Professional pet sitter. The three words that bring joy to the hearts of dogs and dog trainers across the country. A relationship with a pet sitter is one of the most important relationships a dog owner will ever have.

We’d like to introduce our next featured professional with an article about the joys of pet sitting! Certified Professional Dog Trainer and owner of Paws in Training Angel Wasserman  explains what professional pet sitters do and how hiring one can benefit you and your pet.

What is a professional pet sitter?

Professional pet sitters are animal care providers who take care of your pets when you’re not home. I’m not referring to the neighbor who occasionally lets your dog out or the teenager who walks dogs occasionally.  The professional pet sitter is animal savvy, knows how to mitigate risks and how to respond appropriately in the event of an emergency.  Their business is taking care of their customers’ pets.

Why should I hire a pet sitter?

A pet sitter is the one resource you can always count on. Whether you have an emergency, are going on vacation, or want to schedule daily visits for your pet, a pet sitter is always available. Of equal importance, they provide the same, exceptional care that you would provide for your pet.

From a behavioral standpoint, there are several benefits to hiring a pet sitter.

If you’re leaving for vacation, boarding facilities are fine, but pets tend to be less stressed at home in their own environment. When you ask family, neighbors or your own kids to watch your dogs, there are some risks. While these folks are always willing to help, they typically don’t have the training, education or experience required to handle an emergency or deal with dramatic pet behavior. A dog’s behavior can change quickly when their “parents” are not at home and the household routine is different. When Fluffy bolts out the front door, is your teenager going to know what to do? Will he even notice?

Pet sitters are experienced dog handlers. They expect the unexpected and know exactly how to handle it. They understand that adorable and well-behaved Fluffy might show her fur once Mom and Dad are gone–and they know how to mitigate the resulting behaviors and situations. Hiring a professional will substantially decrease your worry while you are away.

Dogs home alone all day can suffer from a lack of physical and mental stimulation.

This can manifest itself in destructive or obsessive behaviors, that include excessive barking, manic jumping, licking, tail chasing and running in circles. Unlike cats, dogs are not solitary creatures. They are bred as companion pets and have an innate need to be with people. Lacking this, they can become bored and frustrated and act out with poor behaviors. (Read more: Understanding Dogs.) For the pets that are home alone all day, hiring a pet sitter to visit every day substantially impacts the pet’s well-being which directly affects their behavior.

The last, yet equally important reason to have a daily pet sitter is simply this… can you hold it for 10 hours?

If you’re out of the house all day, you can’t expect your pet not to have an accident. In fact, many of the calls we get relative to housebreaking problems aren’t really housebreaking problems at all. Rather, it’s that the dogs are given no other choice. Like humans, pets cannot hold their bladders or bowels for an indefinite amount of time.

What services do pet sitters offer and what is the cost?

Services and fees vary, so be sure to ask these questions when you are interviewing pet sitters. The two services our dog trainers recommend the most are mid-day potty-breaks, to allow the pet to relieve himself, and long walks, which provide physical and mental stimulation to break up the monotony of the pet’s day. From a behavioral standpoint, and for the pet’s emotional well-being, pet sitters are worth their weight in gold!

Angel Wasserman, CCBC, CPDT

This article was reposted from the Paws in Training website. Find Paws in Training on Facebook, Google+ and Yelp. Check out Woof It Up! A Guide To Happy Dogs and Happy Owners, available in paperback or E-Book formats.

If you’re ready to hire a professional pet sitter or would like more information or a quote, contact Walk & Wag at lisa@walkandwagchapelhill.com or click here to fill out our contact form.