This is our first time using a pet sitter or boarding of any kind. What questions would you recommend I ask the sitter at the meet and greet? Thanks!
Hope this helps.
My essential questions I ask are -
1 - Does your dog get along well with other pets and/or people? 2 - Are they well-behaved on a leash or should I prepare for tugging and pulling? What is your technique in handling this? 3 - What are their feeding habits? Are they picky? Do they eat too quickly? 4 - Are they allowed on the furniture? (I always stay consistent with whatever rules the owner has at home) 5 - Where do they like to sleep? 6 - Do they enjoy walking or would they rather go out to the bathroom and come right back in? 7 - Are they bothered by certain sounds? Sirens, doors closing, footsteps, etc. 8 - Any allergies or health concerns?
The more information the better, don't be afraid to ask too many questions. You'll be able to make the dog's stay as comfortable as possible if you get a good sense of their behavior and likes/dislikes.
Hi Danna,
I think it depends a lot on the needs of your pet(s). You'll be answering a lot of questions about their routines and habits, likes and dislikes, etc, but if you feel the sitter doesn't hit on a topic that's of particular importance to you and your dog, speak up. You know your pet well, and the sitter does not, so go in ready to talk about their weird quirks, food preferences and restrictions, kinds of trouble they tend to get into, and the things they really enjoy so the sitter gets a good picture of how the stay might go. I find that while I'm asking a lot of questions about the dog, most of my clients just ask basic questions about me - what I do for a living, how long I've lived in Portland, how long I've had my dogs, how long I've been sitting, what my experiences have been like, etc. I think these are good questions to ask. Even if the specific answers aren't that important, it's a good way to judge the character of the person you're leaving your pets with. If someone had only bad things to say about their previous clients or rover guests, I'd be wary of leaving my dogs with them. Remember, you're interviewing each other, and this is a person you're going to trust with your family members. You want to know that someone is capable, but you also want to know that they're personable and professional.
Hope this helps!
Laura