What should I ask a pet sitter before agreeing to a pet sit?

You should ask a pet sitter a few questions about themselves to gauge whether they are a genuine person. The most important thing to ask is about their previous experience pet sitting.

First and foremost, you want to make sure that the pet sitter has the traits that you are looking for in someone who will be caring towards your animals. 

For instance, you will likely want them to be kind, caring, reliable, friendly and responsible. You can generally understand this by talking to someone and asking particular questions about themselves.

You also need to ask the pet sitter about their experience with other pets. Usually, people who love animals will talk fondly of other pet sitting experiences which will help you understand if they will be a good fit for you. 

Another good sign is if they have or have had their own pets in the past as it means that they understand the demands and responsibilities involved with keeping pets and suggests that they like animals.

Depending on the pets that you have, you may require different skills from pet sitters. For instance, if you have horses, you may need someone more reliable with specific horse experience rather than someone who has only looked after cats before.

You can ask the following questions to work out whether pet sitters have the skills you need:

• To find out if someone is reliable: How do you deal with difficult pets? Have you ever had an emergency situation when pet sitting? What did you do?
• To find out if someone is communicative: How often do you usually keep pet owners updated?
• To find out if someone is caring: What do you like the most about pet sitting?
• To find out if they like animals: Have you had your own pets before?
• To find out about their experience: Have you done any other house sits before?

Usually, you can work out if someone is responsible when they ask you certain questions about the pet sitting job. 

It is a good sign if the pet sitter asks you questions because it means that they want to do a good job and they want to understand their role well.

If someone is responsible and experienced they will often ask you questions like:

• What are the pets’ routines?
• Is there anything I need to know about the pets?
• Do the pets have any dietary restrictions?
• Is there anything in particular the pets are not allowed to do?

If you don’t arrange the pet sit through a trusted website, it may be a good idea to ask the pet sitter if they have any insurance or personal ID so that you can verify that they are who they say they are.

Why should I ask a pet sitter questions before agreeing to a house sit?

It is vital that you find the right person for the job. They are taking care of your animals and your home whilst you are away and therefore they need to be reliable and trustworthy people.

Asking questions and getting a feel for them beforehand will give you the peace of mind that your home and pets are being left to someone great and capable.

How do you interview a pet sitter?

You can arrange a face-to-face interview, a video call or a phone call with the pet sitter depending on what you feel most comfortable with.

Remember to ask them questions about themselves to understand whether they are a right fit for you. It is good to ask them about their hobbies and interests first and then about their experience to ease the conversation.

During an interview with a pet sitter, a good sign is if they are asking as many questions as you, because it should be equally as important to them that they are taking on the right pet sit gig.

If they appear friendly and nice and are confidently able to talk about their experience pet sitting, then it is likely that they will be good for the job.