the doggie store blog

If you are leaving your doggie with a pet sitter, even if they are a good friend, here’s some thoughtful advice from Pawnation- Josh Loposer August 31, 2010:

Fetch! Pet Care
When it comes to hiring a professional pet sitter are you a helicopter parent that leaves detailed pooping and walking spreadsheets? Or are you more of the hands-off type who feels perfectly comfortable letting your sitter do his or her own thing?

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.

Tags: cat sitter, dog sitter, Fetch Pet Care, paul mann, pet dog, pet sitter, pet sitting, petsitters, travel

Filed under: Specials, Uncategorized and tagged cat sitter, dog sitter, fetch, Paul Mann, pet care, pet sitters, pet sitting, travel.