When you’re not going to be home for more than a few days, you’re going to need to find someone to look after your special pets while you’re away. In fact, hiring a reliable and professional pet sitter is key if you want to have a stress-free trip away without worrying about your furry little family members.

But if you’ve never hired a pet sitter before, how will you know what you should be looking for? With that in mind, here are some of the most common qualities suggested by experts when you are planning on hiring a pet sitter.

Meet and greet

First things first, the only way you’ll know for sure if a pet sitter will be right for you and your pets is by meeting them in person. Most professional pet sitters should provide you with a complimentary meeting as part of their service, so definitely take them up on their offer.

Not only will you be able to interview potential pet sitters by asking them questions in person to get a feel for what they’re like as a person, but you’ll also be able to see how they interact with your pets. Only hire them if you think they’re a good match, as pet sitters will always understand if they’re not. It happens.

Animal lover

The best pet sitters are always animal lovers. Whether they’re pet owners themselves or they’ve grown up around animals, they’ll simply adore your pets. When someone who loves animals meets your pets, their faces will seem to light up instantly around furry companions of all kinds, which isn’t something that can be easily faked.

They’ll just have a noticeable presence that animals seem to be drawn to, which will ultimately help put your pet at ease. You can trust your instincts and your gut feelings here, as your pet sitter must have a positive chemistry with your pets.

Open communication

The next thing to look for in a reliable pet sitter is open and honest communication. This is important because you really only want to hire a pet sitter that you know you can trust. And just like any other kind of relationship you have, trusting in their communication is key. You should feel completely comfortable around your pet sitter when discussing anything and everything related to your pets.

In fact, you’ll generally find that the most popular and professional pet sitters will go out of their way to keep you in the loop by frequently communicating with you. Some pet sitters will record notes each day about the moods or eating habits of each pet, whereas some may even send photos to you of their happy, smiling faces.

Certified education

While anyone can technically look after your pets, there are plenty of professional pet sitters out there who have taken the time and spent extra money getting educated and certified. The best pet sitters are knowledgeable about animal behavior with experience in all aspects of pet care, and they also have the certification to prove it.

Some get professional training for dog grooming as a career, whereas others study pet sitting in general. The good thing is that educated sitters will know how to handle any situation, from quickly noticing any health problems to dealing with any other pet emergencies. This means they’re also more likely to be up to date with the latest pet trends and know the locations of any community resources for pets like vet clinics and animal-friendly parks.

Summing up

Finally, you want to hire a pet sitter who has the right kind of experience, which matches your needs as well as the needs of your pets. While the whole hiring process can be a little daunting, the well-being of your pets is super important whenever you’re away from them. By searching for someone with all of the qualities above, you’ll surely find a responsible and reliable pet sitter for your furry little friends.