Part 2: Dog sitters do more than just put food in a bowl

May 20, 5:26 PMSacramento Dogs ExaminerAmy Young

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So, you’ve done your research and now you have a list of some qualified pet sitters (See “Tips for finding a dog sitter”). You’ve decided to interview a few of them and see how they interact with your dog. Prior to the interview, it’s important for you to take a few moments to sit down and make sure that you’ve decided what duties you expect the pet sitter to perform while you’re away. You should be up front about this during the interview and make sure that the potential pet sitter understands what’s involved and is willing and able to follow your instructions.

Most pet sitters expect that their main duty will be to make sure that your dog is fed every day and has access to clean water. If your dog requires medications or has other special needs, that should be made clear during the interview. If your dog is difficult to pill or is especially finicky about taking his/her medications, be sure to share your tricks for getting the job done with the pet sitter. Any other special needs that are unique to your dog should be discussed as well. Most importantly, you should discuss whom the pet sitter should contact in the event of a veterinary emergency.

Aside from taking care of your dog, the pet sitter’s main job is to keep your pet’s routine as normal as possible. You should decide on the type and amount of exercise that you want your dog to have in your absence. If your dog stays indoors during the day you may want the pet sitter to walk him/her more often than if the dog stays outside for most of the day. The amount of exercise will also partly depend on whether the pet sitter will be staying overnight at your house or just dropping by to care for your dog. Having the pet sitter live at your house while you are away offers many benefits, from providing your dog with a companion for longer periods of time than if they were just dropping in to ensuring that your house does not appear vacant while you are away.

In cases where the pet sitter will be staying at your house, and maybe even if they are just stopping by, you will probably want him or her to perform additional house care duties. This can be just about anything from taking out the trash to getting the mail to watering the plants. Most pet sitters are accustomed to being asked to take care of these sorts of chores, but make sure to mention them during the interview. If you have other pets, be sure that the pet sitter knows their feeding schedules and is aware of any other required care. In the event that you have several pets and some don’t get along or are particularly ornery in certain situations, such as feeding time, be sure to alert the pet sitter to these “quirks”.

Once you’ve selected and met with your pet sitter, but before you go away on your trip, be sure to write down a list of the duties that were discussed during the interview. Don’t assume that the pet sitter will remember every little detail that was mentioned, especially if there are multiple animals. It’s always advisable to leave food amounts and any other specific instructions in writing. This document should also include your dog’s veterinarian’s contact information, your travel itinerary and emergency numbers. If you are going to be unavailable by phone for certain parts of your trip, be sure to leave the number of someone that the pet sitter can contact in the event of an emergency. Lastly, make sure to leave a separate document that gives the pet sitter permission to make medical decisions in your absence if your dog needs emergency veterinary care and states that you will cover the costs upon your return.

It’s natural to be a little nervous about how things are going at home while you’re away, especially if it’s the first time that you’ve used a particular pet sitter’s services. So, feel free to contact the pet sitter and check in, but don’t call them every day or several times a day during your trip. If you’ve interviewed a reputable pet sitter and left them detailed instructions for your dog’s care, feel confident that you can go on your trip and return to find a happy, healthy dog who enjoyed spending time with his or her new friend but is glad to have you home.