5 Things to Consider Before Pet Sitting

When taking on the responsibility of watching someone else’s pet there are things you need to remember. Along with ensuring the pets are taken care of to the standards of the owner, there are other factors that can affect your ability to take care of a pet. Before you agree to take a pet sitting job, make sure you are prepared by consulting this quick list.

1. Pets may react poorly to their owners leaving.

When interacting with someone else’s animals, even if they belong to close friends, they will not act the same way around you as they do when their owners are around. It is important to remember how animals will react to being without their owners and how that may affect your ability to take care of the pet. For example, in my most recent pet sitting experience my friend’s dog, Leo, was uncomfortable going to the bathroom on his leash. We realized later that it was because he was feeling anxious from being left alone so much during the day. Even though I have spent time around Leo his behavior was very different when his owners were taken out of the equation. Keep in mind how the animal may be feeling. Be sure to remain patient and you will help to reduce their stress.

2. Not all pets like to be touched.

Although it seems enticing to try to give love to someone’s pet while you are watching them, it may not be the best idea. Animals can be very particular and when you try to treat them the way you treat your own pets it may make them uncomfortable. Make sure to ask the owner about their pet’s personality so you have an idea on what might upset them during your time watching them. Even after receiving important information from the owner, it is still important to ease into your interactions with any animal. By keeping an animal feeling safe and allowing them to rule their own space you can drastically improve your relationship with them.

3. You may not have as much patience with other people’s pets.

While we all love animals, there will always be a special place in our hearts for our own pets. When you are watching an animal, there is always a chance that you will deal with some kind of mess. With our own pets, we can easily accept some of the dirtier jobs they create; but when it comes to other animals, it may not be so easy. You will inevitably have to do some of those dirtier jobs while pet sitting so preparing yourself ahead of time will help you be more efficient in your duties. I like to bring certain supplies to the houses in which I am pet sitting so I can be sure that if anything were to happen, I have the supplies on hand to use. The more preparation time you give yourself before the job, the better off you will be.

4. Pet sitting is a time commitment.

When I took on watching my friend’s dog Leo, there were a lot of factors I didn’t consider before taking the job. The main issue was the amount of time I had to commit each day in order to ensure Leo was taken care of. I didn’t realize just how much time it would take me to drive to their house and take Leo outside as well as making sure the caged animals were clean and fed. This affected my free time as well as the time I had to do homework. While I was more than happy to spend time with my friend’s pets, it was hard to adjust my schedule in order to satisfy the time requirement that the job presented. Understanding what the job entails is one of the most important aspects of being prepared for pet sitting.

5. Treat pet sitting like a favor, not a job.

At the end of the day, you wouldn’t be agreeing to take care of these animals if you didn’t love them. When you are taking time out of your life to watch someone’s pets don’t do it for the compensation. Even if you are trying to make a little extra cash by taking on pet sitting jobs, you can still act as if you are doing a favor. By not treating the experience like a job you will often find yourself learning more and the entire experience will be more enjoyable.

Pet sitting is incredibly rewarding and can be a great way to make extra money. But it can also be educational and build relationships with other people who love animals. If you are on the fence about taking on the responsibility of pet sitting then take the items on this list to heart. If you don’t feel like you have the time or patience to take care of an animal don’t take the job. Animal owners love their animals like children and want someone who will be able to fully commit to the job. Don’t be afraid to try pet sitting if you have the time and desire, just be sure to understand the responsibility and put your all into it. The pets will thank you.

Are you thinking about pet sitting? Leave a comment and let us know! Also, be sure to sign up to list your services on Sitting for a Cause!