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.
Unsecured property
An unchecked gate, a gap in a fence, 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 ad 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, or under-exercising a high-energy breed - both cause harm. Breed-specific needs aren't obvious without discussions and 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.
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.