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If they'll be house sitting
2. Are you able to commit to staying over every night from 8pm to 6am?
3. Are you wanting any partners, family, or friends to accompany you? Are they willing to undergo a police check too?

Who else is there
4. Will other pets or children be present when the pet stay takes place?

Their background
5. What previous experience have you had?
6. Have you ever had a tricky situation arise during a stay? How did you solve it?
7. What training have you received?
8. Do you have additional references?
9. Why do you like being a pet sitter?

Day to day
10. How often will you be home with my pet? Do you have other full time work commitments? Are you home on weekends?
11. How often do you answer your phone if I need to contact you?
12. Where will you be taking my dog for a walk during the stay? Are there parks or beaches?

If things go wrong
13. What do you normally do in the event of a medical emergency? What about less urgent concerns? (eg. Online Vet Consult)
14. What would you do if my pets got into a fight?
15. What would you do to recover my pet if they escaped?
16. How far away is your nearest vet? Are they open 24 hours?
17. Do you have a car and licence in the event of an emergency, or for trips to the groomers or vet?

Then stop talking and watch
Watch how your pet interacts with the sitter, and with their pets. Do they seem to get along?

Then ask the sitter to take your pet for a short walk and try a few basic commands - sit, stay, leave it, lie down. Does your pet come when the sitter calls their name? You're checking they can handle your pet out in public.