Hey there, pet sitters! Can't wait to land yourself your first job looking after a cute critter or two? Great to hear - plenty of pets and their owners will be delighted to find you on Pawshake! But have you stopped to consider the most important aspect of your job? The ONE thing that you as pet sitter must never forget, and that the very success of your pet sitting service absolutely depends on. Read on to discover our indispensable Golden Tip for successful pet sitters!
So you've created a shiny new profile on Pawshake and you're ready and raring to go...then voila! You receive your first enquiry from a local pet owner asking if you can look after their super cute cat or dog. Of course you'd love to, and fortunately you're available, so it sounds perfect! But it's extremely important that you don't make a definitive booking straight away. Indeed, a savvy and responsible pet sitter always arranges a meet & greet first. That way you avoid many problems that can arise and ensure an appropriate booking arrangement for all parties concerned. Just as pet owners are picky about their pet sitters, it's sensible (and, indeed, essential) that you as pet sitter are equally as critical of the pet owner and their pet. There are 3 extremely good reasons for this:
You get to know the pet beforehand
How big is that supposedly 'small' dog in reality? And is this dog REALLY house trained? How does the cat or dog react to you and any other resident pets? Is the pet healthy and well cared for, or do unforeseen issues begin to arise? Is the pet curious and relaxed, or fearful and aggressive? A no-obligation introductory meeting provides you with an opportunity to familiarise yourself with the pet, and the pet with you. This enables you both to make a better assessment of each other and determine whether or not the pet is a good match with your personal situation - and indeed if the pet will feel at home with you.
You get to know the pet owner
A face-to-face conversation gives you a better idea of who you are actually dealing with. Do you get along with the pet owner and does communication run smoothly? Is the welfare of their pet their number-one priority? And is the pet owner really interested in you? If yes, then it bodes well for a mutually beneficial arrangement. A positive meet & greet generally suggests a positive and friendly relationship further down the line. Unfortunately the opposite is also true: an awkward, unclear or abrupt first meeting suggests that the relationship will likely be difficult once the pet sitting service has begun. And that's seriously risky, because you have now agreed to a responsibility towards the welfare of the pet. So please follow your intuition, and only enter into business with someone you fully trust.
It enables you to make a clear agreement
Use the meet & greet to find out as much as humanly possible. What specific care does the pet need, what is the pet used to, what do they like, and what are they is afraid of? Does the animal have a tendency to run away, or do they have any special ailments or unusual habits? Make clear agreements with the owner, not only about nutrition and care, but also about what to do in the case of an emergency. Do you have a dog coming to visit in the near future? Then read about what must be explicitly agreed to during a meet & greet in this particular instance. It's a lot more than you might think!
The majority of pet owners and pet sitters are cheerful, well-intentioned and dedicated animal lovers. So there's usually no issue! Still have doubts after the meet & greet? Then we suggest you forget about this booking request and look for a more suitable pet sitting job. And if you have a question or wish to report a malpractice, then contact Pawshake. Happy pet sitting!
