Riven, my 4-year-old dachshund-retriever-mix is my best friend. And I’m not just saying that – we literally do everything together. We brush our teeth together, we go for picnics in the park together, we watch our nightly show together, and we even sleep together! But when it comes to finding him a dog sitter…
I don’t know if it’s in her genes or if she just really loves me but she is one jealous little lady. Being the diva she is, she always seems to have something to bark about when another human comes to visit. Naturally, you can imagine how hard this makes it to find that perfect nanny to help me walk and spoon-feed her royal highness when I’m not around. So, I took to the internet and did some digging.
Here are my top tips to help you find that much-needed dog sitter.
1. ‘Swipe Right’ using a doggycare app
Some may be lucky enough to have families or friends to help them dogsit. However, for those like me with my oddly high amount of cat-loving friends, we must resort to finding the local pros. After testing out various pet service apps, I’ve nailed down the most trusted pet care brands that offer either a comprehensive dog care service or simply just dog walking:
- Rover: Known by many pet-parents as the “Uber” for dogs, Rover provides in-home pet boarding, daycare, sitting, and more. With the largest network of pet care providers, the popular dog-to-sitter matching app is all serious barks, no flings!
- Wag!: Many dog parents also jump excitedly for Wag!, which doesn’t cover as many U.S. cities as Rover but offers unique services beyond the standard ones. You always have access to free consultations with a vet and even have the option of signing up for online or in-home pet training. Not only that but some of the proceeds automatically go toward local animal shelters!
- Barkly Pets: Sometimes I simply need just brief help or a dog walker, so I’d switch over to Barkly, which specializes in just that! Also being the ‘only commission-free dog-walking app,’ finding a dog walker is so easy and convenient with them as they’ve also thought to include customized checklists and a map to track your best friend’s footprints!
2. Do your research
Okay, I don’t mean stalk but it’s helpful to be comfortable with your sitter’s background. There’s no need to go calling up their exes or to hold onto a piece of ID but you should look for trustworthy people with good reviews. This will really help you understand a bit more about your potential dog sitter and whether they carry any dog care experience.
3. Let Your Dog take a Good Whiff of the Sitter
With all the video-calling these days, especially during COVID-19, it doesn’t hurt to ask the pet sitter for a short intro call to help gauge their personality. However, at the end of the day, my belly is not the one being rubbed by the dog sitter so I need to make sure my pup also likes them.
I always arrange a meet-up to see whether Riven will snap at the sitter. If Riven turns her snooty head away and plays hard-to-love, then that means we have a new nanny.
Don’t forget to ask the sitter any important questions to get to know them a bit better. In my books, a good sitter is someone who will be playful and loving with Riven but also someone who won’t fall for those puppy dog eyes when she wants another handful of treats.
4. Judge the sitter’s home and make a doggy checklist
The pet sitter usually comes to the owner’s home, particularly if your dog is known to be really anxious in new places. After all, it’s best to have your pup feeling as comfortable as possible while avoiding any issues. However, if it’s easier to drop off Riven at the caretaker’s home, I’ll want to make sure they have secured fencing and a good space for Riven to play.
Either way, I make sure I leave a checklist of all the important “do’s and don’ts”:
- Do call in case of any emergencies (noting down alarm code, vet contact, and pet insurance details).
- Don’t squeal “outside” and squeak her favorite stuffed squirrel unless you mean serious business and want to play for a good hour.
- Don’t fall asleep on the couch with your dinner left out, or Riven will enjoy the feast (especially wings).
- Do feed her the antibiotics twice per day for my poor baby who was recently spayed.
- If Riven has an accident or makes a mess, the disinfectant spray is located in the lower cabinet on your left.
5. Paying the sitter and sniffing for signs of good work
If you’re using dog care apps, the sitters likely already established their hourly pay on their profile, and the app should provide secured payments for both parties. However, if you have some leeway over how much to pay the dog sitter, then consider the following average estimates:
- Per day: $20-$40
- Per hour-visit: $32
- Per overnight stay: $75-$85
Additionally, before I rate their dog sitting profile, I like to look for signs on whether or not the sitter did an excellent job, including:
- Whether Riven is exhibiting any odd personality change like hiding under the bed
- No shredded toilet paper in the bathroom (otherwise, this shows Riven’s separation anxiety, or worse, the sitter is unfamiliar with basic washroom conventions)
- Unusual odor or stains near the couch and under my bed where Riven likes to hide her vomit (especially after being improperly fed)
- The level of the food container and pill bottle to see how much was given
Luckily, I was able to find a perfect nanny to fill my best friend role for Riven when I’m not around and know they give Riven as much love as I do when they spend time together!
Let us know your top tips when it comes to finding the perfect sitter at whatthepup@spotandtango.com.
