Critical Things To Be Aware Of When Choosing A Pet Sitter
With so many pets lost at the hands of sitters, we put together a critical checklist of what every pet owner absolutely needs to have covered prior to choosing a pet sitter.
*** Should be applied to board and train and fosterers as well.***
CHOOSING A PET SITTER
• Insured and Licensed
• Vetted: background, experience, multiple references
• Meet and greet with sitter and their pets
• Check their yard: minimum 6-6.5 foot fence, no openings, locked gates, double check all entry points
• Bring your pet’s crate to sitter’s
• Educate sitter on pet behaviors, needs, quirks
• Dog should always be on slip lead or leash unless in home with exit points locked securely
• Never leave a dog unsupervised-new environments can change behaviors quickly
• Invest in properly fitted 1” wide flat collar (two fingers between collar and neck)
• If pet has a training e-collar make sure sitter properly trained to use
• Have ID tags with owner contact info
• Invest in air tags, GPS collar (keep charged daily)
• Register chip and keep contact info up to date
• Have sitter come to your home to pet sit
• Speak to sitter about who is coming and going from the home including pets. Even if your pet has never been a flight risk that can change in a heartbeat.
• Consider pet cams, outdoor security system
• Make sure sitter has all owner contact info and emergency contacts if you are not available
• Sitter must contact owners ASAP if pet goes missing. Note time, direction heading at main cross streets. Time is crucial!
• Discontinue use of e-collar (this will stress the dog-push into danger/traffic or the pet will run for miles to escape the punishment)
• Dogs can run up to 30 miles/day when in fight/flight survival mode!