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Should Your Pet Have the Same Pet Sitter or Dog Walker Every Day?
One of the questions we often get from dog owners is if their pup can have the same pet sitter or dog walker every day. It makes sense for them to wonder whether pets should have just one dedicated pet sitter or dog walker or if having different pet sitters is a better idea. Consistency in pet care can indeed benefit dogs and cats with special needs or anxiety. Professional pet sitting companies can offer both options. Still, it’s essential to consider what works best for the pet and owner when deciding which route to take and if the pet parent wants to take the risk of hiring a solo sitter.
The Benefits of Having the Same Pet Sitter
There are several benefits to having the same pet sitter come to your home daily.
- It builds trust and strong relationships with your pets
- Pets thrive on routine, and a consistent pet sitter or dog walker can make them feel more secure. Pets are creatures of habit and routine and do seem to enjoy seeing familiar faces.
- Understanding your pet’s needs
- Some argue that a single pet sitter is better at learning your pet’s medical needs, favorite activities, little quirks, and more. Having the same sitter can help detect early signs of health issues, too.
- Good choice for shy cats, reactive dogs, or dogs with separation anxiety.
- Some pets may take longer to warm up to people. In some instances, it’s a good idea to try to keep the same familiar face coming to care for your pet.
Professional pet sitting companies can offer the same pet sitter for a household as long as the sitter is available (not sick, doesn’t have those days off). We always recommend that our clients’ pets meet multiple caretakers when possible for their own good, which we’ll get into.
Downsides of Only Using One Pet Sitter
No Backup in Case of Emergencies
As we mentioned in our blog on why you should hire a pet sitting team instead of a solo sitter, life happens. If your solo pet sitter gets sick, has an emergency, or goes on vacation, your dog or cat could be left without care, and you could be scrambling to find a replacement last minute. That last-minute scrambling is very stressful for all involved.
Solution: Work with a professional pet sitting team to ensure seamless backup coverage.
Over-Attachment & Socialization Issues
Every pet is different. While some might benefit from seeing the same pet sitter, others could benefit from gradually learning to be comfortable with multiple people. The more people your pets can get used to, the better for you and them in the long run. We recommend letting your pets get to know a variety of sitters or walkers to help improve their pets’ confidence and adaptability. For those with reactive or overly shy pets, learning to be around more than one person with the help of a good dog trainer could work wonders.
The Best of Both Worlds: Working with a Pet Sitting Team
We Recommend Rotating Between a Small, Familiar Team
Companies like ours are proud to be built on a foundation of teamwork. We hire at least three to four dog walkers/pet sitters assigned to each neighborhood. So a dog in Coral Gables would have her core group of dog walkers she gets to see and build a rapport with. We try to keep each pup to one to two primary pet sitter, and they have three to four backup pet sitters. This is how we maintain consistency and always have coverage for our doggy clients.
Pets get their familiar dog walkers, they benefit from meeting new friends, and their parents never have to worry about canceled pet care.
Hiring a Pet Sitting Company Means Reliability
Hiring a professional pet sitting or dog walking company means always having a trained, reliable pet caregiver available. Equipaws offers team-based coverage, so your beloved pets are never left hanging. You can also depend on consistency in the quality of your pet’s care. This is because companies with employees can train their sitters in the same dog handling techniques, pet first aid, and other details.
Deciding What’s Best for Your Pet
Ultimately, you need to decide whether a solo sitter or a team-based dog walking approach works best for you and your pet. This depends on your risk tolerance as well as your pet’s personality and health needs. TLDR:
Anxious or special-needs pets → A primary sitter with one backup is ideal.
Social and adaptable pets → A small team of sitters can help maintain consistency while preventing over-attachment and reducing the probability of canceled service.
The best of both worlds is working with a professional pet sitting company to ensure reliability, trained sitters, and backup plans. If you need a reliable and loving dog walker or pet sitter, reach out to us! Equipaws Pet Services provides consistent, loving care with a guaranteed backup for your peace of mind. Contact us today for your free meet and greet!
