Trip-Ready Dog doesn’t take money from sitter apps or boarding companies. This list is written for owners, not to sell you a background check.
Read enough owners’ stories about a pet sitter gone wrong and a pattern shows up: the sitter had good reviews, seemed lovely, and the warning signs were there early. The fear owners describe most isn’t a dramatic accident. It’s silence: no update, no answer, and no idea what’s going on.
Here are the red flags, sorted by when you’ll see them.
Free printable: this checklist, with boxes to tick at each stage, is in the free Pet-Sitter Vetting Kit. Get the kit →
Before you book
- Won’t do an in-person meet-and-greet before the trip.
- Can’t name a vet or an emergency plan. Ask: “If my dog gets hurt and you can’t reach me, what do you do?”
- No backup person if they get sick or something comes up.
- Vague about how many other pets they’re caring for on your dates.
- No references, or references they “can’t share.”
- Uncomfortable with your pet camera.
- Asks nothing about your dog: no questions about meds, fears or escape habits. The best sitters ask the most questions.
At the meet-and-greet
- Barely interacts with your dog, or your dog stays wary the whole visit.
- Distracted or on their phone during your walkthrough.
- Opens a door before the leash is on.
- Skims your care sheet without asking a single question.
During the trial run or the trip
- Misses an update, or replies hours late.
- Photos that could be from any day, with nothing that shows the time or today’s details.
- Your camera goes offline while they’re there.
- Changes the plan without telling you: a different location, extra people, other animals.
One flag or several?
One flag is a conversation: ask about it directly and see how they respond. Several flags, or any flag about emergencies, cameras or honesty, is a pattern. Keep looking.
Why reviews aren’t enough
Owners whose dogs went missing often point out that the sitter had dozens of glowing reviews. Reviews tell you someone was liked; they don’t tell you what that person will do when the plan breaks. A background check happens once. Your own questions, a trial run, and a check-in rule are what close the gap.
The two-hour rule
Agree on a check-in schedule before you leave. If an update is missed, call within two hours. Don’t wait until tomorrow. In owners’ stories, almost every bad outcome began with a silence that someone put off asking about.
Get the full red-flag checklist
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Please read: This guide is general information, not veterinary or legal advice. The warning signs here come from owners’ public accounts and are not a complete list; spotting none of them doesn’t make a sitter safe. Trip-Ready Dog doesn’t screen or endorse any sitter or boarding business, and you’re responsible for who you choose. In an emergency, call your vet or a 24-hour emergency vet. See our Terms of Use.
