Pawshake
- updated: 05/11/2016 With the holidays just around the corner, many pet owners have been booking a pet sitter. We have hundreds of passionate pet sitters at your service. Being a dog sitter is the most fun occupation there is, of course! But we also have to be aware that it’s not just a fun way of earning some money: it’s a big responsibility! That’s why it’s important to consider the implications for the dog before taking him or her into your care. How do you make the dog’s time with you as pleasant as possible? Here are 4 important tips for dog owners and sitters:
A thorough meet & greet
Always arrange a meeting BEFORE the booking begins and the owner leaves. It’s important for the dog and the sitter to familiarise themselves with one another. Will the dog be staying in the dog sitter’s home? Let the meeting take place at the dog's home, then. This way, the dog can get to know the new environment, the dog sitter and other family members and resident pets, while the owner is there for reassurance.
Go for a walk together
The best way to get to know a dog is by taking a walk together with the dog and the owner. The pooch can get to know your neighbourhood and you learn something too: How does he or she react to strangers, other dogs and noises? During the walk, the owner can tell you all about his or her four-legged friend and his habits at home. Dog owners, take note! A good dog sitter asks a lot of questions: What is the dog used to? How much exercise do they get? What games does he or she like? What are they afraid of? How do they react to other dogs? A great pet sitter will leave you dizzy with so many questions! There is no such things as too much information about a potential pet client.
A warm and calm welcome
When the owner drops off the dog at the pet sitter’s place, it’s good to have a calm atmosphere. The dog owner shouldn’t be saying a dramatic and emotional goodbye to the dog and both humans should go about it as if it were no big deal to be left at someone else’s house without their owner! Though for most dogs, it really is a big deal. Make sure the dog doesn’t get overstimulated on top of the stress of the separation. No screaming children or loud music. Let them do their thing, and let the dog chose how and when to approach you instead of the other way around. Dogs are always looking to have calm and relaxed relationships with others and want to avoid stress. That’s why it is important to get to know the calming signals of dogs, such as yawning and turning their heads away, as well as stress signals like panting and showing the whites of their eyes (so-called “whale eye”). Those signals are often subtle, but they are essential to understanding dogs. With calming signals, the dog is telling you: I want to avoid this stressful situation, I don’t want to do any harm!
The dog is dependent on the dog sitter
As a dog sitter, you are temporarily responsible for you new big (or little friend)! He or she depends entirely on you! This means that you shouldn’t plan too many activities during the stay. Staying in an unfamiliar environment is already quite a strain on the dog, so don’t drag them along everywhere you go and don’t leave them home alone if it can be helped at all. Take into account that the dog may behave differently when his owner is gone. He can exhibit separation anxiety, whine at night and become very stressed. Never punish the dog, just be there. Being a calm and friendly presence for the dog makes it much more likely, that he or she will feel at home soon. It doesn’t work right away? Be patient. The dog needs a little time to adjust. Chances are, so do you!
For the dog owners: Only book a dog sitter if you feel completely comfortable with them. Having checked their profile, reviews and having met them in person, you can book in good faith. During the stay, the dog sitter can share photos of your your furry friend via the Pawshake app. This way you can see that he’s having a good time with the pet sitter and you can relax on holiday!
We are of course curious about your dog sitting adventures. Don’t forget to share photos of your (Pawshake) dog on our Facebook-page or on Instagram!
