Any house or pet sitter will tell you that when caring for pets it is essential to ask the pet owner for a pet guide document. You need to see the important information about pet routines, any medication required and essential telephone numbers you might need when caring for the pet. Here is a general pet guide to help you prepare for a pet sitting assignment.

House Sitting With Client’s Pets? Here’s Your Pet Guide

How to do house sitting

The idea of having to house sit as an assignment or as a job is increasingly common. Travel is more common if the housesitting assignment is found online via an international housesitting platform like Housesitmatch.com.

When reviewing the housesit advert consider the following. Whether the travel is for work or leisure, the owners will need someone reliable to make sure that their house and pets are taken care of. This is all the more valid if they have a pet or several pets that they need to leave behind.

The reason they are looking for a housesitter or pet sitters is that they would rather have them stay in the comfort of their home. This is likely instead of a kennels or a boarding pet-sitting service.

So if you’re in the field of house sitting and pet sitting, but are not too familiar with what needs to be done if there’s a pet involved, look no further. 

Your Ultimate Pet Guide

Aim to be the perfect petsitter

1. Meet the pet a couple of times before house sitting

It really doesn’t matter if you’ve house sat with a pet before or not. Ideally, you’re going to want to ensure that you meet with the pet while their owners are there. This would be the top tip in any pet guide for a housesit.

This is important because you both need to get used to one another, and you will want to establish trust and understanding with the animal, so that when you are alone together, you have the ability to have some sense of control and also give the pet comfort.

The last thing you want is a stressed out, scared, or depressed pet. This means that they won’t eat well, won’t take instructions from you, and may even try to run away. 

2. Ask if all the necessities are there

Find out from the client if there is enough food for your duration. It’s also important that you learn about what it takes to keep the pet healthy. You can even do research online to get yourself better informed on the matter.

If you’re going to be taking care of a dog, then you’ll find the pet guide and information on K9Kare very helpful, as you’ll get to understand what it takes to keep a dog healthy.

Dogs can be seen as more of a handful. They tend to be naughtier and can sometimes eat or chew on things they’re not supposed to. So make sure that they have their toys, scratch posts and whatever it is that their owners use to keep them preoccupied in a place where you can see. 

3. Find out the details of their routine

Depending on what kind of pet it is, you will need to know the details of their routines. What time they need to be fed, if required, what time you need to take them outside for a walk. When they play and where in the house they’re allowed to be, and so on. Also, be sure to find out the amount of food and snacks that they’re allowed to have so that you don’t over do it! 

4. A pet guide will help you to understand their habits

Understanding an animal’s habits is extremely important, because you can be able to read their behaviour that way. This goes back to our first point, where you yourself will be able to pick up on those by spending time beforehand. Naturally, the client will also be able to tell you what you need to know.

Things like what they do when they are hungry, the sounds they make when they sense danger or are irritated, how to tell when they’re being playful and aggressive, and what it is you need to do to deal with each scenario.

5. Find out what needs to be done in case of an emergency

The most important information you need to have in any pet guide is what to do in case of an emergency. Try to learn more about the nature of their pet and how they react in different situations. Some animals will cower and hide in trying circumstances. Others can  get very aggressive and attack, while others will just make a run for it.

So this kind of information is imperative in being prepared for any kind of situation that might come up. If they look unwell, you need to know where the closest animal hospital is. Ensure you have their vet’s number with you so that you have a contact as well.

A final word on housesitting with pets and the pet guide

When the client that you are house sitting for has a pet, understanding and familiarizing yourself with the pet is just as important as keeping the house well maintained and taken care of.

It certainly does take much more attention. Make sure you take on board any pet guide details that are appropriate for your sitting assignment. Utilize the guidelines provided here to ensure you have the right information. And finally understand what you need to do to make sure that the pet is taken care of correctly. 

Further reading on pet sitting and housesitters

At Housesitmatch.com we like to share useful blogs and practical advice about housesitters, housesitting and pet sitting. We hope you find this small selection of our blogs on house sitters useful.

Pet sitting services from Housesit Match

Pet and housesitters keep pets safe at home and save money

What a housesitter does – Top 10 responsibilities

Preparing a home for a house or pet sitter