Finding a pet sitter for the holidays

Going on holiday and looking for a good pet sitter to take care of your pet?Having trouble walking and looking for someone to walk your dog?
How do pet sitting organisations go about finding you the pet sitter that best matches your needs?
How far in advance should you book your sitting service?
What information should you give the pet sitter?

We asked for advice from the pet sitting service Ring Twice. You'll find their best tips below!

How far in advance should you book pet sitting?

As early as possible, of course! Especially if you're looking for a pet sitter for a busy period, such as the holidays or public holidays. Ideally, you should start looking at least 2 to 4 weeks in advance. This gives you and the pet sitter enough time to arrange a first meeting and discuss your specific needs or expectations. You can then go over all the details of the sitting arrangement.

How do you find the pet sitter best suited to your dog or cat?

Entrusting someone with the care of your dog or cat can be very stressful in itself. So you want to be 200% sure of finding the ideal pet sitter. That way you can go on holiday with complete peace of mind. But how do you find them? Here are a few good tips:

Trust your first impression

Our first tip is to follow your "gut feeling". You're the only person who really knows your dog or cat well. So you'll sense better than anyone whether the pet sitter and your pet will get on and whether there's a good connection. Arrange several introductory meetings with different pet sitters. That way you'll immediately see which one your dog or cat gets on with best. And vice versa, of course!

During this meeting, give details about your pet (its habits, personality, etc.) and, of course, ask all your questions.

Find out about the pet sitter's experience

Experience makes all the difference. The same is true for pet sitting. The more experience a pet sitter has, the better they understand and know animals, and so the better your dog or cat will be pampered and looked after. Many sitting services, such as Ring Twice, let you check each pet sitter's experience on their website. Reviews from previous clients, available to everyone, are also very useful for getting a clearer picture.

Bear in mind that new pet sitters who have just signed up to a sitting service can be just as good and competent as more experienced ones! Everyone has to start somewhere.

Does the pet sitter know how to act if your pet has a health problem?

We of course hope everything will go smoothly for your dog or cat while you're away, but unfortunately there's no such thing as zero risk. Ask the pet sitter about this: how would they act if a problem arose? Do they have the phone number of the nearest vet?

Also discuss any health issues your pet may have, any medication you give it, its temperament and any behavioural problems (aggression, anxiety, fear of abandonment, etc.) and explain what you do in those situations.

Is the pet sitter already looking after other animals?

This might seem like an odd question, but if the pet sitter is going to walk your dog or take it into their home, you need to know whether your pet will be on its own or whether other animals will be present. This matters, especially if your dog or cat isn't very sociable and doesn't get on well with other animals.

If the pet sitter doesn't meet your criteria, they may not be a perfect match for your expectations. The points mentioned above are important. Only once you have an answer to all these questions can you hand over your dog or cat with complete peace of mind and enjoy your holiday!

How can you best prepare your pet?

Good preparation is essential for everything to go smoothly.

• Information: give the pet sitter a detailed list of your pet's daily routine: When does it eat? How much of which foods does it eat? How many walks does it have a day? How long do the walks last? Does your pet need medication? How many times a day, and when? ... Be as thorough as possible so the pet sitter doesn't miss anything. Give the pet sitter any useful information. For example, is your dog afraid of anything in particular? Explain to the pet sitter how you deal with it.
• Building trust: Have you found a nice pet sitter who gets on well with you and your pet? If possible, arrange another short meeting. This way, your pet can get used to them. And vice versa, of course.
• Emergency numbers: leave a list of contact details, including the vet's, in case of an emergency. Also give your holiday contact details so the pet sitter can reach you in an emergency wherever you're staying. And also those of a friend or family member who lives near your home, in case something serious happens.
• Comfort: make sure enough suitable food and "treats" are available. Will your dog or cat be staying at the pet sitter's home while you're away? Then pack its toys and favourite blanket in the bag. That way, it won't feel completely lost. Especially if your dog or cat suffers from separation anxiety.

How much do sitting services cost, and what do they involve?

Each pet sitting service has its own prices. These depend on several factors:

The pet sitter's experience

You wouldn't entrust your dog or cat to just anyone. So you want to have complete trust in your pet sitter. Choosing a pet sitter just because they're the cheapest in the area isn't necessarily the best solution. We recommend checking the pet sitter's experience. Many pet sitting services, such as Ring Twice, give you access to client reviews.

At home or at the pet sitter's

Does your dog dislike change? Does your cat prefer to stay in familiar surroundings? Is it easier for you to have a pet sitter come to your home?
That's possible, but travel costs will then need to be added to the rate charged. Let the sitter know this when submitting your request. That way, you'll not only have someone looking after your dog or cat, but also someone keeping an eye on your house!
And conversely, this can also be a great way to travel. Why not do the same and travel for free thanks to pet sitting?

The pet sitter's tasks

The pet sitter's tasks will affect the price. Is it enough to just take the dog out? Do you expect the pet sitter to come by every day to play with, feed and walk your dog or cat? Or would you like someone to be at home with your pet at all times?
To give you an idea of what a pet sitter can charge, here are the most common service requests and what they cost on average per day at Ring Twice.
Other sitting organisations may have different prices:

• Looking after your dog over the weekend: €10 to €15/day
• Looking after your dog on weekdays: €10 to €15/day
• Walking your dog 3 times a week: €9 to €12/walk

How are pet sitters recruited?

Most pet sitting organisations allow any animal lover to sign up as a pet sitter. At Ring Twice, we check every profile by verifying their details (date of birth, national registration number, phone number, address). You can always check reviews from previous clients. This gives you a clearer idea of how the pet sitter looks after animals and whether they do a good job.

A true story:
Sometimes the bond that forms between a dog and its pet sitter becomes especially strong. So strong that the owners of "Marquez", the dachshund, offered to let Olivier, his pet sitter, keep him for good! Marquez stayed in Olivier's care for a long period. He had so much fun, and was so well looked after and pampered, that the owners eventually gave him to Olivier!

Useful links:
- Dogs and separation anxiety
- Travel for free thanks to pet sitting
- Leaving your pet at home during the holidays

Article written by Ring Twice in collaboration with Redion.