Most pet care mistakes aren't made by bad people. They're made by well-meaning carers who simply weren't trained.
PetCloud's training and standards can prevent mistakes if followed.
Some common mistakes include;
Feeding the wrong food
Treating your pet with human food or switching their diet without checking - causing digestive upset or accidental toxicity. Grapes, onions, and xylitol are common household items that can be fatal to dogs. Owners are required to add details about pet feeding routines on their Pet's Profile for the Sitter to access and read before the stay begins.
Missing stress signals
A dog hiding, yawning repeatedly, refusing food, or panting without heat is showing distress - not just "settling in." A male cat straining to urinate in their box - is also a key signal that needs to be acted on quickly. Untrained carers often miss these signals until the situation becomes urgent.
All Pet Sitters are offered Pet Professional training. This training covers animal stress signals and when to act and when to call a Vet and the Owner.
Pets without ID tags & Microchip
Dropping pets off without them wearing a collar and engraved ID tag with your contact details, or out of date contact details on their Microchip Registration will decrease your chances of being reunited with them in the event they escape.
PetCloud is a Government Licensed Microchip Registry. You are able to get an engraved ID tag at your local key engraving shop.
Pet Incompatability
Having a meet and greet is a good backstop for trying to predict pet compatability during a stay, but doesn't always guarantee success. Pets behave differntly when they are away from their owners, and their anxiety may be higher. Having several unknown guest pets together requires close supervision, and having a barrier on hand should they each need separating during the stay.
We recommend including daily walks during a stay to ease anxiety, boost seritonin and relaxation.
Unsecured property
An unchecked gate, a gap in a fence, an unsealed door dog flap, a backyard pool with no barrier, or toxic plants within reach. Escape incidents and drownings happen in homes that seem perfectly safe - to a human.
Every Pet Owner and Pet Sitter has access to a Property Safety Checklist they can work through together at a Meet and Greet before a booking is confirmed.
Skipping the Meet and greet
Introducing your pet directly to a new home, a stranger, and potentially other resident animals at once - without a structured slow introduction - is a common source of conflict, anxiety, and escape attempts. Meet and greets are built into the booking process on PetCloud.
Getting exercise wrong
Over-exercising a brachycephalic (flat-faced) dog or senior pet can be fatal. Breed-specific needs aren't obvious without discussions and quality Sitter training.
Exercise routines are confirmed with Owners during Meet & Greets. Sitters should be briefed by you in breed-specific care needs.
No Emergency Plan
Not knowing the nearest 24-hour vet, not having the owner's vet details, not knowing the pet's medical history or medications. In an emergency, these gaps cost critical time.
All Pet Owners are asked to complete Pet profiles on PetCloud to capture vet details, medical history, authorised spend limit in the event of an emergency and any medications before every booking. There is a link to Non-Urgent Online Vet Web Consults in the menu.
Separation anxiety
Leaving a pet that has never been alone in a stranger's home without knowing its history. A dog with separation anxiety left alone on day one can injure itself or cause serious property damage.
Pet Sitters on PetCloud are offered training to identify and manage separation anxiety before and during a stay. It is up to Pet Owners to identify and select Pet Sitters who have had this training if this is important to you.
Agreement by both parties in on platform Message chat to support Verbal Agreement
Leaving a pet that has never been alone in a stranger's home without knowing its history. A dog with separation anxiety left alone on day one can injure itself or cause serious property damage.
Pet Sitters on PetCloud are offered training to identify and manage separation anxiety before and during a stay. It is up to Pet Owners to identify and select Pet Sitters who have had this training if this is important to you.
Assumptions the other party will be fine with something not discussed.
Assumptions like taking a pet to a dog friendly beach, while it sounds fun, can mean the increased chance of salt water aspiration (inhaling water, secondary drowing) or sand impaction (sand getting into the intenstines) and even dog fights.
Pet Owners and Sitters should agree in on platform chat whether the pet is ok to be taken to other specific locations.