Benefits of Hiring a Professional Pet Sitter

Certain types of jobs require a license or certification before it can be practiced. A license is clear proof that a person meets the basic skills required of a certain job and has undergone proper training or education and tests. There is one type of profession, though, that requires not just a license and skills, but lots of stamina and, most of all, a deep love for dogs too – this new profession is dog walking. One can probably say that it is one of the latest professional interests in the market which, lately, has created movements in the business world as a number of accountants, writers, computer experts, painters, real estate agents, nurses, and other high-paying experts, have left their jobs to become professional dog walkers.

Dog walkers undergo a special training. Things that they need to learn include a dog’s behavior and body language, canine first aid, proper management of a pack of dogs, trail etiquette, and marketing strategies that will enable them to earn clients and win clients’ trust. Often, they will also need to learn how to deal with people who hate canines, as they will surely get to meet some as they take their clients (dogs) in the park, in jogging trails, or in any other place where they need to go to or pass through.

One cannot, however, become a dog walker if one simply intends to earn. It will require a deep love for dogs to be able to enjoy a dog-walking job as well as perform all other tasks that may result from the dog-walking or running chore. Examples of extra chores that will require great patience is bathing and drying up a dog after ending up with a mud-soaked pet due to walking, running or playing under the rain. With bathing them already an added tiring job, wait until the drying up time comes when towels get filled with dog hair (and dirt).

Besides dog walking, dog walkers also offer pet sitting services. According to Walk! ATX, pet sitting, compared to having a pet housed in a kennel, is healthier for pets since it eliminates the stressors and boredom of a kennel environment. Furthermore, it also makes sure that dogs with special needs are given their medications and the customized care preferred by owners.

It is important, however, that one hires a professional pet sitter if owners wish to enjoy the many benefits that a professional type of service will provide them and their pets. For pet owners or pet parents, these benefits include:

• Multiple pet-sitting visits per day and even an overnight stay if requested by pet parents;
• Knowledge that their pets are in caring, loving hands; and,
  Pet-sitters are trained to perform and deal with many other issues, such as dog walking, pet grooming and visits to the vet, if necessary.

For pets, some of the benefits include:

• Staying at home, which is a more secure environment since the smell, sight and sound are familiar, compared to those in a kennel;
• Pets’ regular diet and exercise will be observed;
• Pets will receive personal care and attention, especially during emergency cases; and,
• Not being exposed to other animals’ illnesses or parasites, which is very likely in a kennel.

Besides all these, professional pet sitters also make sure that pets are fed on time, that their water bowls are changed, that they get their needed exercise and play time, their litter boxes and other mess are cleaned, administered their needed medication, and provided all the love and care that they need.