Should Pet Sitters Take Their Own Pets to Clients' Homes?

Pet sitters are paid to care for their clients' pets and provide a variety of services. Some offer boarding services, foster care for more extended absences, hourly care, walks, and more. But is it acceptable for pet sitters to take their own pets to clients' homes during work hours?

How Do Clients Feel?

Before you prepare to take Fluffy along with you as you prepare to start a new pet sitting job, find out how your clients feel about taking your pet along. Some have no problems with it at all and welcome the opportunity for their pets to interact with other animals. But others are not so keen and will feel awkward about saying no when you have placed them on the spot.

Never Take Your Pet Along Without Permission

Professional pet sitters do not assume that their cat or dog will be welcome in a client's home. But if you have pressing issues and need to keep your pet with you, it is important to talk to your client first to see how they feel about taking your pet along with you during work hours. Even if you do not clear it with your client first and they never find out about it, it would still be wrong to take your pet with you when you will be expected to care for their pet.

Dealing with Territorial Issues

One of the main reasons why it is often inadvisable to take your own pets along to a client's home is due to territorial issues that could come up. Pets are often very accepting and will come to know and trust you as their pet sitter, but they are not always so accepting of another pet, who is after all stepping onto their territory. If you take your pets with you, do not be surprised if Rover the Rottweiler suddenly turns aggressive and picks a fight with your Yorkie.

Males and Females Should Be Kept Apart

Pet sitters should never, under any circumstances, take their pet along to a client's home when their pet has not been spayed or neutered. Males and females should be kept apart. The last thing your client will want to come home to is a pregnancy that your pet was responsible for.

Pet sitters should not assume that it is acceptable to take Fluffy with them while they are working, as it can create a range of problems, such as territorial disputes, pregnancy and more.