7 Tips To Choose The Best Sitter For Your Dog
You can’t always take your dog with you. Sometimes leaving it alone at home can be an option. If this is not feasible, you can opt for a daycare for dogs. And if this option does not convince you, you can always look for a sitter for your dog.
When choosing a sitter for your dog, you should take into account not only your needs, but also those of your partner. It is not just about a caretaker taking your dog for a walk, feeding him, giving him water, cleaning him and grooming him. Your dog needs all of that, but he experiences it in a very particular way.
In addition to the above, your dog also needs to feel safe with the person who takes care of him, who gives him all that affection that he does not receive when you are not there. Do not forget that, like humans, dogs are afraid of the unknown: they fear uncertainty. That is why your friend needs much more than care, that they be loving and affectionate.
How to choose the best sitter for your dog
When you adopt a dog, you take on a great responsibility. When you adopt a pet, you make a commitment that you cannot avoid. Therefore, when you cannot fulfill your obligations towards your dog, for whatever reason, you have to look for someone qualified and trustworthy who can do what you cannot.
A first step in choosing the ideal sitter for your dog might be to consult your vet. The vet will surely be able to give you references or direct you where to ask. This is especially important if your dog has some kind of specific need due to age and / or some illness or physical problem.
Next, we are going to see what characteristics a good dog sitter should have. In any case, do not forget that, despite the fact that a person is highly recommended, it is always advisable to speak with them and have a first contact before hiring them.
Qualities that a good dog sitter should have
Here are the qualities that a good dog sitter should have. Value them when you hire a sitter for your dog.
Flexibility : it is good to have a flexible service that adapts to your needs. This is especially important if you do not have a fixed schedule or if it can be subject to incidents. In addition, if the dog sitter you hire has a flexible schedule, you can easily attend to other family, work or personal responsibilities.
Calm down : everyone who lives with a dog knows that things do not always go as well as desired with them. A good quality in a dog sitter is that he knows how to stay calm even in the most complex situations (even if you don’t always do it yourself). If the handler responds calmly, it will not cause the dog to respond with anxiety.
Sensitivity – A good dog sitter recognizes the needs of the pet he cares for and responds to them appropriately.
Reliability : the caregiver you hire to care for your dog must not only inspire trust, but must be able to demonstrate it. Ask for references, verify them, and do your research on that person.
Experience : always hire an experienced sitter, especially if your dog has some kind of special need.
Responsibility : it is essential that the person you hire is responsible. This characteristic includes that it is punctual, that it complies with the orders that you make and that it does not carry out risky behaviors of any kind.
With interest: you will notice that a person is interested in their work and in what you indicate if they take notes, if they ask questions, if they raise ideas and if they provide solutions.
Connection
All of the above is of little use if the sitter does not connect with your dog, hence the importance of interviewing the sitter together with your dog. In this way, you can see if that person can really take care of your canine companion when you are away.
Observing the caregiver with your dog is the best way to check if there is connection, the experience and the good work of the person you want to leave him with.
