What Does It Mean to Need a Constant Care Dog Sitter?
Have the kind of dog that can’t go 10 minutes without trying to eat the couch or a cat that needs their glucose monitored? You might need more than just a regular pet sitter.
Your pet might need “constant care.”
What does Constant Care mean for pet sitters?
In the pet sitting world, Constant Care is a type of pet sitting arrangement in which the animal isn’t left alone for long or short periods of time, if at all. The exact time frame varies from sitter to sitter and pet to pet, but typically they’re under constant supervision as much as possible, only leaving the pet for 30-60 minutes maximum. This type of pet care has a higher daily rate than standard pet sitting due to the highly limiting constraints it has on a sitter's ability to leave the house to conduct regular errands or business
Important Note: “Constant Care” isn’t an officially defined term for the pet care industry. However, you’ll likely hear it around the community. It’s become a popular term on Reddit and other social media sites to differentiate the specialized and highly specific care required for these types of pets
It’s an important term to have because it distinguishes pets that require constant supervision and those that need “overnight care”. At G&G Pets, we typically recommend overnight care for all our clients. This means that the pet is supervised overnight, but during the day, they may be at home alone for 4-6 hours at a time (similar to a typical work schedule). We find that this offers the most consistent care for your animals, and also allows sitters to manage their daily lives.
Learn more about the G&G Pets standards of care here.
How do I know if my pet needs constant care?
There are several situations in which a dog or cat might need a constant care pet sitter:
Young puppies or kittens
Pets with high separation anxiety
Disabled pets or those with special care needs
Pets who are ill, injured, or have a rigorous medication schedule
Pets with medical conditions that need monitoring, like diabetes
Elderly pets in need of hospice-style care
In some cases, it’s not the pet who needs the constant care arrangement, it’s the owner.
For some people with high levels of anxiety, leaving their pets for long stretches of time can make them very nervous or even trigger panic attacks. Finding a pet sitter who offers constant care for their animals and regular check-ins for them can help bring peace of mind and allow them to actually enjoy their vacation or concentrate on their work trip
What do you need to provide for constant care pet sitters?
Because they’ll be unable to leave your home during their stay, it’s customary for the pet owner to provide a few amenities, such as:
Guest Bedroom | If you don’t have a guest bedroom available, talk with your sitter about the best sleeping arrangements. Provide clean linens for them to use as well.
Internet access | Make sure they have the password for your home wifi, and know where the router is if they need to restart it.
Streaming Devices | Many clients set up guest profiles that sitters can use for streaming services logged into the home’s TV or other streaming devices.
Laundry Facilities or Service | If their stay will be more than a few days, your sitter will need a way to wash their clothes. If you don’t have a washer/dryer in your home, provide quarters or a vending card for the sitter. If your sitter can’t leave for 15 minutes to do laundry in your building, arrange for a laundry service for your sitter.
Grocery or Food Delivery | You’ll need to arrange or reimburse for grocery or food deliveries; make sure your contract has a clear outline for any spending limits.
Emergency Contact Information | In case of your sitter’s illness, injury, or other emergency, coordinate a nearby emergency contact they can call to take over watching your pet. They should also have the pet’s standard and the emergency vet’s information.
If you’ve never used a professional pet sitter before, you can get more information in our checklist on writing a comprehensive care guide for your pet.
How can I find a constant care pet sitter?
The best way is to just be upfront with your pet sitter about what your pets need. Talk about their routines, anxiety triggers, or any medications they need to take. Ask if your sitter has any experience caring for animals with similar needs and if they’re able to truly watch them 24 hours a day.
While most of our sitters at G&G Pets focus on the overnight care level, some are able to provide constant care when needed. If you’re in the San Francisco Bay Area and want your pets to get the same love and attention that they’re used to from you, we hope you’ll give us a call!
Our onboarding process allows you to go into detail about the kind of care that your pets require, as well as browse the currently available pet sitters to find the one that works best for you. You can learn more about our services here, or use the button below to find your next favorite pet sitter!
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