3 Reasons Why You Should Get a Pet sitter

You're here because you have been thinking about getting a Pet Sitter or seeing why Pet Sitting is so popular at the moment. Read our reasons why you SHOULD get a Pet Sitter and tips to help find the right one for you!

Pet Sitters, what are Pet Sitters? A Pet Sitter is someone who looks after your pets whilst you are away, either for the day or night, and is typically a paid service or some are happy to exchange their time for free accommodation (making it for cheap holiday!).

Why has Pet Sitting picked up on its' demand? Gone are the days of leaving your dogs for the whole day when you are at work, or even leaving the back door to let them go about as they please. Pet's wellbeing has had a massive shift from a major focus on mental stimulation and awareness of reactivity to a change into pet's diet by the integration of raw diets. It feels as though pet sitting has been picked up on this momentum too, especially as people are tending to avoid kennels and catteries.

So this leads us to the reasons why you should get a pet sitter, and here they are:

• In short, Pet Sitters are simply another person to love your pets and your pet's wellbeing is their focal point. This means while you're absent, we slot into your place to help fill your pet's cup (this typically means fuss, cuddles and play time). This also means that we can typically notice changes in your pet's behaviour e.g. their energy levels, any pains, etc. that might go amiss because of their subtle differences to their every day life.
  

• Everyone needs a back up plan. We all rely on family and friends to help fill in the gaps for when we need support, and pet care is no different. However, it's not always guaranteed that your bubble of support is available for when you need them or emergencies might happen and you'll need an 'outsider' to step in, this is when Pet Sitters come into play.
  

• Pet Sitters have standards that they are committed too. When it comes to pet sitters, We've got some pretty high standards to live up to. I mean, your pets are your world, right? You're not just asking a friend for a favor, you're paying for a service. And while it's not all about the money, it definitely helps give you peace of mind knowing your bookings are secure. So, when you hire a pet sitter, you're not just getting a friend, you're getting a profession who's committed to giving the best possible care.

This leads us on how do you find the right Pet Sitter for you, use these questions to help think about what you would like:

• Bookings: Is it day time or night time? How many hours? would your pet benefit from 1-on-1 care or a group setting?

• Experience: What experience would you like them to have? Does your pets have quirks that you want a Pet Sitter to be comfortable with supporting?

• Qualification: Similar to experience, what qualifications would you like them to have? As you are paying for a service, you can be selective here.

• Budget: Think about your budget, how much would you like to pay? What's the longevity of this commitment? It's typically recommended to stick to one or a couple of Pet Sitters so the pets are comfortable with them.

• Ethos: Do you both hold the same values and standards? When outlining your expectations, does the Pet Sitter's response comfort your concerns?

• Reviews: How do their reviews make you feel?

• Legal: Although insurance and DBS isn't mandatory for this profession, ask yourself whether it's a necessity for your's pet care. However, if a Pet Sitter is a home boarder, make sure they have all this documents in place (search: home boarding your local council to find out the requirements).

• Do you get on?: When you meet, do you get on? Do you feel comfortable talking to them? If yes, it's a good starting point - you need to feel comfortable in their presence so you know you're ok to give feedback.

• Red flags: Do you experience red flags or a gut instinct? If so, it's not worth booking with them as you won't feel comfortable leaving your pets with them.

We always recommend that a Pet Sitter should be proactive in booking meet & greets before accepting any work. To prepare for your meet & greet with the Pet Sitter, think about any questions you would like to ask them or any concerns that you might have. During the meet & greet, watch to see how they interact with your pets and vice versa.

If you live in Sheffield or Norfolk area, feel free to send us an email if you think a Pet Sitter is right for you.

Good luck!