Finding someone to care for your pets in your home while you’re away can seem like a monumental undertaking. 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 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 be communicative and professional, keeping you connected with your pets and reassuring you that your pets are in good hands.
So how do you find a reliable person? Where should you even look? In this article, we’ll cover our top tips for choosing a house sitter, the qualifications to check, what to look for in reviews, and when to set up a trial run, as well as typical house-sitting red and green flags.
Where To Find a Good House Sitter
There are a few ways to begin your search for a sitter, including:
- Online pet-sitting platforms. Pet-sitting platforms like Rover let you find sitters in your area and filter by rates and reviews. Do all your messaging and keep a record of everything via one secure app.
- Online house-sitting platforms. Traditional house-sitting sites often include options for pet care as well. Some platforms specialise in connecting you with potential sitters who will watch your house and pets long-term in exchange for a free place to stay.
- Personal recommendations. Ask your friends, family, and colleagues if they know anyone who would be a good fit for your house-sitting needs.
- Local online groups. Social media platforms like Facebook, Mumsnet, and Nextdoor often have local pet care groups, dog walking pages, and neighbourhood groups where you can ask local pet parents 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 offers house-sitting 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, by contrast, centre on the needs of your dog, cat, bird, reptile, or other animal.
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 their reactivity.
Check Qualifications, Licensing, and Background Checks
When choosing a pet sitter, check whether they have specific industry licences and certifications. While not all of these qualifications are necessary, they can indicate that the sitter is committed, reliable, and skilled in meeting 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 or DBS check | This extra step verifies that the sitter has no criminal history, giving you peace of mind when having someone new in your home. |
| iPET Network Level 3 Award in Dog Walking & Pet Sitting, City & Guilds Level 2 Certificate in Pet Sitting, or NarpsUK Accreditation | iPET Network and City & Guilds provide Ofqual-regulated qualifications recognised by local councils for Animal Activities Licensing (AAL). NarpsUK offers UK Rural Skills-certified courses. |
| Fear-Free, Animal Behaviour & Training Council (ABTC), Institute of Modern Dog Trainers (IMDT), or The Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT UK) accreditation |
The Fear-Free certification indicates that a house sitter knows how to identify and reduce fear, anxiety, and stress when interacting with a pet. The others demonstrate science-backed, thoroughly tested competence in understanding and managing animal behaviour. These will be particularly helpful if you have a pet with additional needs, such as anxiety or reactivity. |
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 someone who shares your pet care philosophy. Look for a sitter who uses a modern, science-backed, positive approach to animal care. 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 behaviour, 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 a Maine Coon, you’ll want a house sitter who can handle 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 loo breaks, or a harness-trained cat who loves spending time outside on a lead.
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, reviews, and rates, reach out to them to see if they’d be interested in your 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, such as when your dog barks at them or your cat is initially shy?
Pay special attention to your pet’s body language and behaviour 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 details such as house codes, Wi-Fi information, and instructions for picking up and storing the post.
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 the instructions to have in the house as well.
Questions to ask
You’ll want to prepare some questions in advance 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 whether their schedule will allow for this routine.
You’ll also want to cover preferred communication methods and update frequency. 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 the night before you leave them for a longer stay. Even having the sitter pop by for a few hours while you’re away can help your pets get used to them and give you a sense of 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 include:
- Lack of experience. Be wary of sitters with little to no experience, no reviews or references, and no knowledge of basic animal behaviour.
- Unclear terms. Avoid someone who doesn’t provide clear terms of agreement around care or who is unwilling to sign a contract.
- Outdated ideas on animal behaviour. 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 your pets are in their care.
- Refusal to undergo checks. If they refuse to show you their insurance document and the qualifications they claim to have, or to undergo a DBS check, they may not take your pet’s welfare seriously.
Green flags include:
- Proactive. A pet sitter who is a natural problem-solver will ask detailed questions about your pet’s needs, assess any potential issues and devise solutions ahead of time.
- Great communicator. Look for sitters who communicate clearly, are responsive, and provide plenty of detailed updates to keep you connected with your pet.
- Excellent references and reviews. Choose pet sitters with positive reviews and references from clients who would book their services again.
- Covered by public liability insurance. While not compulsory, a good sitter will have comprehensive public liability insurance that covers property damage, animal illness, and injury from or to your pet. Ask to see the Certificate of Insurance.
- Adaptable. A good house sitter will have a flexible schedule that aligns with your pet’s daily schedule for meals, exercise, and rest.
- Invested. 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 not just your current trip but future travel away from home easier on both you and your furry friends—and it can offer peace of mind that your loved ones are in great hands.
