017- Sitter Safety

Show Outline Lots of pet sitters do checks or walks late at night/early in the morning when it's dark Clothing -reflective gear Lights Know your path Do you bring someone along with you? Do you carry mace or other protection? Leashight/flashlight ALWAYS be aware of your surroundings If doing house sitting or dropping in, lock the door as soon as you enter the house Also prevents dogs escaping Carry keys with you at all times during the visit – especially when taking pets out into the yard. Some clients have doors that automatically lock when closed – you don't want to be locked outside with the pets Keep your phone with you in case of emergencies but youll also need it to take pics while. You are walking Phone use while dog walking Yes take a picture or two but be very conscientious of where you are walking, especially if it's on a busy street or in the park where there could be other dogs Speaking up keeping the pups safe: What do you do if you encounter unleashed dogs while walking clients Stun gun? Spray shield like Direct Stop? Keeping the pups safe also meaning keeping them in your care What to do if a dog gets out of your care whether by bolting out the door, seeing a squirrel on a walk and getting out of your grip, etc. What if you live on a busy street? Double exit protection like a screen door or having some kind of gate across your porch, if you have one Our street is somewhat busy but our main concern is the neighborhood cats We watch a great dane that loves to chase cats and squirrels so we are always cautious to look out for them when he leaves our house Snow/blizzard cancellations? Go by school district you are closest to? Pet sitter safety means being armed with all the knowledge about the pet including when and how much medicine they take What food, when and how much they eat Their schedule, etc Its best to be consistent to their normal schedule as much as possible Part of pet sitter safety is not only being safe while you are pet sitting but also BEFORE you pet sit: So, if you feel uncomfortable at the meet and greet, for whatever reason, you CAN say no Some reasons for saying no could be if the house is in a bad part of town, or too dirty, if the dog appears aggressive toward you or other dogs, or if you just don't mesh well with the owner Take someone with you to the meet and greet (even if the person is just sitting in the car)…or at the very least, let someone else know where you will be and when Collin and I always go together Dog proof your house Dog proof your client house If you are transporting dogs, dog proof your car Remember to always have emergency contact information on hand in case something happens If you are house sitting or dropping in on pets, maybe consider removing signs or car magnets Products mentioned in todays episode: Pet CPR SprayShield Follow us on: Instagram, Twitter, Facebook Subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, Google, Stitcher, & TuneIn Email us at: [email protected] Support Pet Sitter Confessional