Pet Sitting for Special Needs Dogs

Whether your pup has lived his whole life with a disability or has acquired one in his old age, your job as a pet parent has been learning about and providing for their special needs. To some extent, you’ve likely adjusted your home, your schedule, and your life to accommodate their ever-changing needs. Without a doubt, no one knows what they need or how to care for your pup better than you.

 

So, what are you to do when you have to leave your precious pet in the care of someone else for a day trip, an overnight excursion, or a weekend away? The best-case scenario is that you have a trusted friend or relative who knows your pet and has some experience caring for him or her. But what if you’re new to the area or your go-to sitter is unavailable? How do you find someone who is not only capable of meeting your dog’s unique needs but who will do so with the same love and compassion you do?

 

The qualities, skills, and experience that equip a person to be a pet sitter for pets with special needs are not always easy to define. To make it even more difficult, the people who possess them can be even harder to find. But, like with all things pet-related, we’re here to help. Below, we’ve done our best to identify what you should look for and tell you how to find it.

Set Expectations about Your Dog’s Special Needs

Before you begin your search, it’s a good idea to establish your expectations for the pet sitter of your (and your pup’s) dreams. This part of the process doesn’t have to be complicated or take up too much time, but putting some thought into what you’re looking for can go a long way toward helping you choose filters during your online search, narrow down your options, and pick the best candidates when the time comes. Here is a simple checklist to get you started:

• Availability – Do you need a sitter during the workday, on evenings and weekends, or for extended periods? How often?
• Budget – How much can you afford to pay by the hour, by the day, or by the week?
• Location – Do you want someone who can come to your home, or would you be more comfortable dropping your pup off at their place?
• Specific needs – Make a list of the tasks your sitter will need to take care of that are above and beyond what is normally expected. Examples include administering medication, changing diapers, or constant supervision.
• Other pets – Depending on your pup’s needs and temperament, you may or may not be comfortable with other animals, including the sitter’s own pets, being present while he or she cares for yours.

Start the Search

If you’ve chosen to look for a sitter rather than leave your pup with your vet or at a boarding facility, the next step of your search will take place online. The great news is that you can do it any time of the day or night while cuddled up on the couch with your pup by your side. The not-so-good news is that finding trustworthy people on the internet, for all its convenience, requires a high level of discernment.

 

Fortunately, pet sitter sites like PawSpace.in take steps, like third-party background checks and a separate in-house approval process, to vet their sitters.

 

In the end, trust your gut… and your pet. If you are uneasy after an initial conversation, don’t move forward with the candidate. Likewise, if your pet doesn’t take to the person after a reasonable acclimation period, he or she may not be the right choice. Of course, if you and your pup hit it off with a candidate, trust that instinct too. Follow these instructions — and your heart — and we can almost guarantee you’ll end up with a reliable sitter that will love your pet when you have to be away.