Dog sitting tips: the ultimate guide

Updated 20 Aug 2024

Love the idea of traveling the globe and caring for new canine companions along the way, but not quite clued-up on the dog sitting 101? Great - stick with us as we guide you through our top dog sitting tips. 

Create your profile and apply for dog sits

Before we get into our dog sitting tips, the first thing you’ll need to do is secure a sit of your own. It’s simple - sign up, choose your annual sitter plan, complete your sitter profile and apply to as many sits as you like. 

For more advice on setting up the perfect sitter profile (to give you the best chances of securing your dream dog sit), explore these expert pet sitting top tips, and click below to find out how dog sitting with TrustedHousesitters works.

Meet the pet parents beforehand

If you can, it’s worth meeting up with the pet parents and their dogs before the sit begins. For some, this could look like a video call if meeting in person isn’t possible.

But if you can, meet one another to get clear on your pet sitter requirements.

Meeting before the sit is also a great way to get your new canine companions used to you before you stay in their home.

Ask the right questions

One of our most important dog sitting tips is to ask the right questions before your sit begins. While how to be a good dog sitter comes with time, experience and a love for animals, there are certainly a range of questions you can ask to make sure you’re as prepared as possible. And of course, make sure the pet owners have filled out a welcome guide ahead of your sit.

• What can/can’t they eat? Do they have any food allergies?
• What are your vet’s contact details? Is there a contract already in place?
• Will they need grooming? If so, what will need to be done?
• Do you need me to administer any medications? If so, where are they stored?
• Does the dog have any health issues? If so, what do I need to be prepared for?
• Does your dog suffer from anxiety? Is there anything that will calm them down?
• What are the house rules? Are there any areas of the house they’re not allowed?
• What are their favorite toys?
• What are the basic training commands they respond well to? Are they any basic elements of training you’d like me to pay extra attention to?
• Where is the leash kept? Can I let them off the leash?
• Would you like daily updates?
• Will I need to top up on pet essentials? If so, how will I be reimbursed?
• Are there any local dogs to avoid?

Create a plan for emergencies

Should the worst happen, it’s vital that you’re prepared. Here are a few questions you can ask the pet parents, ahead of the sit.

• Is there a local vet emergency number I can call?
• Should I call you, a neighbor or another trusted person during an emergency?
• Where would you like your pets to be taken to in case of an emergency (like a fire or natural disaster)?

You should definitely follow the pet parent’s instructions on what to do in an emergency during a sit. But, if there’s no emergency and you simply need some advice, rest assured that with your TrustedHousesitters Standard membership, you can enjoy peace of mind with free phone, chat or video calls with a veterinary expert, 24/7.

Bring treats

Always check with pet parents beforehand, but one great piece of dog sitting advice we can give any pet sitter is to arrive armed with a pocket-full of treats. It’ll immediately help your new canine pal to associate you with something positive, and you’ll have the upper hand when it comes to training commands.

Learn how to gain a dog’s trust

Something you can do when learning how to dog sit is to read up on how to gain a dog’s trust. While staying in the comfort of home is certainly the best option for dogs, having somebody new stay in their territory can take some getting used to. So, brush up on dog body language and learn what’s best to do when meeting a dog for the first time. 

Be prepared for lots of exercise

Whether you’re after puppy sitting tips or you’re taking care of an adult dog, you might be wondering what to do when dog sitting. Well the likelihood is, you’ll be walking and playing fetch a lot. 

In fact, exercise is vital for making sure the dog you’re caring for is behaving properly. Master dog trainer - Rob Kuty shares the importance of tiring a dog out over on our community forum.

“Try finding a way to burn your dog’s excess energy like going for a long walk or a jog. Or finding a dog who is well matched socially and let them get out that excess energy by playing together. A tired dog is a good dog. It’s also important to establish structure with a high energy dog.”

Be prepared for lots of daily activity, and if you don’t feel you can handle it, consider whether being a dog sitter is right for you - there are heaps of exciting cat sitting opportunities out there that’ll be less physically-demanding.

Get reviews

Now for our final tip for dog sitters - give pet owners peace of mind by asking for a review after each and every sit. After a great experience with you, pet parents can share their thoughts, which helps other pet parents feel comfortable welcoming you into their home.

Manage interactions with other dogs

When you’re learning how to pet sit, something you might not have thought about is managing interactions with not only the dog in your care, but other dogs, too. Before your sit begins, speak to the pet parents about how their dog copes when meeting other pets outside the home, and ways you can avoid any unwanted behaviors.

You’ll also want to manage interactions between the pets in the household you’re taking care of - two dogs can be a handful. 

Our member @mimbles asks: “I’m dog sitting at the moment- one cheeky pup and sweet old boy. The puppy (1 year ish) will barely let me give the older one any attention, jumping in front or even onto him. Do you have any tips to help me make both get some love? They’re used to a family of four and now there’s just one of me!”

Rob Kuty - certified master dog trainer, President of San Diego Pet Training and Director of Animal Training at Helen Woodward Animal Center - was on hand to with his dog training tips over on our community forum.

Rob: “In order for a dog to master a behavior, you have to let them make decisions. As the handler you will acknowledge what’s right or wrong. 

I would recommend placing the younger dog on a leash with another person while having yourself interact with the older dog a couple feet away. 

Let the younger dog make decisions out of its instinct. This will include jumping, barking, and crying for your attention. 

It’s going to pull everything out of its bag of tricks to get in between you and the older dog. Just have the handler hold on to the leash, be neutral and allow the younger dog to exhaust its options. 

A dog will never do something for nothing. When the dog finally calms down, walk calmly over to it and give it attention. Repeat this process until you notice when you’re saying hi to the older dog, the younger pup sits there calmly waiting for attention.”

Learn how to manage canine anxiety

One of the best pieces of dog sitting advice we can give is to expect canine anxiety, and to know what to do when you suspect the pup in your care is feeling anxious. 

Know the signs of an anxious dog (like hiding, panting and loss of appetite), ways to settle them (such as play, exercise and distraction), and know when to draw the line and contact their pet parents (this is something you can discuss with the dog owners themselves).

Something that naturally makes dogs anxious is the absence of pet parents - something you as a sitter can help with, and pet parents can prevent.

Our member @Nagy26 was in this very situation, and master dog trainer, Rob Kuty, was on hand to help.

@Nagy26 asks: “Hi Rob, I am wondering what helps anxious dogs to cope with a pet-sit & the absence of their pet-parent? Are there ways to prepare a pet for a sit even before a sitter arrives and prevent or reduce potential anxiety? Thanks very much!”

Rob: “The key here is to help explain to a dog when it comes to them being anxious in the absence of their owner, that being with you or being without you is no big difference.

Examples of this is easing in and out of your dog’s presence whether it’s for a few minutes or a few hours. In other words, making your entrances and exits a non-event. 

Also be careful not giving a dog attention when they are being pushy. Asking for your attention because they are hurt or need to be let out to go to the bathroom, is one thing. 

But be careful when they are demanding your attention for no good reason. 

If you fall for this, it starts to create anxiety because they feel entitled and when you’re not with them, it creates anxiety.”

Thinking about embarking on a cat sitting adventure, too?

Great choice, fellow feline lover. To get your journey started, explore these cat sitting tips so that you can give your new feline friends all the TLC they need while their pet parents are away.