Listed below are some Do’s & Don’t’s when working with a professional pet sitter/dog walker.  This is not a comprehensive list.  It’s just a few things to help you and your professional pet sitter/dog walker.  

• Do fill out your profile completely before the Meet & Greet.
  • Your Pet Sitter/Dog Walker has multiple clients and needs to have your information at their fingertips.  
  • Also, there may be times when your pet sitter/dog walker needs to have someone cover and that person will need to go over your information before they start the visit.
• Do leave a towel out to wipe your dog on rainy and snowy days.
  • We do not want to grab the good towel because that is all we can find
• Do use the scheduling software for booking and canceling visits.
  • Unless told otherwise, we need clients to put requests in the software so that we can check availability.  
  • We need cancellations put in the software to make sure it comes off schedules.
• Do book as far in advance as possible.
  • Although it is based on availability, this is for your benefit.  If you are planning a big trip put your dates in as soon as possible to help make sure you get the dates you need.
• Do leave the leash and harness out in an easy to find location.
  • When a dog walker has to find the leash and harness it cuts into the walk time.
• Do inform your pet sitter/dog walker that you or someone in your family is not feeling well.
  • Professional pet sitters/dog walkers are self employed which means they don’t have any sick time.  If they get sick they have to work while sick.

• Don’t call, text, message or email your pet sitter/dog walker with requests.
  • Unless otherwise stated, your pet sitter/dog walker will have a system set up to make sure nothing is missed.  Following that will be the best way to get visits
• Don’t call, text, message or email your pet sitter/dog walker with cancellations.
  • This goes back to systems.  When  you cancel in the software it will cancel off of the pet sitter/dog walker’s schedule.  You want to cancel since it is your date.  You will be looking at the calendar and can double check.  There have been times when a wrong date has been given and if the client cancelled themselves they would have caught it.
• Don’t forget to fill out your profile.
• Don’t wait until the last minute to book or find a pet sitter/dog walker.
• Don’t leave out important information such as your dog being leash aggressive or your cat doesn’t like strangers.
  • Your pet sitter/dog walker needs this information to keep your pet and themselves safe.

This is not an all inclusive list, each pet sitter/dog walker has things that are must do’s.  Something to keep in mind is professional pet sitters/dog walkers are self employed and they do not have benefits that most people that work in an office have. They don’t get PTO or sick time.  When they take time off they don’t get paid. This is how they make their living.  Their policies are there to protect you and them.  Most don’t have an office staff so they will be answering the phone, working on scheduling, accounting, walks, and visits.  They do it all so their protocols help them keep everything running smoothly.  

Thank you for choosing a professional pet sitter/dog walker, we appreciate it.