This entry was posted on 2016-08-07 by Robyn Adams.

As the holiday season rapidly approaches, a lot of people opt to take a well needed break from the hustle and bustle of city life. Unfortunately, it is not always possible to bring our furkids along, this means that you may need to hire a pet sitter.

Obviously, it is preferable to pack your pet’s suitcase and take them along with you, but in the situations where they cannot come along, it’s important that you find a good pet sitter.

The first thing to remember is that a long period of time away can be very stressful for your pet. Perhaps the thought of sending your pet to a kennel or cattery makes you feel uneasy and no wonder, since a small kennel size and a foreign space can lead to a lot of stress for your furkid.

We have put together a list of considerations when leaving your pet with a sitter, ensuring that both you and your furkid are happy and stress-free this holiday season.

Live-in vs Check-in Pet Sitter

If you are lucky enough to have a super chilled out dog or cat that likes to spend most of his/her time sleeping in the sun and not chewing anything he/she is not supposed to, you could get someone to pop in to check up in the mornings and again in the evenings. Just to give some belly rubs and make sure everything is A-OK. This option works well if you have more than one dog or cat, as they can keep themselves entertained during the day, much like what would happen if you were out at work. Perhaps your pet sitter can take them out for walks and spend some more time with them on the weekends.

If your dog or cat likes to get up to mischief when there’s no one home, or suffers from separation anxiety it might be a good idea to get a “live-in” house/pet sitter. Someone who will be at home for the majority of the day.

Notify your Pet Sitter of behaviour issues

It is also always good to make sure that your pet sitter is aware of any behaviour issues your dog or cat may have. If your dog has a personal vendetta against all underwear or your cat scratches everything besides their scratching post, it might be a good idea to inform your pet sitter about this. You are not going to be in the best mood if you come home to a long list of damages you need to pay for.

Taking your dog for a walk

Some pups might have issues when they go out for walks, it is especially important to inform your pet sitter as both dog and sitter will be in an unfamiliar and generally neutral area. Some dogs might be scared of traffic, or be particularly good at reversing out of their harnesses.
It might be a good idea to invest in a long (say 10m) lead. That way your dog can run “free” on the beach/field but you can still reel him in when you need to.
Take notes of his behaviour and habits so you can leave a nice long list for whomever you choose to look after your doggie.

It sounds like a lot of work (and it might just be easier to rearrange your holiday to suit your furkid) but it will be worth it in the end.