How do you find a reputable dogsitter?

[DoggoQuestions]

Just that really. I feel a bit uneasy about leaving someone in our home, alone while we're on holiday but Ddog would be much happier with a dog sitter than boarding. I definitely will be avoiding the profile based companies like Rover, but how do I know which companies are not like that? Is dog sitting really a word of mouth type trade? I only know dog owners that use boarders.

I went on the Next Door app and got recommendations on there.

I did filter quite a few out who clearly hadn't read my post properly.

The lady who sits for my dog came a few times, building up time as we went. She has a lot of 5* recommendations on Google, but I trusted the word of mouth that is Next Door first.

Ask people you know if they have left their dog with a sitter in their house. I would be very careful with the nextdoor app - you sometimes find people recommending their mates, rather than people they've actually used.

Lots of dog walkers will offer house-sitting (I'm one of them). Anyone reputable will have insurance and first-aid training, as well as references available upon request.

I always offer a trial night and make sure the dog is used to me and my presence before committing to a sit.

I'd only ever trust a good friend or family member, I'm friends with a dog sitter, the dogs are well looked after but they are confined to the kitchen or their crates at her home. It's rare to find a dog sitter that will treat a dog like their own because it's a business for them.

Just to say the dog sitter I found is DBS checked and insured. I asked to see the paperwork.

That's not a sitter.

Dog sitters stay in the owners' home, boarders have the dogs in their homes :)

Asked on our local Facebook page.

Thank you all.

I will try our dog walker. I don't think she does, but I could trust her recommendations at least. I'll ask our dog trainer too.

Not sure I feel comfortable with nextdoor, even with DBS/insurance.

No family or friends that could stay here unfortunately. All with either children or elderly care.

I assumed Rover ok if person has lots of reviews and also you meet them etc?? I used one woman from there who was fine, if a bit inexperienced.

Rover is really no different to finding someone on Facebook - it's just a booking platform.

We use a company called While You’re Away (although I think they have rebranded now to Home Pet People). Always very reliable, they always send a couple to us (lots of animals) and we usually have the same couple. They are insured and dbs checked and have always looked after our home and pets very well. Part of their contract is they only leave the animals max 4 hours a day.

I see what you mean. I am trying to find someone to walk my dog atm. I had a great walker but they go in a group and my dog was scared of some of the new joiners and started hiding when they came. I need someone to walk her alone. I was going to go River but someone with lots of positive reviews and also meet them to see how they are with her

I'm really struggling with this. Did use someone off Rover last year, who had lots of reviews and was good, but I don't want to have to be vetting someone everythime. Really would like to find a professional service/person I can rely on and book everything we're going away. I've contacted a number of companies who haven't even got back to me!

@Elizo don't get me wrong, there's absolutely nothing wrong with using Rover to find someone but it's just a search engine really - don't rely on them to do any checks or anything!

I've used Rover to find a dog walker, but I wouldn't use Rover to find a dog sitter iyswim

Thank you, I'll have a browse.