5 Questions to Ask Before You Hire a Dog Sitter

Handing your keys and your dog to someone else is an act of trust. The interview is where you earn the right to feel good about it. A good sitter will welcome these questions. A bad one will rush past them, which tells you everything.

Ask these five questions to ask a dog sitter before you book anyone. When you hire a dog sitter the right way, you are finding someone whose judgment you trust with the animal you love most, and the interview is where that trust gets built.

1. How many dogs at once?

One sitter with six dogs is not watching yours. Ask for the real number: there is a world of difference between a sitter who takes two dogs and one running an unlicensed daycare.

You want a specific answer, not a vague one. If they hesitate or get defensive, keep looking.

Follow up on the details: ask whether the other dogs are similar in size and temperament, and whether yours will be crated or free-roaming. A sitter with three calm, compatible dogs beats one with a single reactive dog.

2. What does a day look like?

Walks, feeding times, alone time. Vague answers are a red flag. A prepared sitter can walk you through the day without thinking: morning walk at seven, feeding at eight, midday check, evening routine.

Listen for structure. Dogs settle faster in predictable rhythms, and a loose, improvised day passes chaos straight to your dog.

Ask about potty breaks and alone time: how many walks, how long, and what is the longest stretch alone? A good answer sounds like your dog's normal day with small adjustments.

3. What happens in an emergency?

They should name your vet and the emergency clinic without pausing. Emergencies do not wait for someone to Google.

The right answer includes your vet's name, the nearest emergency clinic, and what they would do first. If you have to supply all of this yourself, the sitter is not ready to hold the responsibility.

Push one level deeper: do they have written authorization to approve emergency vet care, and what is the spending limit? Agree on the plan in writing so the sitter can act fast without waiting on your phone signal.

4. Can I see references?

Happy past clients say yes fast. Hesitation tells you plenty. References are standard practice for anyone you trust with your home and your dog.

Ask for two recent clients and actually contact them. One five-minute call can reveal what a polished profile never will.

When you call, ask questions a profile cannot answer: did the sitter follow the feeding instructions exactly, and would you book them again without hesitating? A glowing reference for weekend puppy-sitting says little about your reactive senior dog for ten days.

5. Will you send updates?

Photos and a quick note daily. You should never have to wonder. Updates are how you enjoy your trip instead of refreshing your phone with worry.

Agree on the cadence upfront: one photo and a short note each day, plus immediate contact if anything seems off. It also helps to do the night-before checklist so the sitter starts day one fully briefed.

Clarify what counts as worth a call: eating less on day one is normal, but skipping two meals, vomiting, limping, or a major behavior change is not. Give the sitter explicit permission to call at any hour for the serious list.

Frequently asked questions

How far in advance should I book a dog sitter?

For holidays and peak seasons, book four to eight weeks ahead. For ordinary weeks, two weeks is usually enough. Booking early also gives you time for a trial visit, worth more than any interview answer.

Should I do a trial visit before booking a sitter?

Yes, whenever possible. One short visit lets your dog meet the sitter while you are present. A dog that relaxes within twenty minutes is a good sign.

What information should I leave for my dog sitter?

Everything they need to run your dog's day without guessing: feeding amounts and times, medications, walk routine, vet and emergency numbers, house rules, and the quirks only you know. Put it all in one written document.

The sitter interview is also your reminder to write everything down. The best sitter in the world is still guessing if the routine lives only in your head. The home alone setup guide covers the routine side, so your sitter inherits a system instead of a scramble.