Pet Caregiving 101: How Often Should You Send Pet Parents Updates?

Being a Pet Caregiver is a "furbulous" gig, but there's also a lot to remember, from what to bring to an appointment to finding the best walking routes. One aspect of overnight care many Pet Caregivers struggle with is how often to send updates to Pet Parents. 

Keeping a Pet Parent in the loop is a key part of the job, but how do you know if you're sending the right number of updates? The sweet spot between too many and too few updates can be hard to pinpoint. Here's the lowdown on how often you should send a Pet Parent updates during a sitting or boarding appointment.

No two Pet Parents are the same, so it's tricky to know how often they want updates. Some Pet Parents want video updates several times a day, while others work under the principle that "no news is good news." Others may get annoyed at being frequently updated on their pet's wellbeing, especially if they're on vacation. 

The simplest way to resolve this conundrum is to ask the Pet Parent how often they want updates! Let them know that if they want more or fewer updates during their time away, they just need to ask through Wag! Chat.

If a Pet Parent is non-committal about how much they want updates, consider sending daily updates as a general rule. A short, personalized paragraph letting a Pet Parent know their fur-baby is doing well, along with a cute picture or video, will help you stand out from other sitters. Again, tell the Pet Parent that you'll be sending updates and to let you know if they find them disruptive.

Consider your client's needs before deciding whether to send more or fewer updates. For example, if the Pet Parent is going to a wedding or on a business trip, they may want fewer updates than someone visiting their relatives. At the same time, a Pet Parent who's leaving their fur-baby for the first time might be anxious and may want extra updates. 

You can also consider the dog's age and health. If a dog is older or a puppy, their Pet Parent will undoubtedly be more concerned about leaving them alone. If a dog shows signs of separation anxiety or has other health concerns, you might want to send more frequent updates.

You'll want to find the right balance between keeping a Pet Parent informed and letting them enjoy their time away. Pet Parents may feel the need to reply to every updates, which takes time out of their day and may disrupt their activities. Let Pet Parents know they don't need to respond to all your updates since you're sending them for their own peace of mind.

The main thing to consider when sending updates is open communication and boundaries. Ask the Pet Parent what times of day they'd prefer to be contacted, and don't message outside of those hours unless it's an emergency. 

You'll also want to let Pet Parents know when you're available. Unless you're a night owl, the last thing you'll likely want as a Pet Caregiver is to have a Pet Parent messaging you at 1 AM asking for an update on their cat.

Open communication and boundaries help prevent misunderstandings. Failing to communicate with one another properly could lead to bad reviews and no repeat appointments.

Curious about how to be a hit with your canine clients? Check out our Help Center content for Pet Caregivers!