No matter if you’re going away for two days or a couple of weeks, it’s very important that you find a good pet sitter. Picking a pet sitter isn’t a decision you should make straight away – but we guess there’s no need to tell you that. You’ve probably already put a lot of thought into finding someone who’ll take care of your furry friend for you. And if you’re still not sure who to go for, make sure you check out the five tips listed below.

Get reviews on pet sitters nearby

You probably know somebody else who loves pets just as much as you do. Therefore, a great way to start looking for your pet sitter is to ask them and see whether there’s someone they can recommend. Ask them how satisfied they were with their service and whether everything went ok. And even if you don’t know anyone who was in need of a pet sitting service, you can still find reviews online. There are plenty of websites and forums where you’ll be able to find reviews on pet sitters in your area.

Check who’s available

Even if you’ve found a pet sitter other pet owners were satisfied with, it doesn’t mean they’re available during the time you’ll be away. That’s why you should look for their contact information straight away and check their availability as soon as possible. The sooner you contact them, the better. In fact, it might be a better idea to schedule an in-home meeting and talk to them in person. That way, there won’t be any confusion about the date and you’ll be able to ask them any questions you want.

See how they interact with your pets

The best thing about scheduling an in-house meeting is the fact that you’ll get a chance to take a look at how they interact with your pet. This is a great way to tell whether they’re actually a pet lover or not. And needless to say that you’ll want to find a pet sitter who loves pets just as much as you do. Another great thing about these meetings is that you also get to see how your pet likes the sitter and see if they’re a good fit.

Check out companies specialized in pet sitting

Today, there are plenty of companies that specialize in pet sitting. So, if you turn to them, you’ll be guaranteed your pet is being looked after by someone with a lot of experience. Not only this, but pet sitting companies will usually find you a sitter who is good at taking care of the kind of the pet you have. Depending on where you live, there should be enough pet minding companies you can turn to.

Talk about what kind of update you want from the sitter

Another thing you should talk about with any potential pet sitter is what kind of update you want to get. You should let the sitter know whether you want to receive updates by phone, text or email. Also, make sure they know how often you want to receive updates. You can also give your pet sitter access to your PC and appoint Skype meetings where you’ll be able to talk to your pet no matter where you are.

Follow all of these tips and you’ll be guaranteed to find a good pet sitter. Over time, your sitter is going to become an important part of your family, giving you the freedom to travel without having to worry about your furry friend.