What are the qualifications to becoming a pet sitter?
July 272009
I am 11 and my parents won’t let me have any more animals. So I want to try to become a pet sitter. What are the qualifacations to becoming a pet sitter?
My personal experience to give you an idea of some of the qualifications owners wanted me to have:
1) Experience. At least 1 to 2 years plus experience with those/that specific animal. Out of 1 or more of those years, 6 months to a year’s worth had to be paid with references. However, there was a couple who wasn’t that specific. You will get a range of those types of people.
2) Knowledge. Whether I own that particular animal or studying in the field of that animal. When I first started out taking care of other people’s horses when I was new to them myself, I had to be "supervised" when I went out to feed, water, turn out, groom for the first 3 months.
3) Vehicle. Now since you are 11, this doesn’t really apply to you all the way. However, some people would want to make sure you are able to be transfered to their home to take care of their pets. In another case, they would also want to make sure had transportation to vet incase of emergancy.
4) Knowledge of yourself. The best people to sit for is the people you know and they know you. Thefore, trust is already set in place. When I did do some training for a stranger with their horse, I was extremly nervous and scared to do something wrong as they were abit nervous of wondering if I knew what I was doing. As time went on to know the people and they knew me, those feelings went away. yet, it is a pain to have those emotions.
Just make sure you don’t take on too many sitting jobs all at once. Get a good resume going and references to help you out.
As far as payment, be reasonable. Find out the rates other people are getting. There is some pet owners who might take advantage of someone young thinking they can pay you a small amount when you know you can get more.
July 28th, 2009 at 2:01 am
qualification number 12: must be able to sit on pet. lol
References :
July 28th, 2009 at 2:42 am
Please rethink the pet sitting. You would be entirely responsible for the animal while the owner is away. Animals get sick, get loose and hit by a car etc. I understand your need to work with animals so why don’t you check into volunteering to walk dogs at an animal shelter.
References :
July 28th, 2009 at 3:03 am
My personal experience to give you an idea of some of the qualifications owners wanted me to have:
1) Experience. At least 1 to 2 years plus experience with those/that specific animal. Out of 1 or more of those years, 6 months to a year’s worth had to be paid with references. However, there was a couple who wasn’t that specific. You will get a range of those types of people.
2) Knowledge. Whether I own that particular animal or studying in the field of that animal. When I first started out taking care of other people’s horses when I was new to them myself, I had to be "supervised" when I went out to feed, water, turn out, groom for the first 3 months.
3) Vehicle. Now since you are 11, this doesn’t really apply to you all the way. However, some people would want to make sure you are able to be transfered to their home to take care of their pets. In another case, they would also want to make sure had transportation to vet incase of emergancy.
4) Knowledge of yourself. The best people to sit for is the people you know and they know you. Thefore, trust is already set in place. When I did do some training for a stranger with their horse, I was extremly nervous and scared to do something wrong as they were abit nervous of wondering if I knew what I was doing. As time went on to know the people and they knew me, those feelings went away. yet, it is a pain to have those emotions.
Just make sure you don’t take on too many sitting jobs all at once. Get a good resume going and references to help you out.
As far as payment, be reasonable. Find out the rates other people are getting. There is some pet owners who might take advantage of someone young thinking they can pay you a small amount when you know you can get more.
References :