Should You Leave Your Dog To The Pet-sitter This Vacation?

Summer’s here! You’ve just collected the family’s air tickets, and you couldn’t wait to hop onto the plane and enjoy that Europe vacation you’ve planning since last Christmas. Wait a minute! What about Rico? Unless you are thinking of bringing your dog along, you would have to find someone to take care of him while you are away!

Relatives, friends, and neighbors are all busy with their own vacations. So, your next best option would to find a pet-sitter or leave Rico at a boarding kennel.

Pet sitters do much more than feed, walk, brush your dog’s coat while you’re away from home. A good pet sitter also spends quality time with your dog, gives him the right amount of exercise and stimulating games.

Two Types of Pet Sitter

You can choose to accommodate your dog at the pet-sitter’s place—technically, it is known as boarding. Sometimes this is the only way a part-time pet-sitter can help especially when there are other errands for her to do.

The better option is to get a pet-sitter to visit your home daily to take care of your dog. Of course, you will have to get a trust-worthy and reliable pet-sitter. Doing it this way has many advantages, including:

• Your dog remains in a familiar environment and so he will be less stressed.
• Food, water, and rest areas are known and well-established.
• Toilet-trained dogs know exactly where to go.
• The pet-sitter can help keep a lookout for your property while you are away.

Depending on your arrangement, the professional pet-sitter…

• should be able to prepare simple yet specific meals for your dog using the ingredients you have.
• brings in the mail.
• waters your plants, if any.
• will take your dog to the groomer or veterinarian if it requires.
• should know how to administer most common forms of medication with ease and confidence.

To find a reputable pet sitter in your area, you could try Pet Sitters International or Pet Sit USA.

They will pair you up with a professional pet sitter from your area who is licensed, bonded, insured, and pet-savvy. The pet sitter should provide documents of proof of commercial liability insurance, offer local references (from veterinarians and clients), and give you a brochure that describes his or her services and spells out all fees. Remember to read all fine prints and understand them thoroughly before you engage their services.

Even you opt for independent (i.e. one-man-operation) pet-sitters, either through word-of-mouth or local paper ads, make sure they aren’t far off from the above requirements. For the next couple of issues, we will look at

• Pet Sitter Interviewing Tips
• Preparing Your Dog For the Pet Sitter