pet sitter without insurance is very risky when they are caring for your pets.

Always Schedule a Meet & Greet:

Once you've narrowed down your options, scheduling a meet and greet with potential pet sitters is the best way to get a better feel for who the person is, and most importantly, see how your dog or pets interact with that potential sitter.

Pay attention to how they interact with your pets and whether they seem genuinely interested and caring. Trust your instincts and choose someone who you feel comfortable and confident leaving your pets with.

Is your dog slow to warm up to strangers? At Pure In-Home Pet Sitting, we recommend doing a trial walk with you and the sitter during the Meet & Greet if you feel that will help your dog warm up quicker. Treats, and interaction time in the home with you and the sitter also helps your dog feel more comfortable around the new person.

Provide Clear Instructions:

It is important to provide clear and detailed instructions to the pet sitter for caring for your pet. Include information about feeding schedules, medication, exercise routines, and any special needs or preferences your pet has. It’s helpful to also share any nuances to your dog or pet’s personality, to help ensure the sitter is able to best care for your pet.

Make sure to also leave contact information for your veterinarian in case of emergencies. If you have a backup emergency contact, such as a friend or neighbor, that is always a good idea to have. It is always better to be over prepared for any potential situation, especially when you are away from home.

Stay Connected:

Great communication is essential when it comes to hiring a quality pet sitting company or sitter. Ask the pet sitting company upfront how they manage communications and learn what to expect from the sitter. A top-quality pet sitting company should provide you daily updates on how your pets are doing, be easily accessible to talk with via phone or text and ideally, you should receive photos of your pets each day as well. This ongoing communication can help alleviate any worries and ensure everything is going smoothly. Having a pet sitter that makes it easy and enjoyable to communicate with goes a long way to ensuring your pet care experience goes smoothly.

Be Prepared for “what if” situations:

What if you get sick and need to cancel your trip? Or your flight home gets delayed? What if your pet sitter gets sick?

Discussing and understanding upfront how situations like these are handled will help make sure you are prepared ahead of time. One of the key benefits of a pet sitting company is having multiple professional pet sitters within their team, to help with last minute coverage needs or changes to a schedule, should someone get sick, or travel dates change.

Summary:

Hiring a pet sitter for the first time can feel like a big step, but with the right research, asking thorough questions and prepare ahead of time, you can set yourself and your pet up for a successful and enjoyable experience. Use these helpful tips to ensure your dog or pets receive the best possible care, allowing you to enjoy your trip with peace of mind!