How To Choose The Dog Sitter For Your Dog
It is clear that you cannot always take your dog with you. Sometimes, leaving him alone at home can be an option. However, if it isn’t, you could opt for a dog daycare. If this option does not convince you, you can always find a dog sitter. In this article, we will give you some tips on how to choose a dog sitter for your dog.
When choosing a dog sitter for your dog, you need to take into account not only your own needs, but those of your best friend as well. It’s not just about walking your dog, feeding, drinking, cleaning and preparing it. Your dog needs all of this, but he experiences it in a very special way.
In addition to these things, your dog also needs to feel safe with the person taking care of him, to give him all that affection he doesn’t get from you when you’re not around. Don’t forget that, like humans, dogs are afraid of the unknown: they fear uncertainty. That’s why they need more than attention: they need to be loved. Let’s see together how to choose the dog sitter for your dog.
How to choose a dog sitter for your dog
When you adopt a dog, you take on a great responsibility. Adopting a pet means acquiring a full-time commitment. Therefore, when you cannot fulfill your obligations towards your dog, for whatever reason, you need to find someone who is qualified and reliable who can do what you cannot.
A first step in choosing the ideal dog sitter for your dog could be to consult your vet. The vet can definitely give you the right contacts or tell you where to ask. This is especially important if your dog has some kind of specific need due to age or a disease or physical problem.
So, let’s see what characteristics a good dog sitter should have. In any case, do not forget that although a person is highly recommended, it is always advisable to talk to them and have a first contact before taking them.
The qualities that a good dog sitter must have
Next, we present the qualities that a good dog sitter should have. It is good to evaluate them when hiring a keeper for your dog.
- Flexibility : the dog sitter should provide a flexible service suited to your needs. This is especially important if you don’t have a fixed schedule or if it may be subject to frequent changes. Plus, if the dog sitter you hire has a flexible schedule, you can easily take care of other family, business or personal responsibilities.
- Calm down : Everyone who lives with a dog knows that things don’t always go as hoped. A good quality in a dog sitter is that he knows how to stay calm even in the most complex situations (even if he doesn’t always understand it himself). If the dog sitter responds calmly, the dog will not react with anxiety.
- Sensitivity : A good dog sitter recognizes the needs of the animal he is taking care of and satisfies them correctly.
- Reliability : the dog sitter to take care of your dog must not only inspire trust, but must also be able to demonstrate it. Ask for their references, check them out and investigate that person.
- Experience : Always hire an experienced dog sitter, especially if your dog has any special needs.
- Accountability : It is essential that the person hired is accountable. This feature includes punctuality, compliance with orders and not engaging in risky behavior of any kind.
- Interest : You will notice that a person is interested in their work by the way they respond to what you say, if they take notes, if they ask questions, if they raise suggestions and if they provide solutions to problems.
Create a bond
All of the above is of little use if the dog sitter does not bond with your dog, so the importance of interviewing the dog sitter with the dog is paramount. That way, you can see if that person can really take care of your best friend when you’re not around.
Observing the dog sitter with your dog is the best way to check if there is connection, experience and if the person you want to leave him with is capable of doing a good job.
