4 Tips to help you have the best holiday vacation for your pet!

The choices can be confusing as to what accommodations are right for your pet while you are away from home. These are some of the choices you need to consider when you are choosing between a dog walking/pet sitting service or a Dog Boarding and Training in Phoenix  facility!

Would you prefer if your pet stayed in your home and had a visiting pet sitter stay in the house and perform other duties like bringing in the mail, watering  the  plants, or to  walk or play with your dog or cat ?

Tip: This does provide added security, if they are licensed, bonded, and insured. Your house is safer when not vacant of an adult presence.

Would you like to drop your dog at a certified pet sitter’s home and have that individual take care of your dog in a home environment instead of a kennel?

Tip:Usually you should know what other dogs or pets are residing in that home, and how many there will be at the time your pet is there. Make sure the environment is clean and safe, as well as secure if there is a backyard area.

Would you like to your dog to come back happy and possibly “smarter” after you have returned?

Tip:   There are several renowned places in the Phoenix Valley which have licensed pet trainers that also board pets or do pet-sitting.  Licensed and accredited dog trainers who offer this service will be able to work 1 on 1 with your pets to  help them fun skills, get potty trained or basic obedience training. What’s so great about this - is that both your dog and you win while you are gone!

Last Bit of Important Advice:

We recommend always touring any facility, home or vet’s office that you plan to have your pet stay while you are away. Make sure you know how much exercise your pet will receive and how often and when those hours will be. A dog sitter, boarding facility, an animal hospital or pet sitter that offers no exercise or crates or kennel constantly, should not be an option!! You would be surprised how little some dogs get out in a vet boarding facility. Most vets do not have 24 hour supervision either. Busy vet techs are walking dogs only to relieve themselves, not for exercise or freedom from the kennel environment. This is not appropriate for young energetic puppies or dogs so please ask the right questions

Now - time for the holiday!

How to choose the right pet-sitter for you and your loved one!

Great pet sitters in your neighborhood are not always easy to find, but here are a few tips to make it easier the next time you need to leave your dog while you travel.

Our entire AZ Dog Sports team loves dogs and cats AZ Dog Sports so want to share our top 6 helpful advice on how to -hire a professional, certified, insured pet sitter in Phoenix/Scottsdale area!

1. Always ask for references from at least 2 or 3 people and call those references.
2. See the environment and make your own expectations clear as to what you expect of them.
3. Get in writing how many times do you want your dog to eat per day, do they get treats, will they be there overnight or merely during the day etc.
4. Find out if your pet sitter is physically active, healthy, and well educated so that she/he can also offers dog walking services that HELP your pet, not worsen behaviors.
5. Have a good friend or neighbor check that they are seeing someone come and go, or use a home monitoring system. Ask to see photos, get daily short reports or when they are available for you to check in for a phone call. Don’t assume anything the first time you use a pet sitter. Hold that individual up to a first time evaluation and trust your instincts if something does not seem right.
6. Don’t give your pet to the lowest bidder.Your number one priority, is to have your pet be happy, healthy, and safe while you are away. Good pet sitters charge anywhere from $30 to $75 per day. If you are not paying that rate, chances are you are using a less experienced or even unqualified individual.
7. Licensed pet sitters have more education and more experience. One of the most common complaints that brings people to us is that they previously hired an online pet sitter or a freelance pet sitters who didn’t give their dog enough care – and their dog returned to them either sick, depressed or had worse behavior than before. So our advice is always to either put your pet at a highly rated pet boarding facility in Phoenix, or search  pet sitting business in Phoenix which hires ONLY licensed and top of the line dog trainers who are specialists in dog behavior, obedience and love being with dogs!

This way you will have a great trip, knowing your dog or pet is in great hands! Don’t settle for less and your dog will thank you!