Find the best pet sitting services in your area quickly
If you are looking for dog walking services or doggy day care, it is important to choose a sitter who fits your situation perfectly. But what should you look for in a great petsitter profile? How do you make sure that you choose that reliable pet sitter that fits your pet perfectly? There are a number of things that are important to look for in a pet sitter profile. We have listed them for you. And do you want to be a dog sitter yourself? Make sure your Pawshake profile meets these requirements.
These are the 5 things you need to look for:
1) Beautiful and relevant pictures
A great picture says more than a thousand words. Beautiful, well-lit and qualitative photos convey a positive feeling and show at a glance with whom you are dealing with.
It all starts with a clear profile picture. A great profile pic shows the sitter's face without any sunglasses, filters or stickers. The first impression you get from a person is very important, and something as simple as a great profile pic can make all the difference.
A good petsitter also shows who he or she is by showing with beautiful gallery pictures. These gallery pics might be photos of the petsitter playing with pets or walking dogs. Gallery pictures can also give an impression of the environment where your pet will stay. Dog sitters that offers 'doggy day care' might show pictures of their house and garden, or of the places where the dog (or cat) can hang out. For example, someone who offers dog walking service can show photos of off-leash areas in the neighborhood. In short: great gallery photos literally give you an image and an idea of what to expect from your sitter.
2) This is me!
A detailed description explains who the petsitter is and why he or she chose to start taking care of pets. Where does the love for pets come from? What is the personality of the petsitter, in what kind of household does he or she live? If you are looking for the perfect dog sitter, it is important that your most pressing questions are already answered in the description on the pet sitter's profile. For example about their experience: What kind of experience does this person have with animal care? Does the sitter have pets of his own? What is their views education and training? Did the sitter take any courses, read books or volunteered in a shelter?
Of course there is plenty of room in the description for other interesting facts about work, hobbies and other personal things. You are of course looking for a pet sitter with whom you have some chemistry, so the personal aspect is also very important!
3) A description of the services
At the top of each profile, you always see services provided by the sitter, such as doggy daycare, pet boarding, house visits (often used for cats) or dog walking service. You will also see the prices there. But how these services are implemented in practice might be different for each sitter. See if you can already read in the description what the pet sitter has to offer exactly: How long does a home visit take on average? How often and where does the babysitter is planning to walk with your dog? Are small chores around the house (such as watering plants) included?
Many sitters will also tell you what kind of pets they accept. Only small dogs, for example, or only pets that are vaccinated and chipped. Some sitters have lots of experience with anxious or aggressive animals, others are looking for a more 'easy going' dog. So look out for a pet sitter profile that not only fits your personality, but also your pet's!
4) Practical information
A lot of practical matters and appointments come to mind when you are looking for dog sitting services near you. Think of key transfers, bringing and picking up the dog, bringing along things like food and your dog's favorite toys and blankets, contact details of the vet, emergency contacts and so on. In a great profile, you can already find which practical questions you would have to consider and what the pet sitter has to offer or requires from you as a pet owner, when it comes to logistics and agreements.
You will also find stuff like the cancellation policy on the pet sitter's profile. This determines whether you will receive a full, partial or non-refund of your money in the event of a cancellation. Most sitters have a 'flexible' cancellation policy, which means that you can cancel free of charge up to 5 days before the reservation.
Finally, a good profile contains an updated calendar. So please always check if the dogsitter is available in your requested period.
5) Excellent communication
No matter how beautiful a pet sitter profile is, you only get to know each other really well when you meet up. Good and clear communication is of great importance if you want to trust your beloved pet to the pet sitter. It's crucial that your dog sitter can communicate fast and efficiently in the event of calamities, but also when you have to make arrangements for bringing and picking up your dog, key transfer and so on.
So: take the time to get to know each other. At Pawshake, this can be done free of charge and without obligation via the 'contact' button. You see the response and reaction time on the pet sitter's profile. Great sitters respond quickly and adequately to your messages.
Whether you are looking for doggy day care, home dog boarding or you just need occasional dog walking services: for every type of pet service, your peace of mind is the most important thing. Do you have a great connection with your sitter and your pet too? Perfect! You have a match! Do you have doubs whether this pet sitter can fulfil your requirements? Do not feel bad to say 'no' burdened and just look further for another great sitter. Your pet only deserves the very best!
Want to find a pet sitter right away? Look for a sitter in your area!
