During a pet sitting visit (no dog walking), our main goal at Top Dog Pet Sitters is to make sure your pet—whether it’s a dog, cat, rabbit, fish, lizard, guinea pig, or any other furry or scaly friend—feels safe, happy, and well-cared for while you’re away. Here’s what you can expect:
- Meet-and-Greet Beforehand
- Top Dog Pet Sitters requires a Meet and Greet before the first pet sitting visit. This is to ensure that we are a good fit and review pet care instructions.
2. Arrival and Greeting
- Your pet sitter will enter your home with either a key in a lock box or a door code.
- We will greet your pet calmly to ensure your pet feels safe and comfortable.
- Feed and Water
- The first thing we will do is get your pup outside for a potty break.
- We will feed your pet according to your specified schedule and portion sizes.
- Fresh water will be provided at every visit.
- For dogs, we will return to the backyard for another opportunity to potty and play.
- Exercise and Playtime
- Whether we are caring for a dog or a cat, we will engage in playtime. This could be playing with your pup in the backyard or throwing a toy up your stairs if the weather is not conducive. For a kitty, this could be inviting them to play with a wand toy.
- Playtime includes lots of belly rubs!
5. Litter Boxes and Small Animals
- Litter boxes will be scooped daily.
- Litter will be changed 1x week, if requested.
- For other animals (like reptiles or birds), cleaning specific to their needs may also be done (e.g., cage maintenance).
- Medications
- If your pet needs medication, Top Dog Pet Sitters will administer it according to your directions, whether it’s a pill, topical treatment, or injection.
- General Care and Comfort
- Top Dog Pet Sitters will check that your pet is comfortable, secure, and in good health. This might include brushing or petting for comfort, depending on your instructions.
- Home Maintenance
- Top Dog Pet Sitters will bring in mail/packages, water plants, and adjust lights/blinds following the client’s instructions.
- Updates
- Top Dog Pet Sitters will email a pet journal after every visit. The pet journal is time-stamped so clients know how long we were in their home. It includes a checklist of the tasks we accomplished, a detailed message, and photos so that clients are assured their pet is alive and healthy.
- Check-Out
- After ensuring your pet is settled, we will secure your home, lock doors, and ensure everything is in order and send the Pet Journal.
Pet sitting visits are designed to keep your pet safe, happy, and on their routine, so you can feel confident while you’re away.
Susan Gary owns Top Dog Pet Sitters along with her husband, Erick. She has been a professional pet care provider since 2015. She is a founding member of the Texas Pet Sitters Association and a member of Pet Sitters International. TDPS provides award-winning and professional dog walking and pet sitting services in McKinney and Melissa.
