Paw Pals Pet Sitting

Dog Walking & Pet Sitting in Northern VA

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What Makes A Great Pet Sitter?

September 12, 2022 by Mary Telesz

Pet parents and their pets both benefit greatly from the services of pet sitters. But finding a great pet sitter involves more than just giving animals the bare minimum of care. Several key details can make the difference between an excellent (or even outstanding) pet caretaker and an inadequate pet caretaker.

There’s more to pet sitting than simply giving the pet their daily servings of food and water. If you want a great pet sitter, you should strive to find one who adheres to the following guidelines.

They Meet with You and Your Pet Before the Job

woman with two dogs on couch with treatBefore you hire your first pet sitter, you and your pet will both want to meet with the prospective caretaker who will be caring for your pet in your home. Look for signs that they want to build a relationship with the animal and yourself. Get a sense for their personality and traits.

Ask them questions. How often will they be able to stop by the house? How much time will they spend with your pet (or pets) when they are there? What does their past pet-sitting experience look like? Do they have any references to whom you can speak? Moreover, ask them about how they would solve common pet-sitting problems. Examples of common problems might include pet CPR and first aid, or responding appropriately to pet anxiety or poor pet behavior.

Allow the sitter to interact with your pet by encouraging them to sit and spend time with the pet at your pet’s level. You are going to want to find a pet sitter who can truly assure you that they are going to take the finest possible care of your dog, cat or other pet. And they should be empathetic of the fact that leaving your pet at home can be upsetting for both the animal and for the owner.

Provide your pet sitter with all relevant information they’ll need to succeed in their role. That information should include emergency contact information, veterinarian details and contact info, pet food preferences and/or dietary restrictions, medication information, house alarm codes, and so forth. Be as detailed as possible. Not only does it set your pet sitter up for success, but it also decreases the likelihood that they’ll need to call you with questions while you’re away from home.

Flexibility

Life is full of unforeseen occurrences. Your work schedule might change at the last second, or you might have the abrupt realization that you are unable to care for Fido on your own. Having a fantastic and accommodating pet sitter on call can solve those worries. A pet sitter who is adaptable – and capable of stepping in at the last minute – is a major plus. A “can-do” spirit is another great qualification in a prospective pet sitter.

Controlling Expectations

gray cat being petAs a pet parent, it can be hard to find a pet sitter who meets certain expectations, but this is essential and could mean the difference between finding a successful or unsuccessful pet sitter. Be honest with the potential sitter if you discover, during your early meetings, that you require something that they are unable to offer. You must be open, honest, and communicative with each other if you hope to receive the best care.

Talk about the purpose of each visit and describe a normal day in the life of your pet(s). Be honest (and realistic) about the amount of time that they will need to spend at your home on each visit. If the pet sitter also offers house sitting services, make sure to go over any and all house sitting duties such as watering plants, checking your mail, and turning on and off the lights.

Go Beyond Their Call of Duty

Find a sitter who is able to keep in constant contact with you. When they get to your place, ask them to send you a text with a status update assuring them that everything is going well and that your pets are happy, healthy and behaving.

It is advisable to find a sitter who is capable of observing what your animals need. With animals who are reserved or afraid, a patient and composed pet sitter is necessary. Make sure that your pet sitter is able to maintain your own routine as much as they can in order to help your pets who are susceptible to change and might be missing you. Ask if your pet sitter can send you images after your pet is at ease so that they can let you know that they are paying particular attention to your furry family member and so you can see your pet’s happy face.

A Joyful and Upbeat Outlook

Nobody wants their dog or cat to be cared after by a miserable, pessimistic pet sitter. After all, when you have a furry loved one around the house, things don’t always go according to plan. Things not owned by the animal may be thrown over, chewed, or even worse, buried in the yard! No pet owner desires to leave their cherished pet with a grumpy or unenthusiastic person. So be sure to always keep a grin on your face and see the positive side of things.

Dependable and Accountable

A pet sitter may be in charge of keeping extra copies of your house keys, making sure the home is locked and secure when they leave the property, and watching out for escaped or runaway pets.

You can think about conducting a background investigation on potential pet sitters, getting in touch with their previous and present clients, and checking their references. Never underestimate the strength of going with your instincts when choosing a pet sitter.

Are You in Need of a Pet Sitter?

Northern Virginia pet owners can get pet sitting and other helpful services from Paw Pals Pet Sitting. The services we provide are beneficial for pet owners who genuinely care about their animals and do not want to board them when they are away. We work hard to provide the area’s “Best Care for your Best Friend.” Even the busiest pet owner can fit our flexible pet sitting services into their schedule. The skilled and certified specialists on the Paw Pals Pet Sitting team will ensure that your dogs receive the highest caliber of care.

Filed Under: Pet Sitting

Contact Paw Pals for More Information

Paw Pals specializes in professional dog walking, dog sitting, and pet sitting services. One of our reliable, adult staff members will keep your pet safe, while providing your pet the love and care they need when you are away. Contact us to learn more!

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Office Location

Paw Pals Pet Sitting, LLC
14001-C Saint Germain Drive #213
Centreville, VA 20121
(703) 345-1695

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Office Hours

Monday
9am - 5pm
Tuesday
9am - 5pm
Wednesday
9am - 5pm
Thursday
9am - 5pm
Friday
9am - 5pm
Saturday
Closed
Sunday
Closed

Areas Served

Centreville – 20120, 20121
Chantilly – 20151
Clifton – 20124
Fairfax – 22030, 22033
Fairfax Station – 22039
Manassas – 20109, 20110, 20111
Reston – 20191, 20190

Google Rating
4.9
Paw Pals Pet Sitting
Paw Pals Pet Sitting
4.9
Taylor Smith
Taylor Smith
21:22 03 Oct 21
I never worry when Mary and team take care of my dog!
Michæl Silva
Michæl Silva
21:38 01 Jul 22
Mary at Paw Pals Pet Sitting is the greatest! She has helped me train my pooch Chico how play nice with other dogs and for that I am extremely grateful! A+A+A+A+A+A
Kwi Kim
Kwi Kim
22:37 17 Jun 22
I hired Paw Pals based on my sister’s referral. Meet & greet was very thorough and detailed. I was surprised that my finicky cat came to check the sitter out. Subsequently, a sitter watched my cat over several separate visits, and it was clear through the visit reports that my cat loved the sitter. All the visits were completed having followed my directions & with professionalism.I would highly recommend Paw Pals to anyone who’s looking for a dependable, personable, & professional sitter.
Joseph Walter
Joseph Walter
19:55 13 Jun 22
Paw Pals provided a large number of photos of our pets along with a personalized message on how our pets were doing with every single visit. I would highly recommend using Paw Pals, we'll be continuing to use them whenever we go on vacation.
Ashley Manning
Ashley Manning
09:50 11 Jun 22
Highly recommend as pet sitters!Initially, a sitter from the company will visit the house to meet the pets and learn where everything is. Tatiana took careful notes and we got her some spare keys.While we are away, Paw Pals sends sitters to come and look after our boys. They feed them, scoop litter, bring in mail and packages, and they will even manage trash, recycling, blinds and lights so that everything is comfortable for our kitties. Each time they check in, we receive an email message with updates and pictures, which is so comforting when we are on the road.Also, if you don’t let Paw Pals know when you are home, they assume something has happened and will continue to care for your babies. If something were to happen, I know they would be okay.Five stars for Paw Pals!
Brian Wood
Brian Wood
04:08 22 May 22
We have used Paw Pals for a number of years now and would highly recommend to anyone looking for help with their pets. Great communication from owner Mary and flexibility to make adjustments in schedule as life changes over time. Have had a consistent set of walkers who have gotten to know our pup and the various walking routes around our neighborhood quite well.
Lesley Bush
Lesley Bush
13:58 18 Mar 22
We can't rave enough about Paw Pals. They took care of our 18 year old Cat and 20 year old Chinchilla while we were away and when our flight got cancelled, they were so accommodating and available last minute for an extra day. We worked with Jen to coordinate visits from Miko and Danny. I loved the pictures and updates on how our Lil geriatric guys were doing. Thanks a million, Paw Pals!! Our special pets were so well cared for.
Sebastian Barnes
Sebastian Barnes
01:06 17 Jan 22
I have used Paw Pals for several trips over the last few months, and they have been phenomenal every time! Mary is extremely kind and responsive, and she makes sure that my cat and dog have the care that they need every time I am out of town. All of the pet sitters that I've had have been incredibly sweet to my pets, and they treat them like their own! Will gladly continue using Paw Pals every time I need a sitter.
Julie Shildt
Julie Shildt
17:45 14 Nov 21
It has been a pleasure doing business with paw pals. We have used this company for several trips we have taken over the past 6 months. They have been wonderful caretakers for our 2 cats. Anytime there is ever a question they don't hesitate to give us a call and they leave the best notes and pictures in the emailed report of each visit. We are so glad have found such a great company.
Andrea Hall
Andrea Hall
22:45 03 Oct 20
I wasn't sure about hiring a new doggie walker service... after all they are our kiddos... my babies were in great hands and I felt relaxed having them in their care. Thank you for everything!
Katie McCune
Katie McCune
19:19 15 Jul 21
I honestly cannot recommend Mary and her whole crew enough! We started using Mary originally about 7 years ago to stop by occasionally when our Aussie Lana was younger. Over the next couple years Lana stayed with Mary and her family for a couple weekends when we went on vacation. When we moved to our new house in Manassas, Lana stayed with Sam, who lives in Manassas, overnight for moving day, and did great. Right before the pandemic, we adopted our second Aussie, Goose, and Mary recommended a fantastic trainer for him.We now have weekly walks for the dogs, and they love all of their walkers! Trevor, Paul, Hazel, Sofie, and probably a couple others have helped Goose get used to more people, and have helped my husband and me when our schedules are crazy.Paw Pals is our go-to for any help with our dogs, so I highly recommend them!
Alexandra Hill
Alexandra Hill
22:43 23 May 21
I was a nervous mommy to leave my cats with a sitter service for the first time. Paw Pals went above and beyond to care for my cats and ease a nervous mommy. I already made a reservation to use them again!
Cindy Welgoss
Cindy Welgoss
13:12 27 Nov 20
We have been using Paw Pals for several years, and through a variety of pets that we have loved. Mary and her team have always been *exceptional* in every way. They are professional, courteous, and truly love our fur family! Mary herself is an organized and stellar administrator of her pet care business, keeping detailed records of our pet’s needs, scheduled pet visits, payments, and balance due easy to keep track of as the pet owner. The pet caretaking team is reliable and trustworthy. When our dogs see any of their Paw Pal friends, they get SO excited to see them! Follow up comments are left via text to keep the pet owner informed of the visit and how the pets are faring. Paw Pals has allowed our family the peace of mind to leave our pets at home, for work, weekend getaways and longer times away when necessary, where they are the most comfortable and familiar. We are grateful to Mary and her team for giving us the ability to enjoy pet ownership without feeling tied down. The responsibility of having pets comes with the need to keep them safe and comfortable at all times, and Mary and her team affords us this when our family has to be away.
Dr Tammy Cashion
Dr Tammy Cashion
21:11 12 Mar 19
We have used Paw pals pet sitting on multiple occasions for our bunnies while we are away. Many pet sitters are not interested in small pets however; Mary and her team, are amazing and we trust her implicitly! We are very happy with the outstanding service we have received from her team including texts and photos of our pets when we are out of town. They always go the extra mile and we highly recommend them!
Kristin Conrad
Kristin Conrad
16:00 16 Nov 19
We are so grateful we found Mary and her team at Paw Pals. They are exceptionally responsive, amazingly organized and detail-oriented.We have such peace of mind when we travel knowing our home and pets are so well cared for. Paw Pals is the best pet sitting service we’ve used, and we’re so happy we found them.
Katie Russell
Katie Russell
15:01 17 May 20
Paw Pals is fantastic! I have had a great experience with Mary! Compassionate, professional, responsive, and prompt! Thank you!
Phillip Evans
Phillip Evans
14:38 11 Jul 20
When we adopted our new dog in January, Paw Pals agreed to walk her and give her some outside time so she wasn't in the crate all day. She loved her dog walker and you could see her excitement every time the walker showed up. We moved out of the area but would recommend Paw Pals to anyone needing someone to care for their pets.
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