Pet sitter usually come to your home and take care of your pet. Depending on the agreement, feeding, cleaning, playing, … belong to his/her areas of responsibility. For dogs, walking or the care at the pet sitter’s home is often offered. Unfortunately, this occupation is a free trade, therefore no training must be made. Everyone may call himself a sitter. It is therefore all the more important that you check exactly who you entrust your darling to.
Most important is that you have a good gut feeling and the chemistry between you and the TiersitterIn, but above all between your animal and the TiersitterIn tunes.
If you have to work long hours, go on holiday or spontaneously want to do something, there is often a need. Because in many cases your pet cannot or does not want to stay alone. Especially dogs should never stay alone longer than 6 hours and only if you have trained them. Most pets don’t like being without a human connection, so it is important to have a sitter you trust.
The pet sitter should:
- How long has he/she been offering the services? How much experience has been gained so far?
- Which animals are looked after by him/her? (Most of them specialize in one or two species, it is rather unlikely that someone is familiar with all animal species. Unless there has been a lot of training or experience elsewhere. You should clarify this beforehand)
- Is your animal seen as an individual and responding to special needs?
- Are additional services offered such as giving medication, fetching mail, watering flowers, …?
- Does he/she have professional liability insurance? Accidents can always happen, so it is important to be insured.
Notes for pet sitter:
- Does your animal have any peculiarities? (Are you afraid of other animals or people? Does it not like to be stroked in some places?
- Are there fixed rules for the animal? (May not be on the sofa, on this place nobody may disturb it, it may not jump up, …)
- Does it have any intolerances or allergies? (This is important both for nutrition and for a possible visit to the vet).
- Clarify how the caregiver should act in the event of an accident (immediately to the vet, call you, …)
- What rituals is your animal used to? (always after the walk it gets food, at 14h it’s midday rest, in the morning it’s playtime, …)
- With dogs, tell him/her what the commands are so that there are no misunderstandings.
- When is the pet fed and how much? How many treats may be given?
It’s best to share your pet profile with the sitter. That way he always has all the info with him.
Make in any case an acquaintance date. After all, you don’t just entrust the caregiver with your apartment key, but with your beloved animal. And of course his well-being should be in the foreground!
Please let us know if you get a sitter via the Map who does not meet the above requirements! Because with us animal love and non-violent working is the first priority.