Pet sitting isn’t just about playing with puppies and cuddling cats. It takes more than a love of animals to do this job—it takes skill, patience, and the ability to think on your feet. Let’s take a look at the top ten skills you should have if you want to be a successful pet sitter.
Working Knowledge of Animal Behavior
Animals, like humans, have their own unique personalities and behaviors that can determine how they respond in certain situations. As a pet sitter, it’s important to understand not only how animals generally act but also how an individual animal might react in certain situations. This will help you create a safe environment for all the furry friends in your care.
Physically Fit For Walking & Stowing In Vehicles
Pet sitting requires a lot of movement! You’ll need to be able to walk multiple dogs at once, carry them upstairs or into cars if needed, and lift any supplies or equipment that you may need throughout the day. A pet sitter needs to be physically fit enough to handle all these tasks with ease.
CPR Certified & First Aid
Accidents happen, and when they do, it’s important that you know what steps to take in order to provide assistance quickly and safely. All pet sitters should have current CPR and first aid certifications so they are ready for whatever comes their way.
Patience
Sometimes animals take longer than expected to get used to their new environment or complete tasks like going potty outside or getting into their carriers in the car. And while it may be tempting to hurry them along, patience is key when working with animals--especially when most of the time they tend to sniff more than do other things. Give them time and space so they can feel comfortable and relaxed in your presence.
Time Management (Be On the Go at all Times!)
Pet sitting requires that you do multiple tasks in short amounts of time, from preparing meals and administering medications to taking them for walks around the block and updating owners on their progress throughout the day.
Make sure you leave yourself plenty of time between appointments so you don’t arrive late (or too early). Also, remember that unexpected events can pop up (like traffic delays) so plan accordingly! Staying organized is key for successful pet sitting!
Situational Awareness
Being aware of your surroundings is essential for any pet sitter because it helps protect both pets and people from potential harm or danger. You should be able to read a dog's aggressive behavior and be able to deal with it calmly and smartly. When walking multiple dogs at once, pay attention to signs of aggression from other animals (or even people). This will help ensure everyone stays around you.
Multi-tasking
Some days you may find yourself caring for several different pets at once—from taking two dogs out on walks or feeding multiple cats simultaneously—and having good multitasking skills can come in handy during those times! Being able to juggle multiple tasks while keeping track of each one is essential when pet-sitting several animals at once.
Driving
You may need access to reliable transportation if you want to do pet sitting as part of your job since some clients may require visits outside of your immediate neighborhood or city limits. Make sure you have access to a car either through ownership or ride-sharing services like Uber/Lyft so that you can make all necessary trips without hassle!
Organization
As mentioned earlier, being organized is key when time management is involved—but it’s also important for keeping track of all your supplies (leashes, toys, treats), paperwork (vaccination records), and any other items related to pet care! Invest in some car organizers or carry-on bags so everything stays neat and tidy no matter where life takes you throughout the day as a pet sitter!
Love For Animals (Most Important)
Last but certainly not least—you must truly love animals if you want this job! Caring for pets isn't just about meeting their physical needs; it's also about making sure they feel loved every step of the way by showing kindness and compassion during every interaction with each new client’s pup or kitty...so don't forget this most important skill set.
As a pet sitter, you should have the energy and enthusiasm to create a safe, loving environment for the animals in your care. You must take pride in knowing that your work is helping pets lead healthier lives and making sure their owners are happy, too!
Taking on the job as a professional pet sitter requires more than just loving animals—it requires having specific skills related to animal behavior, safety protocols, organization, multi-tasking abilities, driving knowledge, patience, and much more!
If becoming a successful pet sitter sounds like something up your alley then make sure to become well-versed in these ten required skills before diving headfirst into this rewarding career path!
Why Trust Animal People Pet Sitting & Dog Walking?
At Animal People Pet Sitting & Dog Walking, we understand how important your pet's health and wellness are to you. We take great pride in providing the best care for your beloved pet while you are away.
Our experienced staff has a deep understanding of animal behavior and will provide a safe, clean, and fun environment for them. We strive to make our pet-sitting and dog-walking services the best in town. We take the time to get to know each individual pet and its unique needs, making sure they are comfortable, secure, and happy.
Our goal is for your pet to have a stress-free experience while away from you so that when you return home, your furry family member will be happy and well-rested. We also offer a variety of services that can be tailored to meet your needs, including daily walks, overnight stays, and more.
We understand the importance of trust when it comes to choosing someone to care for your pet. At Animal People Pet Sitting & Dog Walking we value integrity, honesty, and reliability. We are committed to providing the highest level of service and will always be there when you need us. In addition, we are fully insured and bonded for your peace of mind.
If you're looking for a pet sitter or dog walker that you can trust, look no further than us! Call us today for pet-sitting services!
