How to Choose a Pet Sitter Is Your Dog Better Off at Home While You Are On Vacation? DENVER, Colorado, June 30, 2009 With summer vacations being planned - it is always difficult to know if your dog is better off at home? If you decide they are more comfortable in the familiar enviroment of home, how do you choose a reliable, loving pet sitter?
A good pet sitter does more than just give food and water to your dog. A good pet sitter can provide exersice, quality play time, and know if your dog need veterinary attention. Plus, an added bonus is most pet sitters will take in your newspaper and mail so it is not possible to tell you are not home.
How do you choose a pet sitter? The best place to start is from recommendations from friends, neighbors, or your vet. Learn all you can about the prospective pet sitters' qualifications and services. Before selecting a pet sitter, interview the candidates over the phone or at your home. Find out the following:
- Can the pet sitter provide written proof that she has commercial liability insurance (to cover accidents and negligence) and is bonded (to protect against theft by a pet sitter or her employees)?
- What training has the pet sitter completed?
- Will the pet sitter record notes about your pet—such as his likes, dislikes, fears, habits, medical conditions, medications, and routines?
- Is the pet sitter associated with a veterinarian who can provide emergency services?
- What will happen if the pet sitter experiences car trouble or becomes ill? Does she have a backup?
- Will the pet sitter provide related services such as in-home grooming, dog walking, dog training and play time?
- Will the pet sitter provide a written service contract spelling out services and fees?
- If the pet sitter provides live-in services, what are the specific times she agrees to be with your pet? Is this detailed in the contract?
- How does your pet sitter make sure that you have returned home?
- Will the pet sitter provide you with the phone numbers of other clients who have agreed to serve as references?
Even if you like what you hear from the pet sitter and from her references, it's important to have the prospective pet sitter come to your home to meet your pet before actually hiring her for a pet-sitting job. Watch how she interacts with your pet—does your pet seem comfortable with the person? If this visit goes well, start by hiring the pet sitter to care for your pet during a short trip, such as a weekend excursion. That way, you can work out any problems before leaving your beloved pet in the pet sitter's care for longer periods.
Source: The Humane Society of United States
A tip to improve the quality of life for our dogs is to always provide a quality supportive dog bed. An orthopedic memory foam dog bed is perfect for senior dogs since just like us humans, dogs can suffer from arthritis, joint issues, and sore muscles. An estimated 10 million dogs in the United States have been diagnosed with arthritis, and 31 percent of dog owners say that bone and joint problems are an issue for their pets. Choosing a memory foam dog bed can help relieve the pain and tenderness.
Don't forget our younger Buddys too, a qualtiy memory foam dog bed provides excellent preventative care. A supportive orthopedic dog bed can assist in the aging process of the joints.
Buddy Beds strives to construct the premier quality dog bed on the market. To learn more about these dog beds or read about the industry and customer accolades Buddy Beds has received, visit the website at
http://www.buddybeds.com or email
info@buddybeds.com.
Contact Information:
DEBBIE HOLTE
303-744-0424,
875 South Colorado Blvd., Suite 701,
Denver, CO 80246
info@buddybeds.com http://www.buddybeds.com -END-