September is Pet Sitter Education Month

What makes a truly great pet sitter? One of the most stark contrasts between a “hobbyist” neighborhood pet sitter and a professional, experienced professional is their extensive education. Professional pet sitters invest a great deal of time and money into their education to allow them to best care for your pets.

This month in particular, let’s celebrate our knowledgeable, experienced pet sitters as we wrap up Pet Sitter Education Month!

Pet Sitter Red and Green Flags

What should pet parents look for when choosing someone to care for your beloved pets?

🟢 Green Flags: What to Look For

Professionalism

• The sitter has an established, insured business
• The sitter uses a service agreement
• The sitter has clearly stated policies and procedures
• The onboarding process is smooth and clear
• This is a full time job for the business owner

Experience

• The sitter has been in business for many  years
• They have experience with different pets; breeds, ages, sizes, and temperaments
• The sitter has experience with pets who have unique needs or medical needs

Education & Training

• The sitter has professional training or certifications
• They participate in continuing education
• They are trained in pet first aid/CPR
• The sitter is a member of professional industry associations

Safety & Emergencies

• The sitter has a clear emergency plan
• There are existing plans and policies in place for a sick or injured pet
• They know what to do if there is a fire, earthquake, power outage, or other emergency

🔴 Red Flags: What to Avoid

Limited Experience

• The sitter has few or no professional references
• The sitter has not been in business long
• The sitter has limited experience with different types of pets or breeds

Poor/Unprofessional Communication

• No initial meet-and-greet or opportunity to discuss your pet’s needs ahead of time
• Casual communication vs. professional
• The sitter gives few or no updates or pictures/videos while they are with your pet

Hobbyist/Pet Lover vs. Professional Pet Sitter

• Sitter has no certifications or animal education training
• Sitter makes promises about quality care without asking detailed questions about your pet
• They have very low rates
• The sitter provides no written policies or does not make rates known
• The sitter doesn’t not use a service contract

Safety & Emergencies

• There is no backup plan for emergencies or clear emergency protocol
• The sitter may panic and leave your pet alone in an emergent situation
• Sitter may handle an emergency improperly and further endanger your home and your pets

While a hobbyist animal lover may mean well, they simply don’t possess the extensive education required to handle every type of pet and every unexpected situation that may arise. Stick to these green flags of a true professional pet sitter and try to avoid these red flags to ensure you hire the best pet sitter for the job!

 

 

 

 

 

Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Pet Sitter

Before choosing someone to care for your pets, don’t be afraid to ask a few questions. Most professional pet sitters offer a completely complimentary meet-and-greet prior to any pet-sitting service to allow pet parents to get to know them and ask any questions they may have.

Here are a few questions we recommend you keep in your back pocket:

What training/certification do you have?

Most professional pet sitters will have completed a variety of training programs to better their education. Ensure your pet sitter is Pet CPR certified (and it’s not expired).

How many years have you been in business?

While it’s certainly possible for a brand new business to do an exemplary job, choosing a pet sitter that has been in business 5+ years helps ensure professionalism and experience.

What happens if your sitter can’t make a scheduled visit?

Many smaller, solo pet sitters don’t have a backup plan. Traffic, car accidents, illnesses, weather, and unforeseen circumstances can prevent a pet sitter from completing a promised visit. We recommend choosing a team of professional pet sitters so you always have a backup sitter in case of emergency on the pet sitter’s end.

What is your emergency protocol?

Does the sitter have an established emergency protocol? This question should not elicit a ‘deer in headlights’ look. Professional pet sitters have a written plan for emergencies so they can remain calm and keep your home and pets safe in case of emergency.

Can I see your references/reviews?

A professional pet sitter should have a myriad of positive reviews to point you to. Great pet sitters generally have a whole host of 5-star reviews, and pleased clients who would be happy to provide a reference for their services.

How Claws and Paws Commits to Ongoing Pet-Sitter Education

We believe that learning should never stop. While we celebrate Pet-Sitter Education Month in September, we work diligently year-round to ensure all our sitters maintain a top-notch education. Our staff is certified in Pet First Aid/CPR, has passed the Pet Sitter Certification course, Working With Dogs course & Dog Behavior & Body Language course. Our owner, Gina uses a client service agreement, has rates clearly stated and all client info & pet info is private and securely housed in the Time To Pet app for organization for both the team and clients, so no visit gets missed. Through that app, we all send daily updates, pictures and videos to each client, with clear communication feed so we’re all on the same page.

No pet sitter can know everything, but we at Claws and Paws Pet Sitting commit to continuing to learn, asking questions, staying informed, and always looking for ways to improve so we can continue to offer you and your pets the very best.

We hope our 30+ years of experience, extensive team of educated pet-sitters, and 35+ 5-star reviews reflect our dedication and commitment to providing excellent pet care to every pet in the North County San Diego, CA area. 🐾 Questions about our services? Reach out today at https://clawsandpawspetsitting.com/! 

Why Education Matters

This month is a great reminder that pet sitting is a real responsibility. Not a hobby or a ‘side-gig,’ but an established profession filled with dedicated individuals. We are proud to be part of this profession where we can continue learning and growing while doing something we love: caring for your pets.

This September, we encourage every pet parent to ask questions, look for green flags, recognize those red flags, and choose a pet sitter who is committed to providing knowledgeable, safe, and compassionate care.

Happy Pet Sitter Education Month from all of us at Claws & Paws Pet Sitting Service LLC!