7 Pet Sitting Questions to Ask the Pet Owners
Vetting new pet-sitting clients is an important step that can either set you up for success or struggle as a pet sitter. If you’re feeling overwhelmed as you try to think of everything you’ll need to ask your clients ahead of care, you’ve come to the right place.
Here’s the seven topics that our professional pet sitters start with when meeting new clients:
#1. What are your pets' normal routines?
Ok, this one is really a dozen questions in a trench coat, but the first things you’ll need to ask about are the pets’ routines. At G&G Pets, we encourage you to stick as closely to their regular routines as possible, whether that's staying overnight for a few weeks or just doing a one-time drop-in.
For a more detailed breakdown, here’s the full checklist we recommend for clients, but in general, you’ll need to ask:
When do they go for walks or get playtime?
When and how much do they eat for meals?
How and when are treats given?
Where and when do they usually sleep?
Are there any medications that need to be given out?
What is your reinforcement style (positive, balanced, or negative)?
#2. What are your pets’ personalities?
The next element of understanding your new charges is to get to know their personalities. Every dog and cat is going to have their own particular fears and emotional needs on top of their basic care routines, but these things may not come as quickly to the owner’s mind.
Ask questions about how the pets handle normal and abnormal situations, so you can be prepared for anything. We always recommend having a meet-and-greet with the client and their pet before the first sitting. That way, you can get a feel for how everyone gets along while you ask questions like:
How do they act when they’re stressed or scared?
Do they have any reactive behaviors?
Are they “door dashers” or otherwise escape artists?
What makes them feel safe?
Do they respond to any training commands?
What kind of mischief do they like to get up to?
Do they have a favorite toy or spot in the home?
#3. What do I need to access the home?
Make sure you know how to access any part of the home that you’ll need to be in during your stay. This could include keys, pass codes, or alarm codes. If you will be recording your client’s codes, you’ll also need secure ways of storing and disposing of this information.
Ask if the home has any security measures that you should know about, and what you should do if you or the dog inadvertently trigger them. Also, ask for a backup entrance in case of an emergency, as well as if their emergency contact or neighbor has an extra set of keys.
#4. What are the home’s rules?
What you’ll need to ask about here will vary widely from household to household. Some general suggestions are:
Are there any off-limits areas for you or the pets?
What is the acceptable range for the heating or cooling system?
Should you avoid using any of the home’s amenities, appliances, or media systems?
Where do they keep the cleaning supplies, in case of messes?
Maintain your boundaries around what duties are part of pet sitting and what falls outside of your job description. However, if you offer service add-ons like lawn care, house cleaning, or forwarding mail — be sure to let your clients know. Many will gladly pay extra for these additional services while you’re already in their home.
#5. What is your personal and local emergency contact info?
Make sure you know how to get a hold of clients quickly, their local emergency contact, and their regular (and emergency) veterinarians. It is important to provide your clients with daily updates so that they have an expected cadence of communication, and know to be available to you in case you have any questions, or something unexpected happens
Getting a local emergency contact is also key. If you were to become very ill or experience another emergency, you need the contact info of someone local your client would trust to take charge of the pets in your absence. Double-check that this person is aware of the timeframe that you’ll be pet sitting, and is ready and willing to take over care if necessary.
#6. Can you leave me a review?
You’ll probably want to leave this question until after your first sitting, but collecting reviews is a great way to prove your reliability to prospective clients. Once they agree, make it easy for them to leave a review by creating a short review form of no more than 5 questions. You can use platforms like Google Forms or Tally to create online options or hand out a written review form in person.
Don’t forget to ask if they’re ok with you using the review in your marketing or on your website.
#7. Do I need to be doing this alone?
This last question is one you need to be asking yourself.
If you’re taking this much care with your client onboarding, it’s clear that you go above and beyond to take care of your clients and their pets. This dedication to your clients is exactly what private pet-sitting agencies are looking for.
If you’re in San Francisco, CA, we also hope you’ll consider joining our team. At G&G Pets, we specialize in helping the highest quality pet sitters find reliable and fully vetted clients. You can learn more about our approach on our blog or apply for one of our open positions here.
The information provided by G&G Pets on https://www.grandgrahampets.com is for general informational purposes only. It does not represent medical or training pet care advice. All information on the blog is provided in good faith, however, we make no representation or warranty of any kind, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, adequacy, validity, reliability, or completeness of any information on the blog. Under no circumstances shall we have any liability to you for any loss or damage of any kind incurred as a result of the use of the blog or reliance on any information provided on the blog. Your use of the blog and your reliance on any information on the blog is undertaken solely at your own risk. All text content of this blog is the property of G&G Pets and is therefore subject to copyright protection and not for reproduction or reuse. By accessing or using the website, blog, any materials, content, or intellectual property owned by the Owner, you acknowledge and agree to the terms of this Disclaimer. For more information, please see our full Disclaimer.
