How to Safely Vet a Pet Sitter: Complete Safety Checklist for Vancouver Dog Owners

So you’re planning a vacation and need someone to care for your dog. Whether you’re considering a professional boarding facility or an individual sitter through platforms like Rover or PawShake, one thing is certain: you can’t afford to get this decision wrong.

In Vancouver, pet care options have exploded in recent years. While the gig economy has made it easier to find someone willing to watch your dog, it’s also created potential problems that many pet parents don’t discover until they get a frantic phone call about an emergency vet visit.

This guide will walk you through exactly what to look for, what to ask, and what red flags should send you running—before you hand over your house keys or drop off your beloved pet.

Understanding Platform Vetting: What Rover Actually Checks

According to Rover’s support documentation, every sitter who lists services on their platform undergoes their evaluation process. Sitters must be at least 18 years old and complete several requirements:

• • Build a profile with pet care experience details
  • Upload photos
  • Request testimonials from past clients
  • Complete a background check (earns the “Background Check” badge)
  • Take and pass a safety quiz/Rover 101 quiz (earns the “Rover 101” badge)
  • Access ongoing educational opportunities

What this means for you: These are baseline screening measures, not comprehensive vetting. A background check and safety quiz don’t verify hands-on skills, home environment safety, or whether the sitter has cannabis edibles on their kitchen counter. Profile testimonials come from the sitter’s own network and may not represent typical experiences. The platform provides tools for sitters to learn, but there’s no in-person training, supervised practice, or ongoing performance monitoring.

Rover itself recommends scheduling an in-person Meet & Greet before booking—which tells you everything you need to know about the limitations of their vetting process. The real evaluation work falls on you.

Essential Questions to Ask Before Booking

Experience and Qualifications

Don’t feel awkward about asking these questions directly—any legitimate pet care provider should expect them:

• “How long have you been pet sitting, and how many dogs have you cared for?” Look for a proven track record, not someone new to the platform.
• “What pet care training have you completed beyond Rover’s safety quiz?” Pet first aid certification should be a minimum. Bonus points for formal training in dog behavior or veterinary experience.
• “Have you ever had an emergency with a pet in your care? How did you handle it?” Their answer reveals their experience and honesty.
• “What’s your daily schedule and availability?” Many sitters have full-time jobs, meaning your dog could be alone 8-10 hours daily.
• “Do you have other pets? What are their temperaments and vaccination status?” Your dog will interact with these animals—you need details.

Home Environment and Safety

• “Can I do a home visit before booking?” If they say no, walk away. You must see the environment—no exceptions.
• “How do you secure toxic substances like cannabis products, chocolate, medications, and cleaning supplies?” In Vancouver, cannabis toxicity incidents are alarmingly common. They should have specific answers about locked cabinets or high shelves.
• “Is your yard fully fenced and escape-proof?” Dogs escape easily in unfamiliar environments. Check for gaps under gates and secure latches.
• “Do you do off-leash walks or dog parks?” Lost dogs during Vancouver walks are extremely common. Understand the risks.
• “Where will my dog sleep and what areas will they access?” Some sitters confine dogs to basements or garages—not the “home environment” advertised.

Supervision and Backup Plans

• “How many dogs do you care for simultaneously?” Multiple dogs from different families means divided attention and increased risk.
• “What happens if you get sick or have a personal emergency?” Most sitters have no backup plan. If they get the flu mid-booking, you’re scrambling to find alternatives while you’re away from home.
• “What’s your emergency protocol if my dog gets injured or ill?” They should name a specific vet clinic and have clear communication plans.
• “How many hours will my dog be alone daily?” Be specific. Many sitters work, exercise, and maintain social lives—your dog could be alone 40+ hours a week.
• “How often will you send updates?” Regular, if not daily photos should be standard, not a special favour.

Red Flags in Home Environments

During your mandatory home visit, watch for these dealbreakers:

Walk Away Immediately If You See:

• Unsecured toxic substances: Chocolate, medications, or cleaning products within reach. Drugs and alcohol are also a risk, for example cannabis edibles in easy reach can lead to an emergency while you’re away.
• Inadequate fencing: Gaps under gates, fencing under 4 feet for medium/large dogs, or gates that don’t latch securely.
• Aggressive or unvaccinated resident pets: If their dog shows aggression or they can’t produce vaccination records, that’s your preview of problems.
• Cleanliness issues: Pet waste not picked up, strong odors, dirty bowls—these indicate poor hygiene standards.
• Vague or defensive answers: If they’re irritated by questions or dodge specifics, trust your instincts.

Warning Signs Requiring More Investigation:

• The sitter seems overwhelmed or chaotic during your visit
• No clear daily routine for feeding, walks, and playtime
• Works from home” but constantly on Zoom meetings (your dog is still effectively alone)
• Reluctance to do trial runs before overnight stays
• They don’t ask YOU detailed questions about your dog
• Pricing far below market rate ($25/night when typical is $50-75)

How to Conduct Effective Trial Runs

Rover recommends Meet & Greets for good reason—but one meeting isn’t enough to evaluate care quality. Structure your trials strategically:

• Start with a 30-60 minute meet-and-greet: Observe interaction and your dog’s comfort level.
• Progress to a few hours of daytime care: When you return, is your dog calm and happy or stressed? Ask specific questions about what they did together—vague answers are concerning.
• Do an overnight trial if possible: This reveals how your dog handles sleeping there and whether the sitter follows your routines.

What to Check During Pickup:

• Is your dog excited to see you but comfortable in the space? Or frantically trying to leave?
• Check physically for stress signs—diarrhea, excessive panting, scratches, unusual behavior
• Ask detailed questions: “What did you do this morning? What did Rex eat and when? Any accidents?”
• Review photos—were they sent proactively or only when you asked?
• Trust your gut: If something feels off, don’t dismiss it

Background Checks: Platform vs. Professional Vetting

Rover’s background checks and Rover 101 badges provide baseline screening, but understanding what they include—and don’t include—is critical.

Platform Background Checks Typically Cover:

• Criminal convictions in available databases
• Sex offender registry listings
• Sometimes identity verification

What They DON’T Include:

• Ongoing monitoring (it’s one-time)
• International records
• Incidents without convictions
• Civil complaints or lawsuits
• Any verification of actual pet care skills or home safety
• Hands-on training or supervised practice

Professional Facility Vetting:

Professional boarding facilities implement multi-layered vetting beyond basic background checks:

• Pet first aid certification (required, not optional)
• In-house hands-on training in dog behavior, handling, stress signals, and safety protocols
• Liability insurance with significantly higher coverage than individual sitters
• Ongoing performance evaluation and supervision
• Team redundancy—multiple trained staff present means mistakes get caught and emergencies are managed efficiently

The fundamental difference: Platform checks screen out the worst offenders; professional vetting actively screens in qualified caregivers with ongoing oversight.

Creating Your Emergency Backup Plan

Most pet parents never think about this until it’s too late: what happens when your sitter falls through?

Common Scenarios:

• Sitter gets sick on Day 3 of your 7-day vacation
• Sitter has a family emergency and must leave town
• Dogs don’t get along after a few days together
• Your dog needs emergency vet care and the sitter won’t take them back
• You need to extend your trip, but the sitter has another booking

Build Your Backup Plan:

• Identify multiple backup options before traveling (friend, family, professional facility, secondary sitter)
• Share complete information with backups (medical records, behaviour, vet contacts, authorization)
• Keep emergency funds accessible ($2,000-5,000 for serious vet care)
• Test your communication plan (international calling, WiFi access)
• Document your dog’s condition before leaving (photos, videos, written instructions)

Your Essential Vetting Checklist

Before booking any sitter, verify every item:

✓ Background check completed and badges verified on profile

✓ Pet first aid training beyond the Rover 101 quiz

✓ In-person home visit completed (non-negotiable)

✓ All toxic substances secured (observed directly during visit)

✓ Secure fencing/containment verified

✓ Resident pets are friendly and vaccinated (documentation seen)

✓ Clear backup plan with specific contacts

✓ Detailed emergency protocol (vet clinic identified, spending limits agreed)

✓ Successful trial run completed (preferably overnight)

✓ Your dog showed positive behavior during trial

✓ Daily schedule clarified (know exactly how many hours alone)

✓ Update frequency agreed upon (daily minimum with photos)

✓ Your emergency backup plan is ready

✓ Your gut feeling is positive

If you can’t check every item, you’re taking an unnecessary risk. Your dog’s safety isn’t something to compromise on because you’re worried about seeming picky.

When to Choose Professional Facility Care

No amount of individual sitter vetting can eliminate single-person risks. Consider professional facilities if:

• You’re traveling internationally or for extended periods
• Your dog has medical conditions requiring trained oversight
• You’ve had negative experiences with individual sitters
• Your trip is during peak season with limited sitter availability
• You don’t have time for thorough vetting
• You want to actually relax without worrying
• Even thorough vetting can’t eliminate all risks with individual sitters—learn more about the differences between professional facility care and gig economy platforms in our complete JetPet vs. Rover comparison.

Final Thoughts

Spending hours vetting a caregiver isn’t being overprotective—it’s being responsible. Your dog can’t advocate for themselves or call you if they’re neglected, terrified, or in danger. You are their only protection.
Professional sitters welcome your diligence because it shows you’re a responsible pet parent. Those who get annoyed by questions aren’t the ones you want anyway. Don’t let anyone make you feel guilty for being “too picky”—this is your dog’s safety.

And if you reach the end of this process and realize it’s more work than you want, or the risks are more than you’re comfortable accepting, that’s okay. That’s what professional boarding facilities are for—they’ve already done the vetting, training, and infrastructure building so you don’t have to gamble on an individual with cannabis brownies on their counter.

Ready to skip the vetting stress? Tour JetPet Resort and see how professional team-based care eliminates the risks of relying on a single sitter—no surprise cancellations, just trained staff and 365-day reliability.

Frequently Asked Questions About Pet Sitters

What are the responsibilities of a pet sitter?

At minimum, a pet sitter should be feeding your dog on schedule, providing fresh water, giving bathroom breaks (at least 3-4 times daily), administering medications, and offering exercise through walks or playtime. Beyond these basics, they’re responsible for monitoring your dog’s health and behavior, maintaining a clean environment, keeping you updated with regular communication and photos, and responding immediately to any emergencies. The problem we see constantly is sitters who think their only job is keeping your dog alive, when really they should be maintaining your dog’s routine, comfort, and well-being as closely to your normal standard as possible.

What do dog sitters do all day?

A quality sitter’s day revolves around your dog—morning potty break and feeding, walks or play sessions, midday check-ins, afternoon enrichment activities, evening meal and exercise, and bedtime routine. The reality is that many gig economy sitters have full-time jobs, so your dog gets let out at 7 am before work, maybe a lunch break visit if you’re lucky, and then they’re back at 6 pm—that’s a long, lonely day in an unfamiliar environment. This is why asking specifically about their daily schedule and how many hours your dog will actually be alone is so critical during vetting.

Do I have to tip my pet sitter?

You’re not legally required to tip, but it’s definitely appreciated and considered standard etiquette, especially if your sitter went above and beyond—15-20% of the total cost or an extra day’s rate as a bonus is typically recommended. For platform sitters already charging premium rates ($75-100/night), tipping becomes more discretionary based on whether they provided exceptional care with tons of updates or just did the bare minimum.

What information does a dog sitter need?

Your sitter needs your dog’s complete feeding schedule (exact amounts and times), all medications with clear dosing, your veterinarian’s contact info plus a 24-hour emergency clinic, and your own contact information, including international numbers if you are traveling abroad. Beyond that, share behavioural quirks that matter—does your dog counter-surf, are they scared of storms, do they resource guard, how do they signal needing to go out—plus house rules and authorization for emergency vet care with spending limits. The more detailed you are upfront, the fewer panicked “what do I do?” texts you’ll get at 2 am when you’re trying to enjoy your vacation.

How to prepare for a dog sitter?

Start your thorough vetting weeks in advance with trial runs to work out issues, then about a week before, pet-proof your home or pack everything your dog needs: food for the entire stay plus extra, medications clearly labeled, favourite toys and blankets, leash and collar with updated ID tags, and vaccination records. The day before you leave, do a final walkthrough with your sitter, showing them where everything is, demonstrating any tricky routines, and taking photos/videos of your dog’s condition to document any existing scratches or quirks—this protects both you and the sitter if questions come up later.