| | | | | you in an emergency. If the sitter does not ask |
| Choosing A Good Dog Sitter It Really Is A | | | | these questions, then you should be sure to share |
| Contract | | | | such information. |
| Never decide on a sitter your | | | | |
| dog has not met. Have the sitter come to your | | | | Next, find out the applicant's experience with dog |
| home if the sitting will be at your home. Take | | | | sitting? Experience is not always required |
| your dog to the sitter's location if the sitting will | | | | because some experienced sitters may have |
| be done there. Your dog can tell you more | | | | preconceived ideas that you do not share. Do |
| about a sitter than all the references can. If the | | | | get references. You're about to leave "a |
| dog warms up to the sitter, that is a good sign. | | | | member of the family" with this person, and in |
| A good sitter and the dog will begin to interact | | | | some cases the person will have access to your |
| with each other almost immediately. If the dog | | | | home. Find out how much the sitter charges |
| gives the sitter a dirty look, shuns the sitter, or | | | | and what the sitter will do for those charges. |
| snarls at the sitter, you need not waste time with | | | | |
| more interviewing. Call someone else. | | | | Then show the sitter a copy of your pet care |
| | | | | contract form, and begin filling it out together. A |
| Before the sitter arrives, | | | | short form can cover the important terms of the |
| review a form for a pet care contract. This will | | | | agreement. A really long form will scare the |
| remind you of the important matters to discuss | | | | sitter away. The form will guide the two of you, |
| with the sitter. A quality pet legal form at a | | | | the owner and the caretaker, through the |
| modest price is well worth the cost. Choose a | | | | important terms. The form may provide |
| form called "Pet Care Agreement" for your | | | | language in capital letters that limits the sitter's |
| contract. The form can be found online, and | | | | liability and you may wish to change some of that |
| you can save it to your email address. It can | | | | language. You may wish to add language that |
| be used over and over again. | | | | limits your liability in the event that the dog should |
| | | | | injure the sitter. You can change the language |
| After introducing your dog to | | | | when you save the form to your email address. |
| the sitter, a discussion should take place. Listen | | | | |
| closely to the questions the sitter asks. A sitter | | | | Give the sitter time to take the filled-out form |
| who loves dogs will want to know such things as | | | | home and to review it with a lawyer, if the sitter |
| what the dog likes to eat, when the dog eats, | | | | wishes, before signing it. The sitter may not |
| when and where the dog goes walking, what the | | | | understand that a written contract for dog care is |
| dog does for fun, who the dog's vet is, and | | | | important. The sitter should not feel rushed to |
| whether the dog has any health issues. A | | | | sign the contract. |
| responsible sitter will want to know how to reach | | | | |