How to Choose a Pet Sitter: A Guide for First-Time Users

Leaving your pet with someone for the first time is one of those experiences that separates pet owners from everyone else. Non-pet people do not understand the anxiety. They think you are being dramatic. But you know that you are entrusting a living being who depends on you entirely to a person you may have just met, and the stakes feel enormous.

I have been on the other side of this. As former CTO of Pawshake, I reviewed or oversaw the review of thousands of sitter profiles. I built the systems that matched pet owners with sitters, processed the reviews, and handled the (rare but real) incidents. I have seen what makes a great sitter, what makes a mediocre one, and what the warning signs look like.

This guide is everything I learned, distilled into practical advice.

10 Things to Look For in a Pet Sitter

1. Genuine Photos of Their Space

This is the single most important signal on any sitter profile. At Pawshake, we found that sitters who included photos of their home environment received approximately 3x more bookings than sitters with only headshots or stock-looking images. And the reason is simple: pet owners want to see where their animal will actually be.

Look for photos that show:

The area where your pet will sleep
The garden or outdoor space (if applicable)
The general living environment (is it clean? safe? secure?)
Any other pets in the household

A sitter who shows you their actual space is demonstrating transparency. They are saying: "This is what you get." That honesty is the foundation of trust.

2. Specific Experience With Your Pet Type

A sitter who is great with calm Cavalier King Charles Spaniels may not be equipped for a young Border Collie with separation anxiety. Pet sitting is not one-size-fits-all.

Look for sitters who mention experience with:

Your specific breed or breed group
Your pet's age category (puppies, seniors, and adult dogs require different approaches)
Any behavioural challenges your pet has (reactivity, separation anxiety, resource guarding)
Your pet's species (cat-only sitters exist for a reason — cats deserve specialists who understand feline behaviour, not dog people who also accept cats)

3. A Detailed Profile Bio

A well-written, detailed bio tells you several things: the sitter takes their work seriously, they have thought about what they offer, and they are trying to attract the right clients rather than every client.

Good bios include:

Why they started pet sitting
What their daily routine looks like with a guest pet
Their experience level and any relevant background (vet nurse, dog trainer, lifelong multi-pet household)
Their house rules (feeding schedules, sleeping arrangements, exercise routines)
What types of pets they do and do not accept

4. Verified Reviews From Actual Bookings

There is a crucial difference between testimonials and verified reviews. A testimonial is a quote that anyone could write. A verified review is tied to a completed, paid booking on the platform — the reviewer actually used the service.

When reading reviews, look for:

Specificity: "She sent us photos every morning and evening and gave Max his medication on time" is more useful than "Great sitter, highly recommend!"
Recency: Reviews from the last 6 months are more relevant than reviews from 3 years ago
Volume: A sitter with 5 reviews at 5.0 stars is less reliable than a sitter with 50 reviews at 4.8 stars
How the sitter handles the rare negative review: A thoughtful, non-defensive response to criticism is a strong positive signal

5. Clear Communication Style

Pay attention to how the sitter communicates from the very first message. Your initial exchange tells you a lot about what the ongoing communication will be like.

Good signs:

They respond within a few hours (not days)
They ask questions about your pet rather than just confirming availability
They write in complete sentences and seem genuinely engaged
They proactively suggest a meet-and-greet

Concerning signs:

One-word or very brief responses
They do not ask about your pet's needs
They seem eager to confirm the booking without learning about your animal
Slow response times without explanation

6. Willingness to Do a Meet-and-Greet

Any quality sitter will offer — or at least readily agree to — a meet-and-greet before the first booking. This is a non-negotiable for overnight stays and house sitting.

The meet-and-greet serves multiple purposes:

Your pet meets the sitter in a low-pressure environment
You see the sitter's space (for boarding) or the sitter sees yours (for house sitting)
You can discuss your pet's routine, quirks, and needs in person
Both parties can decide if it is a good fit — because sometimes it is not, and that is fine

A sitter who is unwilling to do a meet-and-greet is a red flag. There is no legitimate reason to refuse one. Time constraints can be worked around. Distance can be managed with video calls as a minimum alternative. But refusing outright suggests the sitter either does not take the work seriously or has something they do not want you to see.

7. Insurance and Emergency Preparedness

Ask the sitter directly:

Do you have pet sitting insurance? (In Australia, this is not legally required but is a strong indicator of professionalism)
What is your plan if my pet has a medical emergency?
Do you have transport to get to a vet quickly?
Which vet clinic would you take my pet to?

A professional sitter will have thought about these scenarios. They will have a vet clinic identified, they will know where the nearest 24-hour emergency vet is, and they will have a plan for transport.

8. Appropriate Living Situation

This is straightforward but often overlooked. Consider:

If your dog is large and energetic, a sitter in a small apartment without outdoor access may not be ideal
If your cat is indoor-only, confirm the sitter's home is secure and that windows and doors are not left open
If the sitter has their own pets, understand how the animals will be managed together (separate rooms? joint supervision? gradual introduction?)
If the sitter lives with housemates, confirm everyone in the household is aware and comfortable with the arrangement

9. A Reasonable Rate

Pet sitting rates vary by city, service type, and sitter experience. As a rough guide:

Australia: $40-70/night for boarding, $20-35 for dog walking
Belgium: EUR 25-40/night for boarding, EUR 10-20 for dog walking
UK: GBP 25-45/night for boarding, GBP 10-20 for dog walking

A rate significantly below the local average should prompt questions. Cheap is not the same as good value. A sitter charging $25/night in Melbourne when the average is $50 may be inexperienced, may be taking on too many pets to compensate, or may not be providing the level of care you expect.

Equally, the most expensive sitter is not automatically the best. Price should correlate with experience, service quality, and the sitter's setup — not just their postcode.

10. Your Gut Feeling

After considering all the rational criteria, trust your instinct. If something feels off — the sitter seems distracted, their space does not feel right, your pet seems unusually anxious around them — listen to that. You know your pet better than anyone, and your comfort level matters.

It is completely acceptable to meet a sitter and decide not to book. No quality sitter will take offence. They would rather you find the right fit than proceed with doubts.

Red Flags to Watch For

In my years reviewing profiles and handling support cases at Pawshake, these were the patterns that most often preceded problems:

Stock Photos or Too-Perfect Profiles

A profile with professional-quality photos that look like stock images, a bio that reads like advertising copy, and no personal details is a yellow flag. Real sitters have slightly imperfect photos of their actual home, their actual pets, and their actual life. Perfection in a profile usually means inauthenticity.

No Questions About Your Pet

A sitter who agrees to a booking without asking anything about your pet — their temperament, medical needs, routine, fears, triggers — is not providing personalised care. They are running a volume business. Your pet deserves someone who takes the time to understand them as an individual.

Pressure to Book Quickly

"I only have one spot left this weekend!" may be true, but it should not be used to pressure you into skipping a meet-and-greet or rushing your decision. A good sitter would rather lose a booking than take one they are not prepared for.

Unwillingness to Provide Updates

Before you book, ask what the sitter's update policy is. Most quality sitters will proactively send photos and messages during the booking. If a sitter says they will only send updates "if there's a problem," that is not enough for most pet owners, and it suggests a transactional rather than caring approach to the work.

Vague or Evasive About Their Setup

If you ask how many pets the sitter takes at once and get a vague answer, that is a concern. If you ask about their garden fencing and they change the subject, that is a concern. Transparency about their setup is baseline — if a sitter cannot or will not answer direct questions, move on.

Making the Most of Your First Booking

Once you have chosen a sitter, set the booking up for success:

Write detailed care instructions — feeding amounts and times, walk schedule, medication details, behavioural quirks, what comforts your pet when stressed
Leave familiar items — your pet's own bed, a worn t-shirt that smells like you, their usual toys
Do a trial run — before a week-long trip, book a single overnight to see how your pet does
Share your vet's details — name, address, phone number, and your pet's insurance information if applicable
Agree on communication expectations — how often you want updates and in what format (photos, messages, video calls)
Relax — if you have done your homework and chosen well, your pet is in good hands

Finding Your Sitter

The Pet Sitter makes it easy to search for sitters in your area and filter by the criteria that matter to you. Every sitter profile includes photos, bios, reviews, and service details so you can make an informed decision.

We built the platform with the lessons I learned from years inside the pet sitting industry. Our how it works guide explains the full process, from search to booking to review.

Your pet deserves excellent care. Take the time to find the right person, and you will have a trusted sitter for years to come.