10 Traits To Look For In A Pet Sitter

Getting a pet sitter to look after your pet on a regular basis or when you are on vacation is a big challenge; it would become easier when you look out for 10 important traits in a pet sitter.

10 important traits that a pet sitter should have:

1) A pet sitter should have a genuine love for animals: This could be easily judged by the answers to the questions you address to him/her or by the questions he asks you. A person who genuinely loves animals would ask questions about the pet's eating habits, characteristics and dispositions and would also be eager to share information about the pets he handled. 

2) He/she should be flexible: A flexible pet sitter should be able to step in at short notice; this makes it possible to trust your pet to his care when you have an appointment that you cannot miss. 

3) A pet sitter should be sensitive to the needs of the pet: He should be sensitive when a pet does not want to play and needs some space. He/she should handle your pet affectionately and not use any physical punishment or force like dragging the leash while walking.

4) A pet sitter should remain patient and calm: This is especially true when the pet doesn’t behave as expected and when the pet feels and react out of anxiety.

5) A pet sitter should preferably be experienced: This is especially true when your pet is high maintenance and challenging; this is especially true of like a big and dominant dog breeds like German Shepherd. If your pet has a medical condition or needs special treatment it would be preferable to find a pet sitter with that background; preferably ask for references or a certificate to show their experience level. 

6) The pet sitter should be licensed and insured: This shows he is a professional and serious about his business; insurance protects you and the pet sitter should something unexpected happen to the pet. It would also be preferable if the pet sitter sets up a contract with you defining services, pay rate and rules. 

7) He/she should be trustworthy: This is very important as you would be handing over the spare keys to him; ask and check references from previous employers and run a background check. Trust your gut and do not hire anyone you have a bad feeling about during the meeting. 

8) A pet sitter should be reliable and time conscious: Set clear agreements between your pet sitter and you about rules and scheduling; then you would be able to schedule your plans confidently. Also decide the protocol if the sitter is running late.

9) Your pet sitter should be firm and consistent about rules of the house: He should not undo rules that have been set by you like not lying on the sofa or sleeping on your bed even if the pet begs with puppy-dog eyes. 

10) Note the connection of the pet and pet sitter: Set up a meet-and-greet between the pet and the pet sitter and watch out for signs that the pet is uncomfortable or the pet sitter is not handling the pet properly. This meeting would be a great way to tell if the person really has the experience and comfort with animals that they claim to have.