We just got back from a long weekend in Colorado, and I am so glad to be back home with my babies. Even though we had a trusted friend to watch them and the dogs love him, it’s still difficult and stressful to leave them home with someone else. (If I’m this much of a wreck with dogs, how will I be with kids???)
Here are some tips for leaving your pets home with confidence:
- Find a pet sitter you trust. If possible, look for someone you already know who seems to enjoy and get along well with your pets. Ideally this should be someone who’s been to your home at least a few times and is comfortable with your animals.
- Leave detailed instructions. I won’t lie: The first time we left all six animals home alone for a weeklong vacation, my instructions were seven pages long. I included timing and amounts for meals (Ty gets 2.5 cups in the morning and 2 at night, but Murphy gets 4 and 4, for instance), household rules (no playing on the couch! no people food!), and habits (everyone gets a treat when you leave for the day).
- Include contact information. Also in my seven pages of instructions were Jesse’s and my cell numbers, our vet’s number, Animal Poison Control, several family members, and several neighbors. If there had been a problem, our pet sitter would have had lots of back-up!
- Don’t be afraid to check in. It was hard not to call every 15 minutes to make sure everyone was alright, but I managed to limit my calls home to 3 over the week we were gone that first time, and our pet sitter didn’t mind.
What works for you? Leave your suggestions in the comments.
I used to work for a doggie daycare, so it was very convenient to leave the dogs there if we went out of town, especially since there were webcams to watch them. I would do the same now if I didn’t have family available to watch them.
Hi, Sarah,
Thanks for your comment! That is awesome. There are no doggie daycares around me, but I will keep that in mind as an option. I love that you can see your dogs online!
Kristen