As a animal-lover myself, I know that hiring someone to take care of your pet is like hiring someone to take care of your child. You need to feel safe and comfortable in your dog walker selection because that person will be entering your home and interacting with your family, all while you are not at home. Rest assured that there are trustworthy people out there that can help you with your dog walking needs. Here are some tips for finding the right dog walker for you:

• Make sure they are Bonded & Insured

This step is easy. Just ask your dog walker for proof of insurance. The potential dog walker should not get offended for you being careful. If the dog walker makes excuses, this is a red flag that the person may not be insured and is being dishonest. If that is the case, keep on with your search.

• Ask for references

If the dog walker does not give references during the consultation, be sure to ask for some. Don’t be shy. Call the references and ask them what ever questions you want. You should feel comfortable with your selection and talking to other customers will help. In fact, your dog walker should encourage you to call upon their references.

• Read all policy information

Most accredited dog walkers have some type of company policies that suggest rules for the owner and rules for the dog walker. These help for your pet’s safety and the safety of the dog walker. Your dog walker will usually have you sign and agree to the terms so be sure to read them thoroughly and if anything seems questionable bring it up otherwise keep looking for the right dog walker.

• Ask all the questions you want

Don’t hesitate in asking questions. Your dog walker should be experienced and have answers for any type of situations you may have questions about. Even those that are just starting their dog-walking business should have some experience in dealing with animals. If you find this is not the case, you may want to keep looking. Example question: What would you do if our dog got away from you during the walk? Or, what are backup procedures if you cannot make it to our house to walk our dog?

• Maybe go on a walk with your dog walker first

Again, don’t be shy. If it makes you more comfortable to walk with the dog walker and your pet before making your decision, feel free! Your dog walker should be open to it and gladly walk around with you and your pet. This will show you how experienced the dog walker is with animals and will help you feel more comfortable in leaving your pet with someone besides yourself. Your dog will likely let you know if it enjoys walking with the dog walker. Your dog walker should also be open to sharing his/her experience with your pet. Suggest that your dog walker leave you notes on how the day went with your pet.

Being thorough in your hiring process will make you feel more comfortable with trusting your pet sitter or dog walker with your pet. Good luck in your search!

Mary Hickman is the owner of selectpetcare.com and offers pet sitting plano tx. Visit http://www.selectpetcare.com for all of your pet sitting needs.