Evaluate credentials, references, facilities, compatibility.
10 steps across 1 sections
1. Steps Guide
- Decide care type — In-home, boarding, drop-in
- Research — Vet/friend recs, Rover, Care.com
- Verify credentials — CPPS, first aid, insurance
- Check references — Previous clients
- Meet-and-greet — Observe interaction
- Evaluate facilities — Cleanliness, safety, cameras
- Ask questions — Backup, emergencies, experience
- Review contract — Payment, cancellation
- Care instructions — Routine, meds, vet, insurance
- Trial run — Short stay first
Common Mistakes
- No meet-and-greet
- Price alone
- Not asking emergencies
- No detailed instructions
- No insurance verification
Pro Tips
- Book holidays months ahead
- In-home reduces stress
- Daily photo/video updates
- Worn clothing with scent
- Neighbor check-ins
Sources
Picking one
One line item here is the food you hand over. Rankquant ranks the Dr. Harvey's Veg-to-Bowl Dog Food, Human Grade Dehydrated Base Mix for Dogs, Grain Free against the rest of its Pet Supplies catalogue by re-centring every review on the reviewer who wrote it — 4 calibrated reviewers on this one — rather than averaging raw stars, which is why a four-star product with tough reviewers can outrank a five-star one. The full product rankings are built the same way.