http://www.petsit.com Do you have what it takes to become a pet sitter? Pet Sitters International (PSI) shares 8 questions to ask yourself if you are considering a career in professional pet sitting. Learn more at petsit.com.

1. PET SITTER?
doyouhavewhatittakestobecomea
askyourselfthese questions8

2. 01
DO YOU
HAVE GOOD
BUSINESS
SENSE?

3. Most pet sitters begin their businesses with a passion for pets, but that
is only the first step. As a business owner, you won't simply be caring
for pets. You'll be responsible for a variety of business tasks, including
marketing, pricing, scheduling and collecting payments.
Pet sitters also have to file taxes, comply with legal
requirements, obtain liability insurance and bonding, maintain
customer relations, and much more.
Is your head swimming yet? Don’t worry; if you aren’t already familiar
with the ins and outs of running a business, you can learn (and PSI is
here to help)!
Why is this important?

4. 02
HOW ARE YOUR
PEOPLE
SKILLS?

5. Confused? Let us explain. Pet sitting allows you to spend time with a
variety of companion animals, but you have to remember that the pets
don’t do the hiring—their human owners do!
You may not see the pet’s owners very often once they have contracted
your services, but first you have to win them over. Can you
professionally explain the value of what you do and why you are the
best choice? Can you set your prices and stick to them, even if a pet
owner wants to negotiate?
Remember, pet sitting is a personal service for pets and their people
and you will need to be effective in communicating with both.
Why is this important?

6. 03
DO YOU HAVE
A STRONG
STOMACH?

7. We don’t mean the kind you get by going to a gym! Pets bring great joy
to the lives of their people, but they also bring great messes too. If you
struggle to keep your lunch down while picking up after a pet, you will
burn out on pet sitting very quickly.
Pet sitters also deal with pets with a variety of illnesses or medical
issues—from vomit and diarrhea to skin conditions and anal gland
issues.
It’s important to make sure that you can professionally handle the
sights (and smells) that pet sitting can bring.
Why is this important?

8. 04
ARE YOU WILLING
TO PERFORM PET
SITTING VISITS
DURING
WEEKENDS,
HOLIDAYS OR
INCLEMENT
WEATHER?

9. You don’t have to love walking in the rain or snow, but as a pet sitter,
you are guaranteed to encounter some damp weather. No matter what
the weather is doing outside, our canine friends still have to go out and
as their pet sitter, you do too.
You may also need to make other plans for holidays and weekends.
One of the perks of being a pet sitter is that you can decide your own
schedule, but many pet owners need services during those times, as
they are going out of town. If you aren’t available on weekends,
consider hiring employees to cover these times for you. If you refuse to
offer your services during these periods and don’t have employees to
perform services either, you will likely limit the growth of your
business.
Why is this important?

10. 05
ARE YOU A
MOTIVATED
SELF-STARTER?

11. To be a business owner, you have to have plenty of get-up-and-go.
Your business won’t promote itself. You could be the best pet sitter in
your town, but if you aren’t willing to get up, get out, and start
promoting yourself, no one will ever know.
As a pet-sitting business owner, you'll be your own boss. Taking full
responsibility for the success of your business is a must.
A business owner experiences many setbacks, particularly in the first
year of business, but motivated pet sitters don’t let that stop them.
Why is this important?

12. 06
DO YOU HAVE
AN EYE FOR
DETAILS?

13. A pet sitter’s life is all about the details. Pets cannot verbalize like
humans can and for many species it is instinct to hide any signs of
injury or distress. Noticing these little details can be the difference
between life and death for the pets in your care.
You will also need to be observant about the client’s home. It's
important to ensure that all faucets are completely off and that all
cages, room doors and home doors/garages are locked before you
leave. You'll also want to be on alert for any opened doors or windows
when you arrive to a client's home, as these could be signs of an
intruder.
Why is this important?

14. 07
CAN YOU
MANAGE YOUR
TIME
EFFECTIVELY?

15. Successful pet sitters have excellent time-management skills. Pets are
counting on you to be there, so you need to be able to plan ahead and
make the best use of your time to complete all of your visits.
In addition to making your visits, you also need to allot time in your
busy day to actively work on your business, either by refining your
marketing strategy, reviewing your website, posting on social-media
pages, responding to emails and phone calls, crunching numbers, or
exploring educational opportunities to help grow your expertise in pet
care.
Why is this important?

16. 08
DO YOU LOVE THE
SMELL OF PUPPY
BREATH AND/OR IS
PET HAIR A
FAVORITE
ACCESSORY?

17. The pets in your care will be so happy to see you, any concept they have
of personal space will go right out the window! Be ready for wagging
tails, bright eyes, and a whole lot of pet kisses.
If you don’t love pet hair on your clothes (or pet drool, for that matter),
you might want to consider offering services to birds and reptiles
exclusively! Professional pet sitters are expert cuddlers and if you offer
services to the fuzzier variety of companion animals, chances are you
will end your day covered in pet hair.
Why is this important?

18. TAKE THE NEXT STEP.
ifyouthinkyouhavewhatittakes,
Psiofferstheresourcesyouneedto
startandgrowyourpet-sittingbusiness.
tobecomeamember,visitpetsit.com/join
orcallus:(336)983-9222,ext.1.