Questions to Ask a Pet Sitter Before Booking

Twenty minutes of questions now saves a week of worry later. Here are the ones worth asking, with the answers to listen for.

By Mary E., Rover pet sitter in Deerfield Beach, FL · Updated 2 Oct 2026 · 3 min read

Most owners ask about price and dates, then hand over the dog. That is backwards. The questions that protect your dog are about the sitter's day, their home, and their plan when something goes wrong.

Mary E. is a Rover pet sitter in Deerfield Beach who has looked after dogs and cats for 10 years. These are the questions she recommends, and the answers she would want to hear.

Quick answers

What is the most important question to ask a pet sitter?

What does your day look like? The answer tells you whether your dog will have company, whether walks and feeding happen on schedule, and whether the sitter is genuinely home rather than visiting between other jobs.

Should I ask a pet sitter for references?

Read the platform reviews first, then ask whether you can speak to a repeat client. A sitter with eight repeat clients will not hesitate.

What should I ask about emergencies?

Ask three things: which vet they use, whether they will authorise treatment up to a limit, and how they contact you at 2am. Have your own vet and an emergency contact on the instructions sheet.

Do I need to ask about other pets in the home?

Yes. Ask how many animals are there at once, how feeding and sleeping are separated, and whether your dog can be the only pet for the stay. This matters most for nervous or reactive dogs.

How do I ask without sounding difficult?

Ask at the meet and greet, in the same tone you would use with a plumber. Sitters expect these questions, and good ones will have asked you most of them first.

About their day

What does a normal day look like? Listen for specific times: walks, meals, play, quiet time.
Are you home during the day? A yes here is worth more than a discount.
Where will my dog sleep? A real answer: bedroom, nearby, crate, whatever suits your dog.
How long might my dog be alone? Any honest sitter will name a number in hours, and tell you when it will happen.

About the other animals

How many pets do you host at once?
How are feeding times separated?
Can my dog be the only pet for the stay?
What happens if two dogs do not get on? A plan, not a promise that it never happens.

About your dog specifically

Have you looked after a dog with this need before? Puppies, seniors, medication, fear of thunder, reactivity on the lead.
What would you do if my dog would not eat?
How do you handle a dog who tries to bolt at the door?
What are your rules for vaccines and flea and tick prevention? Good sitters insist on both.

About booking and protection

How do I book and pay? On Rover, everything from messaging to payment stays on the platform.
What does the booking include if something goes wrong? RoverProtect covers photo and message updates, 24/7 support, and reimbursement for eligible vet care.
What is your cancellation policy? On Rover you can cancel up to three days before the stay.
Can you send updates? Ask for the frequency you want, and be specific: a photo a day is a reasonable minimum.

The answers that should make you pause

Vague times, or no answer about what your dog does all day.
No clear vet or emergency plan.
Reluctance to say how many animals are on site.
No meet and greet, or one that happens in a car park rather than the home.
Pressure to pay outside the platform.

One question to finish on

Ask: what would you want to know about my dog if you were me? A sitter who answers that with four specific questions is the one to book.

Need a Deerfield Beach pet sitter?

Mary E. boards dogs in her home in Deerfield Beach, takes doggy day care, and does drop-in visits for cats. She has 10 years of experience, a 5.0 rating across 34 Rover reviews and 8 repeat clients. New Rover customers get $20 off through her link.

Check Mary's dates on Rover

Booking, messaging and payment happen on Rover. This site never asks for your details.