It can feel overwhelming and a little scary to leave your beloved pet for the first time, but with some quality time and a bit of preparation, you both can have a wonderful time!
Socialize Your Dog
You are your pet’s world. If you don’t make an effort to expand that world, you will find yourself in a very difficult position. Introduce your dog to new people. Give them a chance to get to know a variety of humans and make friends with all sorts of people. You want your dog to see people as safe, friendly, and helpful. If your dog has a positive relationship with people in general, they will likely love your pet sitter.
Schedule a Meet and Greet
It is important for your dog to meet the pet sitter so that they can establish a connection. You want your dog to see the sitter as someone safe and friendly, someone that is permitted to be in your house. You also want to make sure they both get along and feel comfortable with one another. You want your dog to know this is a good human that you trust. Giving the sitter a chance to interact with your dog in your home will go a long way towards making the first pet sit a positive experience. The visit does not need to be very long; ten to fifteen minutes is likely plenty.
Provide Detailed Instructions
Pets thrive in routine, so make sure your pet sitter knows the routine.
- When does your dog normally eat?
- When do they normally go out?
- Do they always walk a certain route?
- How do they best take any medications?
- Do they like a certain toy or treat?
- Do they like the TV on or a radio or white noise?
- Do they have any bad habits the sitter should be aware of?
- Are any areas of the house off limits?
- Does anything need to be put away or stored for your absence?
- Does anything give your dog anxiety? (Storms, fireworks, baseball caps, alarm system sounds, etc)
- Are any treats off limits?
The more the pet sitter knows, the better they can keep your pet’s routine while you are away. Consider leaving detailed written instructions; it may feel like overkill to spell out dinner time or favorite toys, but your sitter will appreciate having a reference to refer to!
Start Small
If your pet has never been away from you, consider starting small. Maybe the first few visits are just dog walks or a half hour visit during a workday. Then maybe you spend a night or weekend away. You want your pet to feel safe and to know that you will always come back. Starting small helps build trust and reliability so that a longer trip is not filled with anxiety.
Provide Comfort Items and Treats
If your pet is new to pet sitting, consider leaving comfort items out for them. This could include a blanket that the two of you have snuggled under or a favorite pet bed or pillow they like to cuddle on. If your dog has special treats they love or that they only get on certain occasions, consider leaving those so they look forward to pet sitter visits. You want there to be positive aspects to your absence so your dog can focus energy on the good.
Be Brave!
If you have ever sent a kid to school for their first day and quietly fretted about it, cried at night about it, dreading the day, you’ve likely found it has all been harder on you than it has been on them. First day, the kid walks to the class, turns around, waves, and yells: “Bye, Mom!” The same is generally true for pets – if you are feeling calm and comfortable about the pet sitter, or you can at least project calmness, your dog will sense your energy and also feel calm.
Your pet sitter is going to provide undivided attention and loving care for your dog, and your dog will look forward to the visits. If you are brave and project comfort and acceptance, your dog will follow suit. Although your dog will certainly miss you and look forward to your return, they will also get a chance to visit with a dog-loving human who will provide them care and comfort while you are away. They will get a good experience, and you will both be extra grateful for each other upon your return. You and your doggo got this!
Peak City Puppy: https://peakcitypuppy.com/
Pet sitters: https://peakcitypuppy.com/plans-pricing/
