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- Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.
Finding someone to care for your pets in your home while you’re away can seem like a huge task. You’re relying on a stranger to be responsible for their health, happiness, and safety—while also keeping an eye on your home.
A good house sitter will go beyond just meeting your pets’ basic needs. They’ll follow their daily routines, keep them active and comfortable, and provide lots of love and companionship. They’ll also communicate with you, keeping you connected with your pets and reassuring you that they’re in good hands.
So how do you find a reliable person? Where should you even look? In this article, we’ll share our top tips for choosing a house sitter, the qualifications to check, what to check for in reviews, and when to set up a trial run. We’ll also cover some house-sitting red and green flags.
Where To Find a Good House Sitter
- Online pet-sitting platforms: Pet-sitting platforms like Rover allow you to look for sitters in your area and filter by rates and reviews. You can do all of your messaging and keep a record of everything with one secure app.
- Online house-sitting platforms: Traditional house-sitting sites will also often include options for pet care. Some platforms specialize in connecting you with potential sitters who will watch your house and pets long-term in exchange for a free place to stay.
- Your social network: Ask your friends, family, and coworkers if they have a go-to house sitter or a trusted friend who’s in search of a house-sitting job.
- Local online groups: Social media platforms like Facebook, Reddit, and Nextdoor often have local pet care and neighborhood groups where you can ask pet parents in the area for recommendations.
- Your vet or groomer: Both your vet and groomer likely have a good idea of your pet’s temperament and needs and may be able to suggest a house sitter in your area who would be a good fit.
House sitting or pet sitting?
When it comes to high-needs pets, a pet-sitting platform that includes house sitting listings is often a better choice. It’s a lot harder to wade through house-sitting listings to find people experienced in the particular pet care you need. Pet sitting sites list sitters whose services will center on the needs of your pet.
You’re also more likely to find sitters with qualifications that make them particularly suited for handling your pet’s quirks, like giving medicine in a special way or managing reactivity.
Check Qualifications, Licensing, and Background Checks
When choosing a pet sitter, look to see if they have specific industry licenses and certifications. While not all of these qualifications are always necessary, they can suggest a sitter is committed, reliable, and skilled enough to handle your pet’s needs.
| Type | Description |
| Pet First Aid and CPR Certification | Having these certifications better equips sitters to handle pet emergencies and injuries—something to consider if you have a pet with pre-existing medical conditions. |
| Background Check | This extra step verifies that the sitter does not have a criminal history, providing you with peace of mind when having someone new in your home. |
| CPS-DW Certification | This certification stands for “certified pet sitter-dog walker” and can be obtained from the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters or Pet Sitters International. While not necessary, this additional qualification shows the sitter took the extra time to receive specialized pet care training. |
| Fear Free Certification | The Fear Free certification means a house sitter knows how to identify and reduce fear, anxiety, and stress when interacting with a pet. |
Read Profiles and Reviews Carefully
Reading reviews and personal profiles can reveal a lot about a potential pet sitter. Here are a few things to consider that will help you zero in on the folks who could be a good fit for your household.
Shared philosophies
One of the most crucial tips for choosing a house sitter is to find one who shares the same pet care philosophies. Look for a sitter who follows a modern, science-backed, positive approach to dealing with animals. From there, you can be more nuanced, such as finding someone who respects your approach to boundaries (like keeping pets off furniture, for example, if that’s important to you).
Breed experience
If you have a pet with specific breed needs, look for a sitter who understands their unique temperament and behavior, as well as any health or physical concerns they may have.
For instance, if you have a long-haired cat, such as a Persian or Maine Coon, you’ll want a house sitter who can keep up with regular grooming. Or if you have an energetic dog breed, such as a Husky or German Shepherd, you’ll want someone who can keep up with their high exercise needs.
Specific situations
Scan reviews for situations similar to your needs, such as a puppy who needs constant supervision and frequent potty breaks, or a harness-trained cat who loves spending time outside walking on a leash.
You may also prefer a sitter who is knowledgeable and comfortable continuing training while you’re away. For example, if you’re trying to teach your dog not to bark at noises outside, you may want to have them follow your training protocol while your pup is in their care.
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Meetings and Trial Runs
Once you’ve vetted a potential house sitter based on their qualifications, profile, and reviews, reach out to them to see if they’d be interested in you’re pet sitting needs. From there, you can schedule a meet and greet to see if it’s a good fit.
First conversation
The first conversation can be pretty straightforward. Give the sitter an overview of what you’re looking for and offer more insight into your pet’s care requirements. This is the time to clarify any questions you may have regarding house sitting rates, scheduling, or qualifications.
From there, you can decide whether you want to move forward and schedule a time for them to visit your house and meet your pet.
Pet introductions
When your sitter meets your animals for the first time, observe how they interact with each other. How does the sitter handle specific situations, like if your dog barks at them or if your cat is initially shy at first?
Pay special attention to your pet’s body language and behavior during this time. Do they seem excited, happy, or calm, or do they seem stressed, anxious, and avoidant?
House walkthrough
While the sitter is at your house, have a checklist of things that you want to make sure the sitter knows about—locations of pet supplies (e.g., food, toys, towels, gear), where rooms are, and which doors go where. The house sitter will also need to know details such as house codes, Wi-Fi information, and instructions on where to pick up and store mail.
Go over your vet and emergency contact information while you’re there. It’s a good house-sitting best practice to print a copy of instructions to have in the house as well.
Questions to ask
You’ll want to prepare some questions ahead of time to ask the potential pet sitter during the meet and greet. Be sure to clarify the maximum amount of time you’re comfortable leaving your pet alone, and if their schedule will allow for this routine.
You’ll also want to cover preferred methods of communication and frequency of updates. Basically, touch on any areas you haven’t covered yet or that are of concern to you, so there’s no room for confusion or unexpected surprises down the road.
Consider a trial run
If feasible, schedule a trial run with the sitter for a night before leaving them with your pet for a longer stay. Even having the sitter pop by for a few hours while you’re away can help your pets become accustomed to them and test how things will go under their care.
Red Flags vs. Green Flags
Having someone who understands your pet’s individual needs and offers care within the comfort of your own home can help you feel at ease while you’re away. When vetting a potential sitter, here are common red and green flags to consider.
Red flags to consider:
- Lack of experience: Use caution with sitters who have little to no experience, no reviews or references, and who lack knowledge of basic animal behavior. Certainly, people just starting out can make a great fit, but it’s important to make sure they have references supporting their ability to care for pets.
- Unclear terms: Avoid hiring someone who doesn’t provide clear terms of agreement around care or who is unwilling to sign a contract.
- Outdated ideas on animal behavior: Someone who still follows debunked ideas about “dominance” and “alpha theory” won’t be up-to-date on providing the best care for your pet.
- Poor communication: A sitter who doesn’t respond promptly to your questions or can’t give you direct answers likely won’t give you peace of mind while you’re away.
Green flags include:
- Plenty of questions: A pet sitter who is a natural problem-solver will ask detailed questions about your pet’s needs, assessing any potential issues and devising solutions ahead of time.
- Great communication: Look for sitters who communicate clearly, respond to your messages quickly, and provide plenty of detailed updates to keep you connected with your pet.
- Excellent references and reviews: Choose pet sitters who have positive reviews and can provide references from clients who would consider booking their services again.
- Adaptability: A good house sitter will have a flexible schedule that aligns with your pet’s daily routine for meals, exercise, and rest.
- An invested attitude: Look for someone who is genuinely interested in your pets’ well-being and who takes the time to create a bond with them.
Though it can be a lot of work, taking the time to find a great house sitter for your pets is worth it. It can make your current trip, as well as future travel away from home, easier on both you and your pets—and it can help you feel secure that your loved ones are in great hands.
