Sometimes, you need to leave home and cannot take your pet. A good pet sitter will benefit you and your dog. Your pet won't have to leave their familiar home, and you can enjoy the peace of mind of knowing a fellow dog lover will take excellent care of your good boy or girl. 

Six questions for your first interview with a new dog sitter 

But first you've got to find a reliable pet sitter. You might consider asking a neighbor or nearby relative. If you've got somebody in mind, that's great. Still, a pro pet sitter can offer experience, training, a willingness to follow instructions and most of all, reliability. 

Even though your friends and relatives might start with good intentions, they'll probably consider the critical task more of a favor than a serious responsibility. Sometimes, hiring a qualified professional dog sitter will prove better for you, your dog and your relationships.

If it's your first time hiring somebody to watch your pet, you won't have any experience with this type of work or with the individual you plan to hire. Consider asking these six questions during the interview:

1. Are you insured and bonded? A professional pet sitter or pet-sitting agency should maintain proper insurance and bonding. That's something the teenager next door or your cousin probably can't offer. 
2. Can you show me references from previous customers? If a pet sitter can't provide references or reviews, they might not have much experience. Worse yet, they didn't establish a good relationship with prior customers. 
3. Have you taken any training for pet sitters? Ideally, you’ll want to hire someone who is a Certified Professional Pet Sitter®. These sitters have passed a knowledge-based exam that shows their proficiency in animal needs and pet safety. It’s also important to ask if the sitter has had any training in dog first aid. 
4. What do you plan for your daily routine? Find out how your candidate typically attends to duties and make sure that both of your expectations align. You might also ask if the pet sitter would mind doing a few extra tasks, like bringing in the mail. 
5. Do you know how to handle various emergencies? Of course, you need to leave the pet sitter with critical information in case of an emergency, but a qualified pro should develop a plan and know what they need from you. 
6. Do you have a contract to sign? An experienced pet sitter or agency may already have standard agreements. If not, it's a good idea for both parties to put expectations in writing to avoid any misunderstandings later.

Don't forget to stock healthy treats for your furry friend!

Make sure your pet sitter knows to reward your faithful pet with a tasty dietary supplement from Moe's Healthy Pets. Besides Multi-Plus Bites for all dogs, Moe's Healthy Pets also offers supplements to support healthy immune systems, lush coats and limber joints. You and your pet sitter will understand the value of these critical nutrients, but your dog will feel delighted by the delicious bites.