What to ask a dog sitter before you book: 12 essential questions

Booking a sitter is a leap of trust. The questions below come from experienced dog owners and boarders — ask them at the meet & greet, not over text, and watch how the sitter answers as much as what they say.

Safety and legality

1. Do you hold a current council animal-boarding licence? (Required by law for paid overnight stays.) 2. Can I see your insurance documents? Pet sitters should hold public liability and care/custody/control cover. 3. Are you DBS-checked? Not legally required, but reassuring for solo sitters working in people's homes.

Day-to-day care

4. How many dogs do you take at once? Most council licences cap numbers. 5. Where will my dog sleep? Indoor with the family, separate room, or in a utility space? 6. How many walks a day, and where? Off-lead, on-lead, in a group? 7. How will you handle our feeding routine — twice a day, raw, kibble, kong-fed? Honest answers matter more than 'yes' to everything.

Emergencies

8. Which vet do you use if something happens? Get the name and phone number now. 9. What's your protocol if my dog escapes, gets injured, or shows signs of illness? Good answer: 'I call you immediately, then the vet.' Bad answer: silence. 10. What happens if you fall ill mid-stay — do you have backup care arranged?

If things go wrong

11. What's your cancellation policy? Most boarders ask for 7-14 days notice for a full refund. 12. If we're not happy on day one, what happens? A confident sitter will offer a 24-hour 'try' period without commitment — it's how trust gets built.

What you should also share

Be straight about your dog: reactivity, medications, recall, sleep habits, separation anxiety. Sitters can handle almost anything if they know in advance; what they can't handle is surprises mid-stay. A reusable Pet Passport profile (vaccines, vet, routine, quirks) saves this conversation every time.