Pet sitter communication guide

Love being around dogs and cats and want to help out other pet lovers? Pet owners all over the globe are looking for help with their pets when they find themselves indisposed or off on holiday. As much as we’d like to spend every waking hour with our animals, sometimes it just isn’t possible – that’s where our kind and caring pet sitting services come in. 

If you have pet care experience but you’ve never been pet sitting before, offering your pet sitting services can be a daunting experience to begin with. Here we take you through the essentials with a step-by-step guide, how to book, as well as what to expect from your first experience pet sitting. 

How to get started as a pet sitter

1. Create your sitter profile 

First things first, you’ll need to create a sitter profile. Here, you’ll detail your pet care experience, a bit about you and the reasons you want to house sit. It's at this point that you can also apply for your free ID and background checks.

Top tip: don't forget to request a few house and pet sitting references for your profile. Having at least three references on your profile can increase your chances of securing a house sit by 20%!

2. Search for a house sit 

Search for house sits by location, date, duration or pet type to find the right fit for you. You may also receive direct requests from owners so make sure your availability is up-to-date in your dashboard. 

Top tip: remember, you’re only confirmed for a sit once you and the owner both click ‘confirm’. So, be sure to apply to multiple sits to increase your chances of landing your first house sit. 

3. Apply for your sit 

Apply for your chosen sits with a friendly, personalised application message. This is your chance to shine, so make it unique (that means no copy and pasting!), reference things the owner has mentioned in their listing, and remember to always focus on the pets and how you can help.

Need some tips to get you started? Check out our handy blog post on how to write the perfect application message.

4. Communication

Once you’ve heard back from the pet owner, it's time to communicate with them. Start by setting up a video call with them where you can chat about their pet, home and requirements.

This is also your chance to ask any questions you might have about the sit, and it may be useful to come prepared with a list of things to ask, such as: What’s the pet’s current routine? Do you mind if I work from home? Is your pet allowed in the bed/on the furniture?

5. Meet and greet

Once you’ve both confirmed, try to arrange a meet and greet and ask the owner for a home tour. We highly recommend a meet and greet, whether done in person or via a video call as this provides a great opportunity for you to get to know the pet and their home a little better, before the sit takes place.

Response time expectations

To increase your chances of confirming a house sit (and of course, to keep our community the kind, courteous place it is), try to respond to all messages to and from owners as soon as you can.

Even if your circumstances have changed since you first applied and you can no longer do the sit, the owner will appreciate you letting them know so they can reach out to alternative sitters.

10 Things every pet sitter should know

Along with a love of pets and a good overall sense of responsibility and care, we’ve compiled a list of 10 things every successful pet sitter should know: 

1. Communication

Communication is key to a happy and successful sit, especially when it comes to providing care for someone’s precious furbaby.

Most pet owners love to receive updates about how their pets are doing while they’re away, and it’s expected that pet sitters will keep the owners updated with photos and updates of their pets. You should agree in advance with the owner about how often they’d like to be updated - some prefer a weekly update, while others may feel more reassured by a daily photo. 

2. Expectations

Every family and their pet will have different requirements and house sitting etiquette expectations so it’s vital you understand what’s expected of you from each individual owner to make sure you provide the highest quality of care. As well as the information listed in the owner's Welcome Guide, your pre-sit video call and meet and greet should provide the perfect opportunity for you to make sure you know exactly what's expected of you.

3. Emergency contact information

Make sure you have all the necessary means of communication with your owner. If they’re on holiday, it’s a good idea to get their hotel number as well as their mobile. That way, you’ll be able to contact them wherever they are.

4. Vets contact number

No one wants to think of the worst-case scenario but sometimes the unthinkable does happen. Make sure you have the owner's veterinary emergency contact numbers as well as any information about their pets medical history. 

As a TrustedHousesitters member, you can also reach out to a ​​free 24/7 Vet Advice Line. Members can find the number on their dashboard and call it for expert advice from veterinary nurses, anytime, anywhere whilst on a sit.

5. A list of instructions

A pet with a routine is a happy pet! While you’ll have covered this with the owner in advance, it’s always a good idea to get a detailed itinerary from them so you know exactly what your pet’s schedule is. Once you have confirmed a sit, your owner should share a Welcome Guide with you in advance - this will be available via your member dashboard in the 'My Current and/or My Upcoming Sits' section. 

Can’t see the Welcome Guide? Simply click the 'Request a Welcome Guide' button. This will send a message to your owner letting them know that you have requested a Welcome Guide and will prompt them to get it shared.

6. Food and feeding guidelines

How many times are you supposed to feed the pet you’re looking after? How much is given to him/her? Are they allowed any treats, and if so, at what point in the day? You never want to under or overfeed so having this detailed plan will help your pet stick to his/her regular routine. 

7. Cleaning supplies

Accidents happen, and hopefully this won’t be too regular of an occurrence but it’s always good to find out where your pets owners cleaning supplies are in case you return from an extra muddy walk one day!

8. Routine and personality

All pets have a routine and their own individual personalities. Where do they like to sit during the day? Do they retreat to their bed after a walk? If the pet you’re looking after is older, or nervous, find out what works best to keep them calm and happy.

9. Pet insurance details

If you’re looking after a pet with specific health conditions or additional needs, make sure you have their pet insurance card with their contact information. 

10. House keys and other essentials

Finally, and this may seem like an obvious one but trust us it can easily be forgotten – don’t forget to get all the necessary house keys, alarm codes, and any other means of entering for your pet sit. There’s nothing worse than being ill-prepared and denied entry for your new fur-friend.

The range of needs taken care of as pet sitters

Different pets will have different needs so it’s important to be flexible and adapt to different challenges. So, what are the most important areas you need to be aware of? Read on to find out.

Anxiety

Separation anxiety is a common problem, especially in dogs. The pet you’re looking after may be naturally anxious and need a bit more patience on your behalf or he/she might be worried about you as a new arrival in their home. Whatever their situation, it’s important to take things slowly and give them their space as they adjust. 

Diets

As we said earlier, sticking to your pet’s specified diet is so important for maintaining their health and the structure of their day. If they have allergies, it goes without saying to be even more diligent and stick to their owners' meal guide.

Exercise 

Does the dog you’re sitting go out before lunch for a five-mile hike, or prefer three 10 minute walks a day? Whatever their exercise needs, make sure you stick to their regime. 

Medication

Whether it’s a once-a-day pill mixed in with their food, or more involved medication like insulin, before you confirm a sit you’ll need to make sure you’re confident and experienced enough to carry out administering any medication the pet may need. Other aspects to consider for long-term sits are worming and medicated baths if the pet you’re sitting for has skin issues. 

Where to go for help and advice

If you experience any issues or just need some help, your friendly Membership Services team are here to help. Don’t forget you can also ask for help and advice over on our Community Forum. Made up of both owner and sitter members, ​​it’s the perfect place for those sharing a love of pets and travel to come together.

Pet sitting for a new family and their furbaby is an exciting time for any budding pet sitter. Our blog is packed with even more tips and tricks for new sitters, from how to create the perfect sitter profile to tips on how to make your pet sitting experience a success, so be sure to have a sniff around!