Newbie here hoping to save myself some uh-oh moments, what advice do you have?

Hi Gabrielle!

• Always do a meet and greet. Skipping them can cause you major problems.
• Do not use things, eat things, etc. that are a clients unless you have discussed it.
• Always be professional, you are being hired for a job.
• Don't be afraid to ask extra questions, better to be safe than sorry.
• Go with your gut but try to give each client the benefit of the doubt. My best client had very little info on her profile so I was a bit nervous about the job. I did the meet and greet (always do the meet and greet PRIOR to booking) and turns out she had just moved here and was in urgent need of a sitter and new to rover so she hadn't put effort into her profile. I met her and all my questions were answered - now she is my most regular client!
• If a potential client seems hesitant to share info or they seem off, again, go with your gut. I just had someone reach out to me to cat sit but had their cat listed as a dog and it's name was "It's a Cat". He only asked to book one day ( the next day) and then it turns out he wanted a pet sitter every other day for a week! I asked some follow up questions and he stopped responding. So when it comes to your safety, don't worry about your booking score.
• Even if you have a meet and greet scheduled do not book it until after you complete the M&G - save yourself some trouble.
• Never start a job if the client hasn't confirmed on Rover. Even if you did an M&G and they seem legit. Tell them that you cannot complete the booking until it is officially booked with Rover. They have no excuse for not confirming the booking if they want to hire you.

I hope that helps - good luck!

I agree with everything above and would add ...

Create a steadfast routine with the dogs in your care if boarding in your home. The dogs appreciate and are comforted by this and will recall the routine on return stays.

I have doggy diapers on hand for recent rescues and puppies just in case.

Supervise dogs even when they are outside even in a fenced yard.

Never feed dogs together ... when I have multiple dogs they are separated for feeding and treats. I keep organic, low salt chicken broth on hand for nervous dogs who refuse to eat.

Never take a dog out off leash. I live in a rural area and owners constantly bring their dogs to me off leash and insist their dog will never run off if I do the same. You simply cannot predict a dogs behavior when they are in a new environment.

Good luck!

I agree with Christina and would like to add if you're boarding: Move everything that you value that could get damaged out of the way. Get a gate or playpen for indoors (really necessary when something needs to be cleaned up, to keep paws safe, also helps if feeding different meals to multiple dogs, or separate if some dogs higher energy than others or other issues). Put some washable cover (such as a comforter) over furniture and something(might be towels/blanket) inside vehicle. Stock up on cleaning supplies and consider if you might want to buy belly bands for male dogs (help prevent indoor urination) or diapers (cut slit where tail goes through). Ask for what you want (example may be bring crate, bowls, toys,scented item from home) and state what you need (i.e. non-negotiable items may include collar with ID tags, harness, vaccination, food, treats, .etc.). Only accept bookings you think are a good match, after enough time spent during meet&greet.

Always check that the dog's collar is tight enough so it won't slip off when you are walking them on the leash. It's the worse feeling in the world to have a dog slip his collar and get loose under your supervision! Also, I always ask owners if a backyard fence is safe for dog too and if they have ever gotten out before. Watch for dogs that charge the door when you arrive and ask owner about that too. If you are watching multiple dogs in the same house, ask if the dogs ever get into fights and if so, how should you handle that.