• Tell us about all minor and major health problems your pet may have.
• Please be totally honest to help us better serve you.
• Make sure the collar fits. Otherwise, your dog may slip out of a too large collar while being walked. Choke Chains should never be worn unless while being walked.
• If you dog is prone to chew, please leave "chew toys" and take proper precautions to guard you personal items and home furnishings form his teeth while you're away.
• If your dog is not accustomed to walking on a leash, please practice with him before you leave or provide a place where he can be allowed to go outside.
• Have appropriate size water and food bowls for your pet according to weight and size. It never hurts to add extra water bowls. We don't want him to get hungry or thirsty.
• Leave an item of clothing you've recently worn where your pet sleeps to provide a "security blanket" for him.
• Make a list of your pet's favorite hiding places. This will prevent APPLE A DAY from having a panic attack when your pet is not where expected.
• It's important that we're aware of any unusual habits your pets have, i.e., destructive behavior when left alone, change in bowel or eating habits, etc.
• Clean food and water dishes before leaving town. We're concerned about proper hygiene for the pets under our care.
• Put the spoon you want us to use for the canned food out with the food.
• If your dog growls and snaps at us during a get acquainted visit, please understand when we ask that you make other arrangements for this care during your absence.
• Please provide a means of flea control. Fleas multiply rapidly.
• During the initial consultation, please try not to "force" you pet(s) to like us. Some pets are shy and can't be expected to warm up to a stranger immediately. With time and patience trust will build and a friendly relationship will be established.
• If you own both dog(s) and cat(s), please do not ask us to "ignore" the cats (i.e., not charge) during our visits. It is impossible for us because our conscience would not allow us to overlook a cat in need of food, medical care, or human attention.
Safety is a Primary Concern
• Count heads right before you leave. You wouldn't want to lock anyone in a closet.
• Advise us of anyone who may be on your premises or entering your home during the same time we are.
• Instruct anyone else coming or going while you're away to make sure all outside gates are properly secured.
• Make sure all doors and windows are locked before leaving. If outside doors have panes of glass near the push button lock, consider installing a deadbolt lock as well.
• Consider leaving a television or radio on while you are away. The noise can be a crime deterrent as well as provide companionship for your pet.
• Unplug any unnecessary appliances before you leave. This will prevent damage from electrical storms or injuries to mischievous pets who paw or chew on cords.
• Don't hide your house key outside the door, under doormats or flowerpots.
• Trim limbs from trees that could help a burglar climb into your house. Prune any bushes or trees near doors or windows. These may be used as hiding places by burglars.
Crime Deterrence Tips to Secure Your Home
• Make sure garage door is locked or secured. Secure sliding glass doors Use timers on interior lights to go on at dusk and off at bedtime. Use motion sensors on exterior lights.
• Continue mail and newspaper delivery. We can bring them inside.
• Don't discuss travel plans or absences from home in public places.
• Mow the lawn before you leave and arrange for exterior maintenance (lawn mowing, snow shoveling) as necessary during your absence from home.
• Put bicycles, outdoor toys, lawn furniture and garden tools away as they can easily be stolen.
• Ask us to adjust blinds or draperies and alter the lighting in your home.
• Place valuables in a safety deposit box and maintain an up to date list (along with photographs) of your possessions.
• Notify police of your absence and ask them to periodically check your home. Be sure and tell them APPLE A DAY will be visiting!
• Advise gate security that APPLE A DAY will be visiting your home and authorize entry.
• Inform your neighbors of your absence and use of a pet sitter. In order to protect your privacy, we will not disclose any information regarding your whereabouts or when you’re planning to be home, even if they’re your friends!
• If you have an alarm system, use it! If not, consider purchasing decals that say the home is protected by an alarm system and offer a reward for information on the theft of the home. Spotting the decal posted on a window or door may deter a burglar.
• Place a "Beware of Dog" sign on your property in a visible location. Whether you have a dog or not, this sign may deter a burglar. If you do have a dog, you have an automatic alarm.
Contacting Us
Feel free to contact your pet sitter to check up on your pets at any time. If you forgot to tell us something, please don’t worry about the time when you call to convey the information. Our ringer gets turned off at 8:00 p.m. Email is usually the fastest way to reach us & is the preferred way as everthing will be in writing, so if there are any details we need, we can refer back to them at any time.
We also use text messaging frequently.
We try to return all calls the same day, usually between 10am - 6pm. If you do not hear back from us in 24 hours, please try again – voice mails do sometimes get lost.
We'd be glad to provide regular updates via email or voice mail upon request. However, that takes away our time with your pets. Our motto is "no news is good news." If you don't hear from us, that means everything is just fine. Please make sure we have the telephone number (preferably more than 1) & email addresses (especially preferred if you're going out of the country) where you can be reached at all times.
Suggested Leave-Out Checklist
Muddy Paw Towels or Rags
Paper Towels – 2 rolls
Can Opener & Spoon
Watering Can, Plants (waterproof surface)
Leashes & Harnesses
Medicines
Name tags & Amount tags on feeding bins
Reminders & Changes
Broom, Dustpan & Vacuum
Carpet Spot Cleaner or Cleaning Machine
General Cleaner
Favorite Toys, Kongs
Brushes & Clippers
Treats
Remote Controls for TV or Stereo
Garbage / Litter bags
Extra Litter, Litter Scoop, Pooper Scooper
Additional Contact #’s (Hotel)
Pencil or Pen
Notes
Enjoy your time away!
How to Be an Ideal Client and Win Your Pet Care Professional's Heart!
The following tips come from talking with pet sitters, dog walkers, and dog daycare owners over the years, and hearing about situations that they have faced with their clients. This may seem like a lengthy list of things to remember, but if you keep these things in mind you'll be helping your pet sitter, dog walker, or dog daycare personnel provide the very best care possible for your pets. And rest assured, the person caring for your pets has a much longer list of things to do than you do!
Be prepared for your initial meeting. When you meet with your pet care provider for the first time, be sure to have the information available that may have been requested. This will probably include paperwork that was sent to in advance, keys, a garage door opener if necessary, a gate, alarm codes, or key cards. You may also be asked to show proof of vaccination.
If your pet care provider sends you paperwork to complete in advance, it's a good idea to highlight information you're unsure about, or simply make a list to refer to when you meet the pet sitter for the first time. And of course, if there's something not on the paperwork that you have questions about, be sure to make a note of that also. Completing the paperwork ahead of time will enable you and your pet care professional to go over things in a more leisurely way when you meet for the first time.
Being prepared will make a good first impression on the person you ask to care for your pets. And let's face it; people enjoy doing business with people who are prepared…it'll make things go more smoothly for everybody involved!
Be sure to provide contact and emergency information. Give your pet sitter or dog walker the phone number, email address, or other contact information where you'll be while away so they will be able to get in touch with you in case of emergency. Ideally this should be in your pet care providers' hands before you ever leave home.
Be honest about your pets' health and behavior. When you meet with a pet sitter, dog walker, or dog daycare for the first time, be honest about your pets' health and behavior. If your dog tends to be aggressive, withdrawn, afraid of storms, or has other characteristics that are worrisome, your pet care professional will need to know these things. It's understandable that as a pet owner, you may be hesitant to mention these things but many pet care providers have dealt with issues like these and will be able to work with your pet. If not, they may be able to suggest alternatives that will be more suited to you and your pet.
Book services at least 2 weeks in advance. Whenever possible, contact your pet sitter at least 2 weeks prior to the time you'll need their services. For pet sitting services during the holidays, even more notice is advisable since most pet sitters end up turning clients away at this time of year. Please don't assume that because you've used a particular pet sitter in the past that she'll have room for you if you call at the last minute.
Cancel services as far in advance as possible. Everyone knows that things happen and that plans change at the last minute, but whenever possible be sure to cancel with your pet sitter or dog walker as soon as you know you won't need their services. In essence, you have reserved a certain amount of time with your pet care provider; time they cannot spend with someone else's pets. The courtesy of canceling early allows them to book someone else at that time. Keep in mind, that many dog walkers and pet sitters will charge a fee if cancellation is made within a certain number of days of the scheduled service, so be sure to ask about their cancellation policy.
Be flexible with your requests. While your pet care professional's goal may very likely be to give you and your pets such wonderful service that you'll feel like you're her only client, chances are she has many others. When you speak with her, let your preferences be known but know that flexibility is the key. Her goal is to give you and your pets the best possible care. Although it may be your preference to have someone visit your pets at 7 a.m. sharp every morning during your absence, she may have five or six other morning clients and will need to schedule her visits according to route, pets' needs, and time. And at any time, unforeseen circumstances may arise that would prevent your pet sitter or dog walker from arriving at the exact specified time. Rest assured though, they will do their best to see to it that your needs and preferences are met.
Understand that extra services require extra time. Pet sitters and dog walkers are constantly budgeting their time and readjusting their schedule to accommodate things that come up unexpectedly. And while many will offer to do extras to make your home look lived in, their main focus is on your pets. Unless you've spoken with your pet sitter in advance about additional services, don't assume she'll be available to do them if you leave a laundry list of items without asking first. It puts her in an uncomfortable position, and because of time involved, could compromise the time she spends with your pets.
While most pet sitters are more than happy to do extra services on occasion, keep in mind that there may be extra charges involved. It's not that your pet sitter is trying to nickel and dime you, but some tasks that take you no time at all, may take more time for her simply because they're not routine tasks for her.
Inform your pet sitter or dog walker of any houseguests. If anyone will be in your home while you're away, discuss it with your pet sitter or dog walker. Many will not enter a home if they see someone is at your home that they don't know or aren't expecting. At first this may seem unreasonable but there are some very good reasons why pet sitters have this policy.
The number one issue is safety, for the pet sitter and for your pets. If your pet sitter or dog walker were to walk into a home that's being robbed it could prove deadly. He or she may also walk in on someone who is at the home for legitimate reasons, creating at best an awkward encounter, requiring an explanation by both parties.
In addition to the safety reasons for not wanting to enter a home when someone is there, it puts your pet sitter in an uncomfortable position if your houseguest says they'll care for your pets. They may mean well, but keep in mind that you've contracted service with your pet sitter or dog walker, and the decision to cancel that service can only come from you unless you've made other arrangements with your pet care provider.
Confirm your travel plans and pet sitting services. Confirm with your pet sitter before you leave town as one last confirmation that your trip is going as scheduled. There have been cases involving pet owners booking the wrong dates by mistake, or the pet care business adding them to their calendar on the incorrect dates. That confirmation just before you leave will ensure that you both have the correct dates.
Be sure your pet sitter or dog walker has the necessities. Make sure you leave enough food, medications, treats, or other food items your pet will need while you're away. Other supplies that your pet sitter may need might include paper towels, leashes, carrying cases or other items. See our Pet Owner's Checklist to help jog your memory.
Keep your pet sitter, dog walker, or dog daycare informed of any changes. If you call on the services of a professional pet care business repeatedly, you'll want to be sure they are aware of any changes in your pets' health, feeding instructions, or behavior. It's also important to inform them of any changes in your home such as a new alarm system, new keys, lighting, etc.
Pay your pet care bill as agreed. Many pet sitting businesses will require payment to be left for them to pick up on their first visit with your pets. Dog walkers and dog daycares often request payment in advance. Find out what the policy is for the pet care business that will be caring for your pets and be sure to pay your bill as requested. If it becomes necessary to contract last minute or extra services, be sure to check what the payment method will be for those as well, as they may be handled differently than regularly scheduled services.
If you have concerns, contact your pet care provider as soon as possible. Whether you return home after a two-week vacation or a long day at work and notice something that concerns you, call your pet care professional immediately. You and the person caring for your pets will be better able to help resolve any issues or misunderstandings if you're able to talk about it while it's fresh in your minds.
Chances are pretty good that your pets have already won the hearts of the person who'll be taking care of them. With a little bit of planning and understanding you can do the same!
© PetSitUsa. Used with permission
