Question about Pet Sitters - Page 1

My dog is Sch. 11 9 years old and do not want to use boarding kennels when I go out of town, i have always had problems with them.  I have found some people that advertise that they pet sit in their home.  That would be ideal for me since I am renting and I don't think I should have someone staying here to watch  him if it isn't my home.  What should I do to make sure nothing happens to my dog, like him getting stolen or something?  Are there papers that should be signed, of course i should ask for references, but I have never used a pet sitter so I don' t know how it works.  Do they have to be bonded?  What if they are not?           Thank you

It's almost as bad as trying to find a sitter for kids! Well, I have always hated boarding so finally did look into a pet sitter. First thing I did was go to Angieslist.com and see what ratings pet sitters have. Angieslist is a user input clearinghouse of services in your area. People who have actually had interaction with the businesses give reviews.

Then I met the sitter.  I'm sneaky and had my fifteen year old go out and write down the licsence plate number of the car while the sitter was here talkinging.  I interviewed two and on the second one I felt very comfortable with her.  She gave me references and I actually did call them but anyone could have a friend answer the phone and give a bogus reference. In that, I'm not really impressed with references overall.

I've been really happy with mine. For three dogs it works out to about ten bucks a day more than a kennel would. But for that ten bucks I get someone checking my house three times a day and my dogs stay in an environment where they aren't exposed to all that goes along with a kennel enviornment.

Mine did have a contract of what I should expect. I also would not use one that isn't bonded and insured. Just as a precaution.

Hope it helps,

Dawgs

http://www.petsit.com/

The last time I boarded my dogs at the vet, one of them died.   Okay, she was 14 years old, but she never boarded well, except in the one instance where the couple who ran the kennel made her part of their 'family'.  It is possible the stress of being boarded pushed her over the edge. I still feel badly about it. Never again, if I can help it!

Since then, I've been able to rely on friends and neighbours. I am very fortunate in that my next door neighbour owns a GSD< and he and his family are more than willing to pop next door to feed and exercise the dogs a couple of times a day.

I did have a guy who used to run a boarding kennel sit for me one time. He gave my cat access to my bedroom closet, and the bathroom after me specifically telling him not to, as the cat would pee in both these spots. (And yup, I had to clean both spots once I got home!) He tracked muddy footprints all over the house, did not wipe either his own feet or the dog's (one dog at that time.) The capper was that he LOST MY KEY!! Poor Ranger was inside more than 24 hours without a chance to relieve himself, and managed to keep from soiling the house! (Gawd, I should give him a medal!) 

I arrived home 20 minutes before the locksmith. Luckily, he didn't charge me for the visit!

I got the key back through the War Amps key return program, so I didn't have to change my locks. Hey, the dogs are home inside when I'm not, so not much to worry about when it comes to break-ins!

So, experience with dogs doesn't  necessarily mean they're the rignt one for the job! 

 Hello,

I own a boarding kennel, so of course, I have a different take on this. IF you know a friend who you trust to come in and care for your dog, it might be a good idea. But otherwise, I think you make a mistake. Each year I have people who come here and tell me how they had problems with pet sitters. Some never came, several lost dogs, and the time spent in most cases is just enough time to let the dog out to pee and feed it. 

You are FAR better off to find a quality kennel. Yes, they can be tough to find, but there are some that are really good. For example, I have NEVER sent a dog home ill, ever. The dogs go home healthy and happy. They get time outside to play and are kept in very clean, radiant heated kennels which do not allow nose to nose contact among the dogs. Because of the design of the kennel and because I know how to deal with the dogs, there is almost no barking, ever! Some of my clients come from hundreds of miles away to board their dogs here, vets board their own dogs here, as does a police department. So there are good facilities. You just have to find them. If you don't know how to start, email me privately and once I know where you live I can tell you how to start looking and what to look for.

Call some vets you trust, or friends. Find a kennel. I think you are going to be better off in the long run.

Good luck.

I am a petsitter and respectfully disagree with the post above.  There are problems in kennels too...especially if the dogs are not used to being kenneled.  Diseases, etc. Behavioral changes.

the link I posted offers good advice with regard to finding a professional petsitter.  Lists of questions, bonding, insurance...the whole nine yards.  Ask for 10 references.  Why not?  The reputable petsitter is worth its weight in gold.  As is a solid boarding kennel.  But they are 2 totally different experiences for your companion and only YOU should decide what is right.  There are risks associated with both.  And benefits for both.  And even I never simply tout one style of care for a companion animal because that is simply not right.

I work at a boarding kennel, so I'm with Hodie, sort of. There are horrible pet sitters just like there are horrible kennels. I know at our facility, there are "luxury suites", a quiet, private room which is ideal for older dogs, and they are walked to the bathroom. I don't think my dogs would react well AT ALL to a pet sitter. Behaving in a friendly manner to a stranger entering my home without me there is the exact opposite of what I want from my dogs!

I am a petsitter and respectfully disagree with the post above.  There are problems in kennels too...especially if the dogs are not used to being kenneled.  Diseases, etc. Behavioral changes.

the link I posted offers good advice with regard to finding a professional petsitter.  Lists of questions, bonding, insurance...the whole nine yards.  Ask for 10 references.  Why not?  The reputable petsitter is worth its weight in gold.  As is a solid boarding kennel.  But they are 2 totally different experiences for your companion and only YOU should decide what is right.  There are risks associated with both.  And benefits for both.  And even I never simply tout one style of care for a companion animal because that is simply not right.

I often do housesitting, for breeders even, and the benefits are no or low  risk of disease and changes in behavior. Lots of dogs that go into boarding kennels become depressed. Also, the dogs stay in their framiliar routine, and that is important. Just ask for references and go with your gut.

Zmelli,

Hello, I also own a pet sitting company:  http://hometown.aol.com/beinhappyathome/, and have been pet sitting since 2001 .  Using a pet sitter is a good choice as long as you do your research! 

You did mention taking your dog to the pet sitters home and I have to disagree with this!  If you take your dog to someone elses home you loose control of who interacts with your dog and your dog is taken from it's environment.  With your dog being a SchH titled dog I would hesitate to put it in an environment where you can not controll the people he/she comes in contact with.  What if a visitor to their home acts in an inappropriate maner towards your dog?  That person could get bitten!  Also, when you take the dog out of it's home and place it in the home of a stranger the dog may tend to feel confused about the situation and want to find his/her home.  I have seen this many times!  And being a person's home, they do not always have the proper fencing to contain a visiting dog!  This spells disaster all the way around!!

If you are looking for a petsitter please make sure they are bonded and insured.  Bonding is not as important as insurance though and you also want to make sure the petsitter you choose has a contract for services and a veterinary release in the event your dog should become sick in their care.  Do not hire the neighborhood kid!!!!!!  You can look at the Pet Sitters Internatioinal website that was given to you above and find a reputable pet sitter in your area! 

When you have a petsitter your pet receives food, water, playtime in the comfort of it's OWN home and this is a good thing for your dog to stay in his/her familiar surroundings!  You can taylor your pet sit visits also and tell your petsitter if you want them to throw the ball for your dog or take it for a walk or just whatever!  Most petsitters are happy to do these things!  Your dog is not exposed to any contagious illnesses, or accidentally fed another dogs food or medication or mistreated!  I have also worked in a boarding kennel and the barking noise is at such a high decible that it is above what OSHA says is safe for humans!  We were required in this kennel to wear hearing protection, a luxury your dog's sensitive ears do not have!!  Your home is looked after and all the pet sitters I know, we network together in my area, will get your mail, newspaper and rotate lights and open and close miniblinds.  We also do things like water the plants and put out the trash on trash day!  This gives your home a lived in look while you are gone and reduces the chance for burgerlery to your home......as if the dog is not a good enough deterent!  LOL!!