Pet Sitter and Dog Walker

Q. What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A. Make sure you are hiring a business that is bonded, insured, licensed and has the experience you require for your pet. For example, if you have a giant breed dog, you will want a pet care provider that has extensive experience with giant breeds. Also, please don't skimp due to cost when it comes to your pet. While the neighborhood kids usually cost less than a professional, they are also not insured; most importantly, they will not have the training to help your pet in an emergency.

Q. If you were a customer, what do you wish you knew about your trade? Any inside secrets to share?

A. Pet care providers all have different prices and include different perks, so make sure you know what exactly you are paying for. Some providers will put out food and water at no additional cost, while others will charge an additional few dollars. Some charge extra to administer medications, some do not. Know your pet care provider, and if a Service Agreement is involved (which a professional service will use), read it carefully and ask for your own copy. There is no excuse for you not to have a copy of a Service Agreement, so if your pet provider stalls on this point, find another provider.

Q. What questions should a consumer ask to hire the right service professional?

A. The following are the questions I would ask in hiring a pet care provider:
How long have you been a professional pet care provider? Are you bonded/insured/licensed? May I see your proof of bonding/insurance/license? With what cat/dog/small animal breeds do you have experience? What ages do you work with? Do you have experience with behavioral issues such as timidity, the different types of aggression, fear, territoriality, separation anxiety, submissive urination and others? What EXACTLY is your training method?

Q. What important information should buyers have thought through before seeking you out?

A. Before seeking out a pet care professional, frankly consider what level of care you wish to provide your pet. Do you want the fully trained professional whose job it is to care for your pet, or are you comfortable with a lower cost student/neighborhood kid/friend? If you aren't sure, think of it this way: who would you want in an emergency? If you dog was attacked by another dog, if your cat had a severe allergic reaction, who would you want when time counts? Would you want the pet care professional who knows exactly what to do in an emergency, or the terrified kid frantically calling her mom while your pet suffers? This may seem like an extreme example, but it is also quite realistic.
Finally, please recognize that you are purchasing the services of a professional, therefore, it will cost more than what the kid next door will charge.