Hiring a dog sitter means trusting two of your most prized possessions to someone else’s care. It can be difficult to know what a reliable dog sitter looks like, so it helps to know what a bad one sounds like.
Below are some of the biggest red flags when hiring a dog sitter, as well as what a professional dog sitter should do instead.
Why it Matters Which Dog Sitter You Hire
There are a lot of responsibilities that come with having a dog sitter besides feeding your dog, like ensuring their safety and well-being, taking them on walks, administering medication, and communicating with you while they’re gone. Hiring the wrong dog sitter could affect both your dog’s physical and emotional well-being.
The Biggest Red Flags When Hiring a Dog Sitter
- They Don’t Want to Meet Beforehand One of the first and most obvious red flags when hiring a dog sitter is if they don’t want to meet with you or your dog before booking. Most professional dog sitters know how important it is to meet with a dog before accepting the booking. They should ask to meet with your dog in order to know what to expect and what to do. This includes touring your home, learning about your dog, and discussing expectations.
- They Lack References or Reviews An established dog sitter should be able to provide some sort of social proof, like testimonials, online reviews, or returning customers. If a dog sitter gets defensive when you ask for this information, it’s definitely a red flag.
- They Ask Very Few Questions About Your Dog Most professional dog sitters ask lots of questions about your dog. The best dog sitters know how important it is to understand each dog’s specific needs. Questions should include, but aren’t limited to: Feeding schedules Medical history or issues Medication and dosing Exercise schedule Behavioral quirks Their favorite toy or things to do Where they sleep What to do in case of an emergency If they ask very few questions, it’s a red flag. This could mean that they’re taking a one-size-fits-all approach to dog sitting instead of adapting to each dog’s specific needs.
- Their Prices Are Much Lower Than Anyone Else’s While we’re all drawn to a good bargain, extremely low prices should raise a few red flags. Lower prices could mean they’re relatively new, they don’t have insurance, they have many other clients, or they provide a subpar service.
- Communication Makes You Feel Unreliable Communication is one of the most important aspects of dog sitting, and it starts before you even hire someone. Pay attention to how they communicate with you by asking questions, canceling appointments, or arriving late. Poor communication before you hire someone tends to carry over after you’ve hired them.
- They Can’t Explain How They’ll Handle Emergencies Dogs can get sick, escape their home, refuse to eat or drink, or get hurt. As a result, it’s important to ask how a potential dog sitter handles emergencies. A professional dog sitter should know what to do if your dog gets hurt, gets sick, runs away, or can’t eat/drink. They should also know how to handle other emergency situations. If they give vague responses, it’s a red flag.
- They Don’t Have Experience With Dogs Like Yours Not all dog sitters are qualified to take care of all dogs. If you have a puppy, senior dog, large dog, reactive dog, rescued dog, or a dog with a medical condition of some kind, make sure they have prior experience with dogs like yours.
- They Seem Unfriendly or Dismissive Towards Your Dog During a meet and greet, observe how friendly and welcoming they are to your dog. Some common red flags here include being aloof, appearing uninterested or dismissive, or forcing affection on your dog. Most professional dog sitters stay calm and collected around dogs, and let the dog set the tone or come to them willingly. They won’t seem annoyed, scared, or angry during the meet and greet.
- They Make Unrealistic Promises Experienced dog sitters know that things rarely go perfectly. They understand that they have to remain flexible when unexpected circumstances arise, and they communicate openly with the owner about these issues. One of the major red flags when hiring a dog sitter is if they promise everything will go perfectly fine.
- They Fail to Give Updates Most owners want regular updates while they’re away, and most professional dog sitters are willing to provide these kinds of updates. This includes sending photos or messages and giving updates about walks, meals, and medications. If someone refuses to provide updates, ask them why.
- They Dismiss Your Instructions A good dog sitter knows how important it is to follow an owner’s specific rules or guidelines. If a potential sitter seems especially dismissive by saying things like “Dogs really don’t need that.” “I never do that.” “That schedule doesn’t matter.” then they probably won’t provide your dog with the same kind of care that you do.
- They Fail to Have a Backup Plan Things don’t always go according to plan. Ask them what their backup plan is in case something goes wrong. This includes asking them what to do if they get sick, who covers their appointments, and who you should contact in case of an emergency.
- They’re Hesitant to Talk About Insurance Many professional pet sitters carry insurance or bonding, so it’s a good idea to ask about it. While it isn’t always mandatory, reputable sitters tend to be more honest about it. If a sitter gets really defensive when you ask about insurance, ask them more questions about it.
- They Rush the Meet and Greet A meet and greet should be long enough for the dog sitter to get to know your dog, ask questions, and build a sense of trust. Someone who rushes the meet and greet just to leave as soon as possible probably isn’t as invested in building a good relationship with you or your dog.
- Your Gut Feeling Says No Sometimes there aren’t any obvious red flags, but something just feels off. If your gut feeling says no, listen to it. There are numerous reasons why this could be the case, like a lack of communication, poor organization, and unprofessionalism. It’s better to keep looking for a reliable option than to put your dog’s well-being in someone else’s care.
What a Trustworthy Dog Sitter Should Do
Most reliable dog sitters should ask lots of questions, hold a meet and greet, be able to provide referrals, communicate openly, explain emergency procedures, follow rules or guidelines, offer updates, arrive on time, treat your home with respect, and care for your dog’s comfort and well-being. These kinds of dog sitters can help you feel reassured that your dog is in good hands before you even go on vacation.
Quick Checklist Before You Hire a Dog Sitter
Before you hire a dog sitter, make sure they have good reviews, arrange a meet and greet, communicate openly, understand your dog’s needs, have relevant experience, explain emergency procedures, and provide regular updates.
FAQs About Dog Sitting Red Flags
When hiring a dog sitter, what is the biggest red flag? One of the biggest red flags when hiring a dog sitter is if they don’t want to meet you and your dog beforehand.
Should I hire a dog sitter with no reviews? It depends. They might be a reliable dog sitter, but they should be able to provide other forms of social proof, like references or testimonials.
Is it normal for dog sitters to send photo updates? Yes. Most professional dog sitters send photo updates to let owners know their dog is well-cared for.
What if my dog doesn’t seem to like the dog sitter? Some dogs need a little extra time to build a bond with someone. That being said, if your dog is uncomfortable or displays fear during the meet and greet, it’s best to keep looking.
Final Thoughts
Knowing the red flags when hiring a dog sitter can help prevent unnecessary stress while also caring for your dog. A trustworthy dog sitter is open about their care, communicates openly, is well-prepared, and knows how to adapt to each dog’s specific needs.
Make sure to ask questions, set up a meet and greet, and pay attention to both the dog sitter and the dog’s body language. By hiring someone who values trust, reliability, and your dog’s well-being, you can enjoy your trip with ease knowing your dog is in good hands.
