Are you on the hunt for a new pet sitter? What are some things you need to do to prepare your new pet sitter? At Creature Comforts of Charlotte Pet Sitting, we love new clients that are very well prepared to meet us.
Having a new pet sitter care for your pets for the first time can be stressful for all involved. But by doing your homework upfront, you can make this the start of a long and mutually rewarding relationship. Your pet sitter will appreciate the effort, and your pets will thank you as well!
Below are some tips.
Get Acquainted.
Before you leave your pets in the care of a new sitter, make sure they come over for a consultation. Get to know him or her. See how comfortable you are with this new person in your life, and try to get a feel for the chemistry between the sitter and your pets.
If something about the new sitter makes you feel uneasy, or if your pets seem uncomfortable with him or her, you might want to look for someone else to care for your pets. In matters as important as this, it is wise to trust your instincts. There have been a few times where we were not comfortable with the pet, or the client was not comfortable with us. It happens 
Make Your Expectations Clear.
When you meet with the sitter initially, be very clear in communicating your needs and expectations. Here are some sample topics that you’ll want to discuss and agree on:
Payment: Make sure that you and your new sitter have discussed payment arrangements and have agreed to all terms, preferably in writing. Be sure to settle on the per-day or per-visit fee, amount to be paid in advance (if any), terms for final payment, etc. For new clients, we require payment up front.
Leave Detailed Instructions.
Make sure that the sitter has complete instructions regarding the care and feeding of each of your pets. Here are some examples the types of information you might want to include:
Feeding: Provide feeding instructions for each pet, including who, when, where, what, and how; for example: What are your preferred feeding times? Where should the food be placed? What food should be given to each pet? What should the sitter do if multiple pets compete for food? Should the sitter wait around until the food is gone and then clean up the dishes immediately, or should the food be left out unattended for the evening or overnight?
Medication: If a pet is on medication, leave complete instructions for administering the medication; for example: Where is the medication stored? At what time(s) each day is the medication given? What is the dosage? How is the medication administered? If possible, demonstrate the process to your new sitter during your initial visit, and, if possible, have the sitter administer the medication in your presence at least once before you leave.
Exercise: Provide detailed instructions for exercising your pets. How often should your dogs be walked? How should the sitter clean up after the dogs? Should your cats to have interactive playtime each day?
Household Tasks: Provide detailed instructions for routine household maintenance tasks. How often should the litter box be cleaned, and how? Where should the daily mail be placed? Will you want your sitter to take out the garbage? If the phone rings, should the sitter answer it? Also, if your home has a burglar alarm system, ensure that your sitter is properly trained in how to operate it and what to do in the case of a false alarm.
Provide Contact Information
Hopefully nothing will go wrong while you are away. But it’s best to be prepared. Be sure to provide your sitter with emergency contact information, including the following:
Your Whereabouts: Provide your sitter with your detailed itinerary, including hotel contact information and cell phone numbers.
Local Contacts: Provide your sitter with the names and phone numbers of at least one local contact who can help in an emergency. This can be a local relative, a trusted neighbor, or a close friend.
Veterinarian: Be sure to provide your sitter with your veterinarian’s name, address, and phone number. Also, if your veterinarian uses an after-hours emergency service, provide contact information for that service as well.
Don’t Worry!
If you’ve followed the guidelines above, chances are good that your pets will be well cared for in your absence.
It won’t hurt to call your pet sitter once or twice while you are away, but don’t overdo it. If you’ve done your homework, you, your pets, and the sitter can all have a relatively stress-free time while you are away.
Creature Comforts of Charlotte Pet Sitting
http://www.creaturecomfortscharlotte.com