Tips for Conducting a Pet Sitter Interview
Just as much as you are interviewing a potential pet sitter, they are interviewing you as well. You always want to make sure to thoroughly vet your pet sitter and make sure they will be a good fit for your pet and for you. Each pet sitter and pet sitting company probably operates a bit differently from each other, as there is no right way to run a pet sitting company, but there are some basics that should be in place when selecting a pet sitter.
There is no one size fits all for pet sitters, as some specialize in just cats or just dogs, or even provide care to exotic pets and livestock. With the boom of on demand pet sitters through apps like Wag and Rover, you will need to be more prudent than ever in your search to find a reliable pet sitter. You must set aside time and realize that it may take time and even a few phone interviews until you find someone or a company who would be a good fit.
Before leaving your pet in the care of a pet sitter or dog walker there should always be an initial meeting, called a ‘meet and greet’ or ‘consultation’. This is as much an opportunity for you to interview the potential pet sitter as well as an opportunity for them to interview you and your pets. This also gives the pet sitter a chance to meet your pets in their home and interact with them. There are many times I arrive at a meet and greet and I hear ‘Wow, Fifi is connecting with you more than the other person we interviewed’. For me this is a good sign, not only does it indicate to me that the dog is a good fit, but the owner is too. They are taking the time and putting in the effort to find the right fit for Fifi. While The Pet Lady provides a free meet and greet for all potential clients, it is not uncommon for a company or person to charge for a meet and greet or consultation.
We will discuss a few important questions you should be asking your potential pet sitter or dog walker next, but please note that Pet Sitters International has a great free download checklist of the top seven questions you should be asking your pet sitter in an interview on their website, www.petsit.com.
The first one I will touch on is a combination of two of PSI’s most important questions to ask. Licensing, insurance and bonding. Sounds fun, right? Well, it is important to ask these questions, fun or not, as you need to know if you, your pet, or the pet sitter is covered in an emergency. Things happen and we need to be PUPared for them. Also, certain states, cities and jurisdictions require different business documents, so you should familiarize yourself with what may be required in your area.
The second one I will touch on is can the person or company provide references. For example, The Pet Lady asks our clients for feedback on Google, there many companies will get reviews and these are viewable to the public. If there is a negative review, how does the person or company handle the situation? Beyond that, can the person or company provide current clients who can provide references.
Another thing I get asked a lot: is there a contract we need to sign. The Pet Lady does have all clients sign a service contract. This lays out what the duties of the company are in terms of care of pets and the client's home as well as what the expectation of the client is. This is an important thing to ask, so the person or company can provide you with all details. For example, if you want your pet sitter to arrive at dinner time to feed Fluffy, for one company that may be 4pm and another may be 6pm. Contracts and service agreements lay out the time frames for those services. The Pet Lady provides our dinner visits between 4pm and 530pm.
A great thing to bring up in your pet sitter interview is if the person or pet sitter has any specialized training or is a member of an educational association. I am a Certified Professional Pet Sitter, this means I have taken the time to learn and study all aspects of the industry from the business side to the pet side and have completed a course and test. This also means I am committed to continued education to keep my certificate active. This is a great way to learn more about your pet sitter and their passions within the industry. Hiring a pet sitter who is a member of an organization such as Pet Sitters International or the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters demonstrates the pet sitter’s commitment to the job and industry at large. These professional organizations provide educational resources and business tools to help their members provide the best possible services to pets and their owners.
Other considerations to take into account would be things like how much notice the sitter needs in order to schedule a service request from you. Some sitters will take last minute bookings, while others require a specific notice. Does the pet sitter have office hours and when will emails, texts and messages be answered? Most sitters and companies, while they work long hours, only are available to answer questions during specific hours of the day.
One of the most important things I mention to all clients are our emergency policies and this is something I highly recommend you ask your potential pet sitter. What if they are sick or their car breaks down? What if your pet needs medical attention? Or depending on the area you live in, what if a natural disaster occurs? While each sitter and pet sitting company is different, they should all have policies in place for if emergencies happen. The Pet Lady employs staff who pride themselves on working as a team when emergencies arise.
While a lot of these questions can sometimes be answered on the sitter's or company's website, it is good to review these things during your interview. The potential pet sitter will have questions for you regarding care of your pets and your home as well. According to PSI “When you engage the services of a professional pet sitter, [...] make sure all your questions are answered to your satisfaction. This ensures that you can leave your beloved pets with the peace of mind knowing that they will be well cared for. That’s a win-win-win situation for you, your pets and your pet sitter.
If you are in need of pet care, consider hiring a professional pet sitter in your area. If you are located in Naperville, Elmhurst, Villa Park or Lombard, IL, we would love to meet your furry friends! You can contact The Pet Lady here or call 847.802.9534