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5 Signs You've Found the Perfect Dog Sitter, According to Experts

By Leslie Leon Parade Pets

Updated May 20, 2026 6:59 AM

arena photography — Tamas Pap / Unsplash

One of the greatest stressors of being a pet parent is having to leave your furry friend behind when you travel or leave the house for an extended amount of time. Whether you're headed on vacation or just going to work, having to leave your dog at home for a certain period of time is an unavoidable reality. While there are times when you can leave your pup at home for a few hours with no problem, there are situations when you need to seek out help from a dog sitter.

For pet parents who prefer the individualized care of a dog sitter over a doggie daycare or a boarding facility, there are a few signs to look for when picking the right companion for your pup. Just like trying to find a babysitter for a child, finding the right dog sitter means looking for someone your dog feels comfortable with and trusts. The right dog sitter will make the transition for your pup much easier, especially if your dog has separation anxiety and doesn't like to be left alone.

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The best dog sitter isn't always the first available person; instead, the best person for the job is found by going through the process of finding someone who meshes well with your dog's specific needs and personality. For finding the best of the best dog sitters, we spoke to three experts to get the inside scoop on how to identify what to look for when choosing your dog's next sitter.

Our Panel of Experts

To get down to the truth of what pet parents should look out for in their next dog sitter, we've gathered a few experts who know how to find the right companion for your furry friend.

Bethany Wallace is the marketing director at Yourgi, a pet care connector that connects pet parents with professionals who cater to a wide range of needs, from vets to walking services.
Beth Stultz-Hairston is the president of Pet Sitters International (PSI). PSI is one of the world's leading educational associations for professional pet sitters and dog walkers.
Ivan Petersel, CPDT-KA, is the founder of Dog Virtuoso, which offers a variety of training services such as obedience training, cat training and training to help guide dogs into different roles, such as service dogs.

How To Know You Found the Best Dog Sitter

According to our panel of experts, these are the five things to look for when you're choosing the perfect dog sitter for your pup.

1. They Provide Testimonials

Whether you've found your next dog sitter through a friend or family member or through a pet care site, it's important to know the sitter's previous experience. The best dog sitter for you will have colleagues or previous customers who can vouch for their experience and work ethic.

"One thing I can't overstate the importance of is genuine testimonials," says Bethany Wallace, marketing director of Yourgi. "If you can find positive reviews from other pet owners, you can generally be confident that you'll be getting a good pet sitter. With sitters in particular, trust is key. You're not just trusting these people with your pets. You're letting them into your home."

2. They Agree to an Initial Consultation at Home

"Pet parents should also schedule an initial consultation or meet-and-greet in their home, so they can see the pet sitter interact with their dog," says Beth Stultz-Hairston, president of Pet Sitters International. "This allows both the pet parents and the pet sitter to ensure they are a good fit before confirming services."

3. Your Dog Takes a Liking to Them

When interviewing a potential pet sitter, you should keep a close eye on how your dog interacts with the person and whether or not there's an initial warm-up. While the relationship might improve over time, a good first meeting is usually a good sign that your furry friend trusts this person.

4. They Ask the Right Questions

When interviewing a dog sitter, you also want to pay attention to certain questions or behaviors of the dog sitter that are green flags. Ivan Petersel, CPDT-KA and founder of Dog Virtuoso, says that "a dog sitter that asks for emergency contacts and your veterinarian" and "asks questions and wants to go over all of the little details" are good signs that the dog sitter takes their role seriously and is truly interested in your dog's needs. "They should be curious about your dog's habits, likes, dislikes, allergies, etc.," Petersel says.

5. They Don't Dismiss Your Pup's Needs

"It's a red flag if they seem dismissive," Petersel says. "I've seen situations where the owner is explaining everything and the sitter isn't paying attention. Instead, they are saying things like, ‘Don't worry.' 'It'll be fine.' etc."

This notion also applies when asking your dog sitter for updates throughout their shift. Any dog sitter who doesn't communicate with pet parents is an immediate red flag.

Where To Find the Best Dog Sitter

While websites that specialize in pet care exist, there are plenty of ways to find dog sitters you can trust.

"They can ask their local veterinarian or other trusted pet professionals if there is a local professional pet sitter they recommend," Stultz-Hairston says. "The great news is that dog parents don't have to rely on untrained friends or family members or dog lovers with limited experience that they found on an app. Local professional pet-sitting services are available to ensure dogs get the expert care they need while owners are away."

Trusted organizations like Pet Sitters International and the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters provide tools to vet pet sitters, as well as give pet parents all of the information on prospective sitters that they need to make an informed decision.

If you're looking for someone trusted in your own community, reaching out to neighbors via apps like NextDoor or scouring Yelp are great ways to find pet sitters in your area that have already been approved by other pet parents nearby.

With these expert tips in mind, finding the perfect dog sitter for your pup is easy. Go ahead and enjoy your vacation. You'll know your pup's in good hands at home.

This story was originally published May 20, 2026 at 6:43 AM.