Holiday Care for Your Canine Best Friend

Want the best care possible for your canine buddy? Here are a few tips from a professional pet sitter.

Remember: the holidays are busy for everyone, so book early if you can. This time of year, we dog sitters become inundated with last minute requests for pet-sitting.  Please keep your pet care requirements in mind when you are making your vacation plans. I highly recommend you book peak vacation times (Christmas, Spring Break, Easter, etc.) as far in advance as possible to ensure your favorite sitter is available to care for your pooch!

Before you go away on your next business trip or family vacation, remember to speak to your family vet and forward an Absent Owner Consent form or ensure you have filled out the one we keep on file at Love on a Leash. In the event of an emergency, your wishes will be met and you will know that your pet will be able to get the care you would desire as quickly as possible.

The following list will help you make sure your dog get the best of care while you are away:

• Ensure all your dog’s daily requirements will be met: food, water, medication, walks, kisses & hugs.
• Inform your family vet you are away and who your pet sitter will be.
• Discuss your pet’s current health concerns with your vet and your wishes regarding the care of your pet while you are away.
• Ensure your pet-sitter has the following information: How to get hold of you while you’re away, vet contact details, pet emergency preferences, and adequate supply of medications and full disclosure of your dog’s health history and concerns, plus financial information for emergencies.

Remember that all pet sitters are not the same. Ask for references and credentials. Ideally your pet sitter should be licensed with the city they are working in, as well as bonded & insured. Your pet sitter should be certified in pet first aid and belong to a professional organization such as Pet Sitter’s International or the All Canadian Pet Sitters Network and your sitter should have a website that lists information and rates in a professional and concise manner.                

As an accredited pet sitter, I can tell you that we take our job seriously and will do everything in our power to ensure your dog’s stay with us is as comfortable, safe, fun and as loving as possible for your dog.

At Love on a Leash we truly adore our doggy clients and they love us right back! See our review page on Yelp and see client testimonials on our website.