Over the years, I’ve heard from so many dog owners in West Hills and Bell Canyon who tell me the same thing: they haven’t taken a real vacation in years because they haven’t been able to find a pet sitter they truly trust. That breaks my heart — and it’s exactly why I started West Hills Dog Sitter.

My journey into professional pet sitting started with my own golden retriever, Blake, who suffered from severe separation anxiety. When I was working full-time, I had someone come to the house daily to walk him, but he still managed to destroy much of the house while I was away. When I got the opportunity to work from home in 2010, I took it partly because of him. I started watching other dogs overnight, fell in love with it, and my family did too. We treated every dog like part of our family.

By 2023, I had turned that passion into West Hills Dog Sitter, offering drop-in visits, dog walks, pet sitting, and cat sitting — all backed by liability insurance, workers’ compensation coverage, federal background checks, and pet first aid and CPR certification.

I’m sharing this because those credentials aren’t just a marketing checklist. They exist to protect your pet, your home, and you. And the absence of them? That’s one of the biggest red flags you can encounter when hiring a dog sitter. Let me walk you through what to watch for.

Red Flag One: No Insurance — And Why It’s a Bigger Deal Than You Realize

Most pet owners think about insurance in terms of what happens to their dog. But there’s another side to this conversation that almost nobody talks about: what happens if the sitter gets hurt.

If you hire an uninsured, independent dog sitter and they slip on your stairs, trip on a rug, or are injured by your dog, you could be held personally liable. That means your homeowner’s insurance — or worse, your personal finances — could be on the hook for their medical bills.

At West Hills Dog Sitter, we carry both liability insurance and workers’ compensation. If one of my pet sitters is injured while caring for your pet, workers’ comp covers them. You are not responsible. That’s not something most people think to ask about, but it’s one of the most important questions you can ask a prospective sitter.

When vetting a dog sitter, ask directly:

• Do you carry liability insurance?
• Do you carry workers’ compensation if you have employees or subcontractors?
• Can you provide proof of coverage?

If they hesitate, change the subject, or say insurance “isn’t really necessary,” walk away. Check out answers to other frequently asked questions.

Red Flag Two: No Background Check

You are inviting someone into your home, often giving them a key or access code, and trusting them with a family member who cannot speak for themselves. A professional pet sitter should be able to tell you without hesitation that they have been background checked.

At West Hills Dog Sitter, we are federally background checked. That’s a higher standard than a basic local check, and it’s something we take seriously. A sitter who hasn’t been vetted this way — or who shrugs off the question — is a red flag.

Red Flag Three: No Plan If Something Goes Wrong

One of the most common situations I encounter is a pet owner who tried to save money by having a family member or friend watch their dog — only to have something go wrong. I had a client call me from outside the country in a panic because the family member she had arranged to stay at her house simply didn’t show up. Her dog was home alone with no one checking on him, and she was thousands of miles away with no backup plan and no way to fix it quickly.

This is the hidden cost of going with an informal arrangement to save money. When something goes wrong — and occasionally it does — there’s no accountability, no backup, and no one to call.

A professional pet sitting company should have a clear answer to the question: “What happens if my sitter gets sick or has an emergency?” We have a team in place so that if one sitter is unavailable, another trained and vetted team member steps in. Your pet is never left without care.

Red Flag Four: No Transparency or Accountability During Visits

How do you actually know the sitter showed up? How do you know your dog was walked, fed, and given attention while you were away? If a sitter can’t answer that question with something concrete, that’s a problem.

We use a professional pet care app that tracks every single visit. When our sitter arrives, you get a notification. When they leave, you get another one. In between, you receive a full visit report that includes:

• The exact time of arrival and departure
• Photos from the visit
• A written summary of how your pet did
• A GPS map of the walk route, so you can see exactly where your dog went (if there was a
  dog walk)

This isn’t just a nice feature — it’s accountability. You shouldn’t have to wonder whether your sitter actually showed up or whether your dog actually got a walk. Ask any prospective sitter how they document their visits and what you can expect to receive. Vague answers like “I’ll text you if there’s a problem” are a red flag.

Red Flag Five: Poor Communication

Communication is everything in this business. When you’re away from home and away from your pet, peace of mind comes from knowing someone is on top of things and will reach out to you promptly if anything changes.

Ask a potential sitter specifically: How often will you communicate with me? What’s your typical response time to messages? What happens if there’s an emergency?

At West Hills Dog Sitter, we send a message with every drop-in visit and at least once a day for overnight stays. We respond to calls and messages promptly. And when something unexpected happens — which is rare, but it does happen — we handle it, communicate immediately, and never charge extra for it.

Red Flag Six: No Training in Pet First Aid or CPR

Would you hire a babysitter who had never taken a first aid course? Most pet owners don’t think to ask whether their dog sitter is trained in pet first aid and CPR, but it’s a question worth raising.

Dogs can choke, go into shock, have allergic reactions, or experience medical emergencies without warning. A trained sitter knows what to do in those first critical minutes before reaching a veterinarian. An untrained sitter may panic and lose valuable time.

All of our team members at West Hills Dog Sitter are pet first aid and CPR certified. If your prospective sitter can’t say the same, that’s worth factoring into your decision.

Red Flag Seven: Thinking a Fancy Facility Is Always Better Than In-Home Care

This one might surprise you, but it’s important. Not every red flag is about cutting corners — sometimes the red flag is assuming that a high-end boarding facility is automatically the right choice for every dog.

I had a client who chose us specifically because her dog needed special attention and a lot of love, and she knew a busy facility — even a luxurious one — couldn’t provide that. She was right. Boarding facilities, no matter how beautiful they look on Instagram, often have high volumes of animals, staff turnover, and a kennel environment that can be stressful for dogs, particularly older dogs, anxious dogs, or dogs with medical needs.

The right fit depends on your dog. But if a sitter or facility can’t tell you specifically how they would meet your dog’s individual needs, that’s worth paying attention to.

Red Flag Eight: No Meet-and-Greet Before Booking

A professional pet sitter should want to meet your dog before the first visit or stay. This isn’t just a courtesy — it’s how a good sitter assesses your dog’s temperament, learns your pet’s routine, understands any medical or behavioral needs, and makes sure the fit is right for everyone.

If a sitter skips the meet-and-greet or seems uninterested in learning the details of your specific pet, that’s a sign they may be more focused on volume than on the individualized care your dog
deserves.

What Truly Professional Pet Sitting Looks Like in a Crisis

I want to share a story that I think illustrates the difference between a professional and someone who is simply available. Not long ago, our area faced a serious wildfire threat. While our clients were away, we made a plan with the owner to evacuate their pets at no extra charge. We assessed the situation, acted quickly, kept the pets safe, and communicated with the owners continuously throughout the entire event so they knew exactly what was happening and what we were doing. We also grabbed their important papers per their request and even though the area had a mandatory evacuation order in place, we were allowed in to take the pets.

That’s what professional pet sitting looks like when something rare but serious occurs. It’s not just about showing up and filling a food bowl. It’s about being trusted with a family member and rising to that responsibility no matter what.

Emergencies are rare. But knowing your sitter is equipped — emotionally, professionally, and practically — to handle one is the difference between true peace of mind and just hoping for the best.

Questions to Ask Before You Hire Anyone

Before you hand over your key to any pet sitter, here are the questions I’d encourage every dog owner to ask:

• Are you insured? Do you carry liability insurance and workers’ compensation?
• Have you been background checked?
• Are you trained in pet first aid and CPR?
• How do you document visits? Will I receive updates, photos, or a visit report?
• How often will you communicate with me while I’m away?
• What is your backup plan if you’re sick or unavailable?
• Do you do a meet-and-greet before the first visit?
• What happens if my pet needs emergency veterinary care?
• Can you provide references from current clients?

The answers to these questions will tell you almost everything you need to know.

You Deserve to Go on Vacation

If you’ve been putting off a trip because you haven’t found a sitter you truly trust, I understand that feeling more than most. It’s why I do this work. Your dog deserves exceptional care, and you deserve the peace of mind that comes from knowing your pet is loved, safe, and in good hands while you’re away.

West Hills Dog Sitter serves West Hills, Bell Canyon, and the surrounding communities. We are insured, background checked, pet first aid and CPR certified, and fully committed to treating every pet like our own. If you’d like to learn more or schedule a meet-and-greet, contact us.