Find the Dog Services You Need
As pet lovers, we all can benefit dog services such as dog sitters every now and then. Whether it be for travel, long work days or an illness, a professional pet sitter can provide peace of mind. This allows our beloved pets to stay in their familiar home environment. This is a stress-free alternative to boarding. But hiring a pet sitter for our furry family members is a serious process, and care must be taken before providing unsupervised access to our pets and our homes. Here are a few tips to finding the right dog services.
The Basics of Finding Dog Services
When hiring a pet sitter seeking referrals from friends, neighbors, your veterinarian or the local pet store is a good starting point. You can also take some time to look online at candidates as there are many sites devoted to dog services. Once you have some good candidates, it’s time to start the interview.  
The Interview Process for Dog Services
Ask your prospective sitter what they like about pet sitting and inquire about experience in specifics. Here are a few good questions to ask:
- How many pets have they watched at one time and how did they deal with that?
- What has been their greatest challenge?
- How would they handle an emergency? Do they know canine CPR? First Aid?
- How often will they be coming to the home and how long will they stay with your pet?
- Are they experienced and comfortable administering medications?
- Do they have a valid driver’s license?
- Why do they consider themselves the best candidate for the job?
Other Factors You Need to Explore Before Hiring
Inquire about references. It’s important that a potential pet sitter provide references, and good ones. Check them out thoroughly. Ask for proof of bonding, professional liability insurance and/or National Association of Professional Pet Sitters Certification. Finally, observe how this person interacts with your pet, are they nurturing? Do they speak to your pet? Are they affectionate?  Once you\’ve found a pet sitter that is a good fit, invite them to the home before you leave to bond with your pets while you are there. Be clear about your needs and expectations and make their job easier by preparing everything needed in advance. Finally, good pet sitters are priceless; once you\’ve found one, hold on to them! On the flip side, if you find a sitter that is only good on paper but does not work out, do not be afraid to let them go and start again. There are many dog services out there and you will be able to find the right fit for your pets.
