Pet sitter at the client’s home

The pet sitter comes to the dog's home and takes over part of the care routine, or all of it, for an agreed period. For a lot of dogs the big plus is that they stay somewhere they know. The smells of home, their usual resting spots, the everyday noises and the walking routes they already know can take some of the pressure off that a change of environment brings.

This option often suits dogs that struggle to settle in boarding kennels, seniors, dogs with reduced mobility, animals on a carefully set schedule, and households with several animals.

A responsible pet sitter doesn't just walk into the house and assume every dog will accept them. One or more meetings before the first period of care help a lot. The dog gets to watch the new person while the owner is there, gets treats without being pushed, and sees that this person moves predictably. With a fearful or territorial dog, the introduction has to go gradually, and the plan may need help from an instructor or a behaviour specialist.

The service can cover feeding, fresh water, walks, cleaning the area the animal uses, light activities, giving medication that's already been prescribed, and sending you updates. Agree on how long it lasts and what's included before you start. “Pet sitting” doesn't necessarily mean someone is with the dog all the time. Sometimes it's scheduled visits; sometimes the sitter moves into your home while you are away. Spell out which one you want so you both expect the same thing.

You can tell a good sitter by the small stuff. Doors and gates get checked. The leash goes on before the door opens. Anything dangerous gets put away. The dog isn't fed anything you haven't approved. And any change in appetite, stools, urination, mobility or behaviour gets reported to you.

It's worth considering mostly for dogs that don't settle well in boarding, animals with a well-established routine at home, and families who are away for a few hours or a few days.

Staying in the same home doesn't automatically mean a calm dog. What counts is how the dog gets on with the person and how long you're gone. It also matters how well its habits are respected: if your dog sleeps on the sofa and the sitter keeps shooing it off, the familiar house loses a lot of its benefit.

A get-to-know-you meeting in the home, where you hand over a sheet with the dog's routine and contact numbers.

Visits or periods of care that follow the agreed schedule. You get regular updates and a heads-up about any change, however small it looks.

The dog will show you how it's coping if you know what to look for: avoiding the sitter, getting restless when you leave, refusing food, or moving away from its usual resting spot.

The preparation sheet should list the keys and access rules, the feeding and walking schedule, your vet's details, and instructions about doors and gates, plus any dangerous objects in the house.

Look for concrete things. The sitter respects the privacy of your home, has worked with dogs like yours, and has a clear plan for when the animal can't be found or falls ill. They take the time for a detailed first conversation and have a protocol for keys, access, the leash and emergencies.

A pet sitter can keep up the behaviours your dog already knows. Their main job, though, is care and safety. Trying to change the dog's behaviour fast while you're away isn't part of it.

For a dog that won't tolerate the sitter, pet sitting doesn't work without extra measures. Medication is given only as instructed by someone competent. Talk the risks through beforehand: the dog slipping out through a door or gate, unplanned run-ins with visitors, and defensive behaviour being misread.