Choosing a caretaker for your dog As much as you'd like to, you can't spend every minute of the day with your dog. Reality dictates that once in a while, you have to go to work or attend your cousin's wedding in New Jersey. To ensure that your dog gets the care he needs while you're away, you may want to enlist the help of a professional dog walker or pet sitter. Of course, you don't want to just hire anyone off the street. You want to ensure that the person you hire is going to provide the best care for your dog.
Ask the right questions
While someone might have a long and impressive list of dog owner clients, what really counts is how they handle your dog. Here are a few key questions you should ask during the interview process:
- How much experience does the person have?
- Do they have special training? Some dog walking and pet care providers have special training in dealing with certain situations - like if your dog needs to have medicine administered or requires emergency CPR.
- Will they be walking only your dog or will they be taking other dogs out at the same time? This is important, as your dog may have excellent manners but you don't know how the other dogs are going to behave.
- Do they have experience dealing with your dog's particular breed?
- Are they insured or bonded in case of an emergency situation?
- If the care provider is unable to make it on a certain day, will they have a back-up plan? You'll also want to be sure that whoever they send in their place is also covered under their insurance plan.
- What degree of responsibility will they take if your dog becomes sick or injured while in their care?
- Can they provide references? (And if references are provided, make sure you call them.)
The final test will be to observe how the care provider behaves with your dog. It's always a good idea to set up a "meeting" with the person and your dog to observe how they interact. More often than not, your gut instinct will let you know whether or not the person is the right fit. The person may seem perfect on paper and have all the right answers but, if something doesn't quite feel right for you, don't disregard that gut feeling.
A few other tips
- Get it in writing. Ensure that the care provider provides a written contract detailing the services to be provided, the costs and the amount of time their service is required.
- Get a contact number where the care provider can be reached should you want to inquire about your dog.
- Be sure to leave your contact information, as well as the number of your veterinarian. Ask the care provider if they have a veterinary release form that will allow them to get emergency medical care if necessary.
- Provide a detailed list of your dog's dietary requirements, where to find items like leashes, toys and plastic bags, medication requirements, or any specific information with regards to your dog's health, habits and/or preferences.
All of this may seem like a lot of work to go through, but when it comes to your dog, you want to make sure that he gets the best care possible when you're not around.
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