Fetch! Pet Care
A well-prepared sitter can keep your pet happy and anxiety-free while you're away, greatly reducing the number of chewing, scratching, and/or bathroom accidents occurring in your home. The question is: How do you ensure that you've given your pet sitter all the necessary tools to keep your animals relaxed and healthy?
To get a little expert guidance on the subject , we've enlisted the help of Paul Mann, founder of Fetch! Pet Care. Beyond the basics like emergency contact info, your vet's phone number and a medicine and food schedule (all of which are obviously quite important), Mann encourages owners to focus a little bit on your pet's psychology when preparing for a sitter.
Spell Out The Animal's Daily Schedule: "Pets are truly creatures of habit," Mann tells Paw Nation, "They get into liking their routine, so the idea is to figure out how to maintain that routine." For example, if you take your pup for a walk every morning, ask your pet sitter to do the same. If your cat likes to chase the yarn around in the evening, tell your sitter.
Explain What Makes Your Pet Happy: "A good professional pet sitter should ask what your pet likes to do, then maybe over-satisfy them in that way," Mann explains. In fact, he recommends that you schedule an in-home consultation with the sitter so they can interview you and meet your dog, cat, bird, etc.
Make Sure Favorite Items Are Handy: When it comes to the actual items to leave for the pet sitter, Mann recommends things like "an old t-shirt, bedding, and their favorite toys to keep the familiarity there for the pet." Ideally, the pet sitter will be visiting your pet at your home, says Mann, but these items are even more important if you plan to board.
Keep Your Exit Low-Key: Mann recommends that a little exercise before you leave can help keep your pet's mind at ease. They'll be napping instead of worrying about where you are. Whatever you do, Mann cautions that you refrain from breaking into the tearful 'I'm going to miss you so much' routine. "Just exit like you usually do," Mann explains, "Dogs pick up on those things and it creates anxiety."
Find Out What Other Pet Parents Do: We asked some of Paw Nation's Facebook friends to share what they leave for their pet sitter:
- Donald MacMelville: "It's a three-page document. Location numbers, cell numbers, feeding instructions, Vet numbers and address and MapQuest, emergency contacts, walking instructions, etc. People think we are crazy."
- Pamela Grant Goldman: "When I had three dogs, I started a journal for pet sitters: I'd leave detailed info and instructions, and they'd leave entries daily on who ate what, etc. These days, a friend stays with my dog and we text at least once a day and he sends me photos of my little guy playing outside."
- Tara Anderson: "I leave feeding instructions, emergency cash, along with phone numbers. I get daily texts. My cat sitter is great. She plays with my cat and cooks her a special shrimp dinner! When I return, I get a note from my cat detailing all of the fun she has."
- Lisa Faynor Bartine: "I have a friend of the family stay over, and I leave four pages of emergency and routine info, and call every other day."
Readers, what do you do when you travel? Do you hire someone or ask a dependable friend? Please tell us in the comments below.
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It's difficult to find someone trustworthy of taking care of your pets. It's also dangerous to leave it up to just anybody. There are so many abusers out there these days. I have 2 dogs, and the only ones I trust to take good care of them are my immediate family members who live at home with me and know my dogs well. I haven't boarded these particular dogs anywhere yet, but if I had to I would trust my veterinarian of 10 years to do it. I have boarded other dogs there in the past and had good experiences.
My neighbors will hire me sometimes during the summer vacation to go in, feed their dogs and change their water. I'll also take them out for a walk occasionally. They never leave me feeding guidelines, schedules or instructions of any sort, so I go with what I know about dogs, and things work out well. If I need to contact them for any reason, I have their cell phone numbers.
I love my pets. But, remember that they are always "in the moment." A second after you leave, they are doing their own thing without a thought to you. We can learn a lot from our furry friends about staying focused on the hear and now without dragging the past with us or worrying about the future. Just go on your trip and enjoy, for Pete's sake! If you have made sure that the basic needs of your pet are met, they'll be fine. I remember when pets were pets. I think Dr. Phil said it best when responding to a report about a lonely old woman that willed her millions to her dog. (How sad that she was unable to bond with her fellow man!) Anyway, Dr. Phil said that your dog could lay on his back,pee on his own face, and think it's raining! Pets don't form relationships like we do. I am concerned that we are so far away from remembering the true values of our fellow man. We communicate through computers. Our children have cell phones and gadgets that cripple their own ability to have real relationships. I guess it's a sign of the times that we often are dependant on a pet's "love" to camouflage our inability to get out there and risk the joys and pains of human love.
I just leave the same instructions I would if I left one of my kids.
After all, we all SAY our pets are family and are like our kids. NO?
So what's so difficult to figure out? Leave the same list of
instructions you would for your child kid's sitter. (Except maybe for
where to drop them of for soccer practise.)
I leave our 2 dogs and 1 cat with Kindred Spirits Pet Boarding & Sitting of Naples, FL. These two girls are the best. They do all cageless boarding in their own home and my dogs and cat get their own seperate suite bedroom. I always leave them a long list but they say the more detailed the better. They want to give the pets exactly the same care as they are used to getting. They give them bottled water and plenty of love and exercise and even cook my dogs' food exactly the way I do it at home. Also since we live in a climate prone to hurricanes, no worry there, they have 2 hurricane dome shelters, shutters and also propane gas underground for any emergencies. I feell so content and happy with them.
To Miss Kelly,
You give some good advice, but you're too philosophical . Pet DO LOVE YOU and they DO MISS YOU when you're away. People relationships are very important, but dogs and cats are there FOR YOU at any time, WHEN MANY PEOPLE ARE NOT. Most persons are too wrapped up in their own lives to have time for one another. Neighbors barely know or speak to one another. This is our society today, SO SAD! Who can blame anyone for bonding so completely with their pets.
I do a "meet and greet" interview before I pet sit any animal, and I have pet sat for numerous animals. I have references for the person to call to ease their mind and know I am safe. I have been fingerprinted and background check because I work at a daycare. I love my animals and I love the animals I sit for like they were/are my own. I follow the parents instructions to the letter and try and keep the animals as happy as possible. I have had great results and my business has grown just strictly by word of mouth.
Twice I hired pet/housesitters who we know for one week to take care of our 2-3 dogs. Seemed he did well but very dirty house. We decide to send our 3 dogs kennel boarding for a week once or twice per year due to $$$. Peace and house clean!
I left 2-3 dogs photos with descriptions, make sure ID tags on collars, contact numbers, address where we went, name and address of vet. Also wrote list of general daily procedures, I wrote paper for vet that how much cost were we willing to pay per dog in case of emergency like up to $500 each dog and have to contact us first before running over $500. Instructions like how much feed and kind of dog food for all dogs. Everything is on one paper to put on refrigerator so pet or housesitter check daily. Our rule was allowing pet or housesitter to bring only ONE friend into our home no overnight stay. No taking dogs out of property while we are on vacation. Play in backyard.
We check with housesitters once half way of our vacation to make dogs ok.
if you hire a pet sitter then you can not expect them to clean houe as well except if the animal should have an accident, etc. i am a professional pet sitter and always my first priority are the animals. i have much animal experience and have worked as a vet tech on and off for many years, l also bred and showed some of the top show dogs in the country at one time. yes i agree it is hard to find someone you can trust not only with your animals but in your home as well. if i go away i have a good animal oriented friend who lives right next to me and she knows my animals, she is the only one that i trust with them as i am a nut when it comes to procedures being done correctly and safely, cant stress on that enough. just started the pet sitting business, down in the florida keys marathon to be exact. i might as well put my talents to good use and make a little money doing it, nothing better then being around animals!!
I work at a boarding kennel and won't leave my dogs there. I have always been blessed with good friends to stay with my dogs/cats. Our last trip I had one of the vet techs I work with stay for the 16 days. I came home to a tidy house and happy animals!
I have large iguana and bearded dragon. I have to find reptile sitter for them usually once every summer. Sometimes it is hard to find sitter who knows much about reptiles. Iguana is high maintained reptile with UVB lights and heating so needs to stay at home same with beardie.
Luckily I leave everything is needed for reptile sitter on paper, instructions, On and Off, contact numbers, photos, etc.... Luckily 4 summers I hired reptile sitters who did very well and kept their enclosures clean.
Far different with dogs.
When we leave Raven, we only hire friends who already know her. And, we make sure they are willing to sleep in our bed with her. That's what she is used to and it is HER option and not theirs. I leave the most detailed instructions and then I call regularly to make sure she is OK. I know she is but I need to hear it first-hand. She is my only child so what's a mother to do!!
....ah....get a grip on reality. It is an animal. I love my dog but not to the point where someone, other than myself, has to sleep in my bed because a dog demands it. Yes, I said it, DOG. Thank God you do not have children. What little heathens they would have been.
Anni you are an idiot! I do the exact same thing. As everyone has said, dogs are creatures of habit, and if they sleep with you every night, it makes sense to just ask someone to sleep in your bed. I am with you Rozann and my friend is happy to do it!
I house sit for a friend, her cat sleeps with her and wakes her up all hours of the night to make her feed him. I close that bedroom door and that turd can sleep in the living room like he does all day long. Animals are still animals no matter how much you want to pretend they are people. Habbits are learned and can be unlearned.
Anni should not have children OR pets. They might be too much of an inconvenience for her. I wonder if she could deal with a fake plant? Probably not, she might have to dust it.
As a pet sitter, the more info the client leaves me the better. Pet name, medical concerns, client's emergency cotact number and location, normal vets name and number, neighbors to contact in emergency if relevant. Games the pet likes to play and places it may hide. Also I will water plants, bring in newspapers, take out trash, keep the place neat and will not use any of their appliances, etc unless specifically authorized. I ask that they identify any areas off limits to the pet and me and that they put away all valuables and food. I require a written authorization form for my presence in their residence and especially if they want me to use their vehicles to take the pets anywhere. It's a two way street for both the client and the sitter. Each needs to be confident of the other.
We have 3 dogs. We had a family member take care of the dogs once and it took coming home to see the back door unlocked for my husband to say "The next time they are all being boarded!" We have taken them to our vet of 5 years and we don't have to worry anymore if they are ok. Dr Tom of Naperville Animal Hospital even called us in Ireland to let us know that the dogs were ok (only cuz I was freaking out a bit about being so far away!). It may cost a bit more than having someone come in twice a day to check on them but it gives us peace of mind that they are in good hands.
I am lucky because my daughter is a vet tech and also pet sits on the side. But when she is busy, I go to Potomac Dog School in Maryland because they have cageless boarding and a web cam so I can watch my Lucy all day. They also do great sleepovers!! Thats also cageless.
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When I travel, I prefer to have a friend of mine stay at my home with my two Cocker Spaniels. I've tried boarding them before, and have had problems with them needing to be re-potty trained when I bring them home. Having a friend stay with them in their own home is much less stressful on them and me. I usually call every other day to check on them, and my friend just loves staying with them. She actually looks forward to spending time with them. I leave very detailed instructions for her as to not upset their daily routine...and I always bring back a new toy or treat for them when I return.