How can I tell if a dog sitter is trustworthy?

Key signals: platform verification (police check, references verified, interview completed), specific reviews from previous owners about how the sitter handled real situations, and how they interact with your dog at the meet-and-greet. A sitter who reads the dog correctly, asks specific questions about care scenarios, and doesn't rush the introduction process is showing you their actual competence. TruePath's verification includes National Police Check (ACIC), direct reference calls, and an in-person interview.

What should I look for in a dog sitter's reviews?

Specific situational reviews over generic endorsements. 'Brilliant with my anxious Border Collie — she picked up on his stress signals before I mentioned them' is more useful than 'lovely sitter.' Look for reviews that mention situations relevant to your dog's needs: medication handling, reactivity management, settling first-night anxiety. The detail in the review tells you whether the reviewer actually noticed what the sitter did.

What questions should a good dog sitter ask at a meet-and-greet?

Specific questions about your dog's triggers and calming strategies, medication administration and timing, how the dog typically settles with new people, the evening and morning routine, what the first night is usually like, your communication preferences, and what they should escalate to you versus handle independently. A sitter who asks generic questions ('what does he like to eat?') without going deeper is not thinking about the job the way an experienced one does.

Dog sitting

Signs of a Good Dog Sitter — 12 Green Flags Worth Paying Attention To

Most owners focus on red flags when vetting a sitter. But the positive signals are just as diagnostic. Here's what a good dog sitter actually looks like — at the profile stage, at the meet-and-greet, and during the stay.

By atticus · 7 min read · Last updated 17 May 2026

Most owners approach sitter vetting defensively — they're looking for warning signs. That's not wrong, but the positive signals are equally diagnostic. A sitter who demonstrates the right things at each stage of the relationship is one you can trust with your dog during a two-week absence.

Here are the green flags that separate a good dog sitter from an adequate one.

Key takeaways

A sitter who asks specific questions about your dog before the meet-and-greet — not just 'what's their name?' but 'are there any reactive triggers I should know about?' — understands what the job actually involves.
Watch how they interact with your dog in the first 5 minutes. A good sitter doesn't rush the introduction or try to force engagement — they let the dog come to them.
Specific, observational updates during the stay ('she seemed a bit flat this afternoon, perked up after the walk') are more valuable than cheerful generic ones ('all good!'). Look for sitters who notice things.
TruePath reviews that mention specific situations ('great with my reactive kelpie', 'confident managing insulin injections') tell you more than reviews that just say the sitter was lovely.
A sitter who asks about your preferences — communication frequency, walk routes, specific handling for your dog — is building a service around your dog, not running a generic operation.

At the profile stage

Reviews that describe specific situations. "She was calm when Max got into a fight with another dog on the walk and handled the separation perfectly" tells you something real. "Great sitter, highly recommend!" tells you very little. Sitters who accumulate specific situation reviews have the reviews because those situations actually happened, and the owners noticed how they were handled.

Honest descriptions of their experience and limitations. A sitter who says "I'm experienced with small and medium dogs but I'd want to meet a large reactive dog before committing to a booking" is being professionally honest. Sitters who represent themselves as capable of everything regardless of context are not telling you anything accurate.

Evidence of longevity. A sitter with 80 completed stays and 4.9 stars has a track record, not a sample. New sitters can be excellent, but a longer history removes more uncertainty. On TruePath, the stay count is visible alongside the rating.

Response time. A sitter who responds to an initial message within a few hours is more likely to be responsive during a stay when you actually need communication. Slow responses at the booking stage are a preview of slow responses during the booking.

At the meet-and-greet

They ask about your dog before arriving. A good sitter will message beforehand: "Is there anything I should know before I come — any triggers or specific handling things?" This indicates they're thinking about the dog, not just the booking.

They read the dog correctly in the first few minutes. When they arrive, watch how they interact with your dog before they interact with you. A good sitter enters calmly, avoids direct prolonged eye contact initially, and lets the dog approach at its own pace. They don't crouch immediately, make intense sounds, or try to force engagement with a hesitant dog. This behaviour is either there or it isn't — it can't be coached.

They ask questions that show they've thought about specific scenarios. "If he gets anxious on the walk, what do you usually do to de-escalate?" or "What's the medication routine like — have you found anything that helps it go smoothly?" These are questions from someone who is thinking about the job, not just completing the meeting.

They give you specific observations about your dog during the meeting. "She's been watching me since I sat down — I think she's curious but wanted to decide in her own time." A sitter who notices and names dog behaviour accurately during the meeting will notice it accurately during the stay.

They're not rushed. A meet-and-greet is 45–60 minutes for a sitting introduction. A sitter who's checking their watch or wrapping up at 20 minutes is either overbooked or not that invested. Good sitters don't rush this — they know it's the foundation for the stay.

They handle the lead confidently and correctly. Ask them to take your dog on the lead for a few minutes in the garden. Watch for: calm energy, appropriate positioning, no unnecessary correction, relaxed posture. A sitter who fumbles the clip, lets the dog pull chaotically, or shows visible anxiety managing the dog is giving you information.

During the stay

Updates that describe what they actually observed, not what they think you want to hear. "She didn't eat breakfast this morning — offered it again an hour later and she cleared it. Worth watching?" is a better message than "great day!" It means the sitter is paying attention and reporting accurately.

They contact you about the right things. A good sitter knows when to message (unusual behaviour, missed meal, a minor health concern that might be nothing) and when not to (routine walks, normal sleep, the dog is just tired). Neither radio silence nor hourly updates is the right calibration.

Photos where the dog looks genuinely settled or engaged. Not just posed — caught doing something real. A dog asleep in their bed, looking up from a walk, playing with a toy. These signal the sitter is present and paying attention, not staging shots for owner reassurance.

They mention things you didn't ask about. "I noticed she has a small lump on her left shoulder I hadn't seen mentioned in your notes — might be worth asking your vet about." This is the quality of observation you want in someone looking after your dog for two weeks.

After the stay

Specific debrief feedback. "The first night was a bit unsettled but she found her routine by day 2. She was happiest in the garden after the morning walk — I'd let her spend longer there than the notes suggested. She ate every meal." This is a sitter who stayed present throughout.

Willingness to be rebooked. A good stay produces a mutual willingness to repeat it — from the sitter's side as much as yours. A sitter who builds genuine rapport with a dog often expresses that directly.

Find a TruePath walker near you

Background-checked walkers, GPS-tracked walks, and live photo updates. Most owners book their first walk within an hour.

Find a walker

Frequently asked questions

Keep reading

dog sitting

Pet Sitter Meet-and-Greet Checklist — What to Cover

A sitting meet-and-greet covers more ground than a walking one. Here's the complete checklist — from medication walkthrough to overnight logistics — so nothing important gets missed.

dog sitting

How to Prepare Your Dog for a Sitter

A dog that's never been left with a sitter will adapt better with the right preparation. Here's how to introduce the sitter, what information to leave, and how to make the handover as smooth as possible.

dog walking

How TruePath Verifies Every Walker — The Full Process

TruePath requires three things from every walker before their first booking: a police check, two references we actually call, and an in-person interview. Here's exactly what that means and how it compares to other platforms.

dog sitting

Overnight Dog Sitting — What's Included and What to Expect

Overnight dog sitting keeps your dog in their own home while you're away. Here's exactly what's included, what you should confirm with any sitter, and how to set them up for success.