Is a Dog Sitting Service Safe? Taking a Vacation without Pet Worries

Let’s face it, you can’t be with your pooch 24/7, especially when your job requires you to work long hours or fly interstate. While dogs are supposed to “guard” the house while you’re out, they also need dog sitting especially when they’re very young, or when you’re leaving them for more than 12 hours. Now you can ask a neighbor or a relative to do the dog sitting for you. However, most dog owners find professional dog sitting services much more assuring.

Who does dog sitting professionally?

If you’re wondering where you can find professionals to watch over your dog while you’re gone you can simply ask someone from your vet’s clinic and you’ll get all the details you need. Most of the time, your vet’s clinic assistant can do the dog sitting for you for a price, of course. This will, of course, depend on the services you’ll be asking from your dog sitter.

Usually, regular walking, feeding, and grooming services cost very little. However, if your pooch is undergoing medication or if s/he is still on the potty training stages, you might be asked to pay a little extra. Make sure, though, that your dog sitter is someone you can trust inside your home. If you can get recommendations from neighbors or friends before employing the services of a dog sitter, do so for your personal assurance. 

You can also look into dog sitting services within your pet owner’s community, if you belong to one. Dog sitting is very important when you’re unable to attend to your pet personally because you need to go out of town. This beats having your pet relocated, which could cause them emotional turmoil if they’re not used to moving around much.

Things to leave to your dog sitter

Once you’ve chosen your dog sitter, you should make sure than s/he arrives in your home before you leave for the airport. This will give you time enough to leave phone numbers which s/he may need in case of emergencies. Make sure that your dog sitter can easily contact you and/or your vet by printing out a list of numbers and placing it on the fridge. If you need to post notes about your pooch’s eating and walking schedules do so.

Remember, you’re hiring a dog sitter to lessen the “changes” in your pooch’s environment. It’s alright to be meticulous about these things when your dog’s welfare is at hand. If you feel like you’re asking a little extra from the dog sitter, you can make up for it by tipping them when you get back, or bringing them a special token from your trip.   

Training

As we’ve said practically anyone can watch over your pet when you go out of town, and you can even ask a friend or a relative to do it for you. However, if your pet needs constant medical attention, you will need the services of a professional. Dog trainers are also highly efficient dog sitters. You can ask the animal shelter if they could recommend any good dog sitters or dog trainers to watch over your pooch while you’re out of town. Make sure that you research about their training or sitting methods, though, before you leave them with your pets. You wouldn’t want someone who’s forceful especially if you’ve been spoiling your pooch from day one.