I've been looking for another pet sitter. I have a pet sitter now who I love but the problem with having a great sitter is that he/she is not always available. I have to say that it is a discouraging task; call after call, interview after interview results in just more work. how many “REALLY?” moments can I have while searching for a pet sitter?
The most troubling thing to me is what pet sitters consider to be sitting. “We’ll arrive around 7-8pm, stay overnight and leave by 7am” one girl told me over the phone. “REALLY?” I said and then she went on to say that they could come back for a 30-minute visit midday if I required.
I have a protocol for interviewing sitters. Get a recommendation from another canine guardian, make a call, doing a phone interview; and if they get through the interview call then I interview in person. Most never make it past the phone call and only three have ever made it past the in person interview. We’ve been very lucky to have had what I’d consider to be the best of the best. But how could I possibly think about going away and not leaving my dog/s with the best? I couldn’t.
I have a lot of questions when I interview and most sitters have probably never been questioned like this before. I’m a need to know kind of person and I most definitely need to know the facts if I am ever to even consider someone for the position of taking care of Elsa.
· What does your day entail?
· What time do you arrive and leave?
· Where do you live?
· Do you have dogs?
· Do you work alone?
· How many dogs do you walk during the day?
Although I have a great number of questions, other than specific questions I ry to not talk too much, I listen. (But you know me and dog talk.) Much can be heard by reading between the lines of answers. It is the little things that are said or not said that can give you the most information.
If they make it through the phone interview and we meet in person, then body language is what I watch mostly. People can tell you anything but their body language does not lie. I can get a read on people very, very quickly. My current sitter took about three minutes before I knew that I would love her.
Watching the “sitter” with your dog is very important. I had one woman come to interview and when Luke licked her hand she gave me a creepy sort of smile and said “that’s okay, I have to shower anyway.” Don’t let the door hit you too hard on the way out lady. Dog sitter? REALLY?
So my search continues. Great sitters are out there. They are not easy to find but if you have the patience to sift through all the mediocre you can find the gems. I have and have had the best, I am not about to lower the bar.
There are people who just want someone or some robot to let their dog out to pee. I’m not one of those. Having been a dog trainer for so many years, I have heard many, many pet sitter horror stories. I think that too many sitters start out doing one thing and very quickly become overbooked (greedy) and callous (taking on too much) to what they are doing.
A Pet Sitter is someone who is a replacement for us when we have to be away. Some people may be okay with hiring a robotic sheep herder, I am not. As a canine guardian, I do my best for Elsa. I am not about to put her into the hands of someone who does not understand the importance or definition of real care.
Do I have high expectations? Do I expect a lot? Is my Pet Sitter bar extremely high? Freaking right it is.