Top 3 tips to help out your dog sitter during your vacation

With summer in full swing, many pet parents will hit the road or take to the skies for their annual vacations, but sometimes their furry friends won't be able to come along. If you're one of these people, you may be in the market for a pet sitter. Even a sitter with the most glowing credentials could run into trouble when caring for your dog, so there's certainly a lot to do to help this individual out before going on your vacation. Keep the following tips in mind to aid your pet sitter and give you the peace of mind to enjoy your excursion a bit more.

1. Provide a copy of your pet's paperwork. While you never want to think about it, if your dog happens to have an accident or health problem during your trip, your pet sitter will need to know what to do. Consider providing a copy of your pet's paperwork before you leave - a vaccination history, the telephone number of your veterinarian and other important information will be vital when your sitter has to respond to a crisis.

2. Take care of meals beforehand. If your canine is on a prescription diet or an all-natural one, making sure his or her needs are met should be one of your top priorities. To make it a bit easier on your sitter and to ensure that your dog receives proper nutrition, consider separating portions before you leave. Place them into small plastic containers or baggies for specific times of day to make mealtimes far simpler for your pet sitter.

3. Buy extras of everything. Before you leave home, it may be a good idea to head to your local pet store to pick up a few extra essentials. Leashes, collars, identification tags and other products could break during your trip, which could certainly leave your sitter in a pickle. Pick up a few extras to plan for any situation, and your sitter will have a much easier time responding to a potential mishap.

Last but not least, leave a list of your canine's favorite spots so your sitter can emulate a bit of your routine. Encourage your sitter to visit the Dog Parks at Bideawee, hiking trails and other spots that can give your canine plenty of exercise and a chance to get out of the house.