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The major problem that dog owners face when they have to travel away from home is the care and upkeep of their pets while they are away. Many dog owners simply refuse to take vacations because they worry about the well-being of their pets. However, there are times when travel is unavoidable and they have to decide whether to transport their dog or puppy, place their dog in a boarding kennel or get someone to do dog babysitting while they are away. In this article, we will deal with the situation where the owner has decided to get a dog sitter in preference to using a boarding kennel and the steps he must take to make dog sitting as smooth a process as possible.

You are leaving your pet dog totally in the care of an unknown person, so make very sure that someone you trust knows something about him or her. Ask your veterinarian first. He is in the know of pet owners and would be the best person to recommend someone for dog sitting. Ask friends and family members also as they would not normally give you incorrect information. Talk to them at length to ensure that they have been satisfied with the sitter and ask their advice on anything specific which they might feel you have to watch out for. Schedule an introductory meeting with the sitter and discuss thoroughly all that you want done. Find out whether he is knowledgeable enough about dog care and whether his interactions with your pet are friendly and whether they take to each other. A point to keep in mind is whether the dog is  healthy and strong enough to be able to take your dog out for runs and exercises on a daily basis. If all that he says meets with your satisfaction, appoint him as your sitter.

Now, it is your turn to set everything in order so that the dog sitting can be carried out without any glitches. First, see that your dog's vaccinations are up to date. Don't go away without ensuring that these have been completed, or if the due dates fall during your absence, leave specific instructions with the sitter to take him for his shots. Secondly, give your veterinarian's name, phone number and address to the dog sitter in case any medical emergencies arise. Thirdly, leave enough money with him in case anything needs to be purchased for the dog or for your house for that matter. You don't want your dog to freeze to death if the heater goes bad, do you? Next, work out the diet and feeding schedules with the one doing the dog sitting. If it's a short trip you're going on, you could pre-proportion your dog's meals in containers or sandwich bags. But, if you are going to be away for a lengthy period, give the dog sitter specific instructions on your dog's diet. Give him a written schedule about any medicines that are to be administered with specific timings mentioned. Another element to remember is dog seperation anxiety, which helps when a dog is seperated from his master.

Finally, create an exercise schedule which the sitter should follow. Regular walks or outdoor runs should be taken at the times you used to take him out, so that your dog is not left feeling your absence too much. Remember, dog sitting is not, as the name might suggest, only about sitting with your dog. See that your dog sitter understands that too.

All articles Copyright 2008 Animaroo.com