Frequently Asked Questions
You’ve Got Questions? We’ve Got Answers!
General Questions
Trusty Tails Offers A Variety of Customizable Pet Care Services:
- Pet Sitting
- Dog Walking
- Cat Sitting
- Puppy Tails Care
- Overnight Pet Care
Yes, all Trusty Tails Employees are covered under our Insurance, Bonding, and Workman’s Compensation policies. Read our Article on Why You Should Care that your dog walker or pet sitter is covered under these policies.
Instructions to Set Up an Account can be found here.
- 2 Sets of Keys: Clients agree to provide us with two (2) sets of working keys (please try them) at initial key pickup in order to avoid a charge for an extra visit. If only one set is ready, we will cut another for you for a $10.00 fee plus cost of keys.
- Doorman: If you have a doorman, your regular walker/sitter would be grateful if you provided us with one (1) set and one (1) set to be left at the front desk with the doorman.
- Lock Box: Clients have the option to purchase a lock box of their liking to install outside of their residence and store two (2) sets of keys within. You may update/change the lock box code on your lock box and update within your account when you like.
- Key Drop-Off: We have a key drop box located at our Head Quarters at 155 4th Street, Hoboken, NJ for all our Hoboken residents.
- Key Pickup: Is available and scheduled on request via appointment only at no charge. We do not mail keys for security reasons unless via registered mail at the client’s expense. In the event TTPC must pickup/dropoff keys from client residence, the client will be billed a walk/visit and staff will be paid accordingly for their time in doing such. After one year of inactivity on an account, keys are destroyed.
We require two (2) working sets of keys to your home. One set of keys is provided to the dog walker or pet sitter. The second set of keys is kept on file and stored in our key safe as a backup for emergencies and provided to your backup dog walker or pet sitter when necessary.
To compensate walkers and sitters, additional fees apply for the above holidays.
Pet Sitting Questions
Since it’s important for pets to have a regular, recurring routine, we’re happy to visit just about any time that you need us within our business hours, 7am through 8pm, 365 days a year (yes, even weekends and holidays!). This goes double for animals with specific medical needs, puppies being housebroken, and elderly pets; timeliness is key! In this article, we discuss “When will Trusty Tails visit my pet?”
Today we’re going to discuss what exactly a professional pet sitter is in this day and age as well as what they do. Having an understanding of what professional pet sitters do allows for establishing their important role, as well as separating them from a pet boarder or dog walker.
In this day and age, there is an app for everything. In the pet sitting industry, we have a number of websites and apps dedicated to hiring freelance pet sitters such as Rover.com, DogVacay.com, and Care.com. Plus, many of these freelancers tend to be much cheaper than professional pet sitters. Sounds like a smoking deal, right? Well, we’re here to tell you that it may not be all it’s cracked up to be. Professional pet sitters still continue to have a number of advantages over freelancers. Let’s talk about the problems with hiring a dog walker from an online directory.
Have you been thinking about that Bahamian Cruise? Or maybe backpacking across Europe? You might be hesitating because you don’t know what to do with Milo and Mitsy while you’re gone. In this article, we list out some advantages and disadvantages of in-home pet sitting vs boarding in a kennel.
Let’s face it! Things happen. No one likes to pay for something they’re not going to use. We get it. We really do. However, we’re trying to employ great staff to love and care for your animals and sometimes this means you have to pay for a last minute cancellation. In order to provide the absolute best care to our clients, keep our team members happy & productive, and ensure our office is operating as efficiently as possible, we have implemented a Trusty Tails Pet Care Cancellation Policy on all appointments. Here we explain why.
You may be tempted to bring your pooch along with you on vacation, but here’s the thing. If you are planning on going out and exploring the town, as you would probably do on your vacation, keeping your dog cooped up in a hotel room all day long can cause undue stress for your pup. But kennels are expensive, and just as stressful. You certainly can’t leave your dog alone, but her own environment would be the best option. Somewhere she’s sure to be comfortable.
Whether you are planning a trip or work long hours, you might be wondering “Does my cat REALLY need a cat sitter?” The simple answer is yes, but cats are not so simple creatures. Cats are creatures of habit that are hypersensitive to their surroundings and the world around them. To remove them from their home environment and place them in a boarding facility can wreak havoc on their nerves as well as be the catalyst for stress-related health problems.
You have decided to hire a pet sitter. You might be thinking “What next?” Here at Trusty Tails, we encourage you to do your research before you hire a pet sitter. We have compiled a list of some questions and important things to factor in as you’re considering who might be the best sitter to carry the responsibility of caring for your pets while you’re away.
Have you ever been away from your house, and woken up in the middle of the night in a panic not knowing where you are or how you got there? This feeling may only last for a few seconds, but those seconds are terrifying and confusing. What makes you think that our cats are any different than we are?
Yes, we totally understand you may want to meet who will be entering your home and caring for your furry friend(s). We are happy to schedule a time for you and your walker/sitter to meet. However, please know we work together as a team and this sometimes means someone other than who you have met will be sent, especially if you do not have a routine schedule.
It is important to realize that our staff are usually working towards other goals (i.e. dancing, theater, college degrees, etc.) and their plans are not to be with us forever, thus you may end up with a new walker every so often. Rest assured, they’re as great as the last one.
Yes. We do our best to accommodate requests. However, it all depends on each of our pet sitter’s schedules and what their availability is. Rest assured, we work as a team and are sure to send someone qualified who is available to love and care for your pet while you are away.
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All that said, you are able to contact your sitter through our Online Scheduling System. This provides our office with the ability to respond when our pet sitters cannot and be in the loop on all your pet care needs.
Dog Walking Questions
We’ve all seen them: the dog walkers surrounded by lots of excited pets, all attached to a mass of leashes or tenuously clipped to a belt. You’re probably wondering: “Is this what I’m signing up for with Trusty Tails?” “Will, my dog be taken on a solo walk like when I have him out?” “Will he be one of many like that pack?” “Group Dog Walk vs Solo Dog Walk?”
The fast answer to “Can You Malk My Dog While I Am At Work?” is yes, we would love to walk your dog while you’re at work! Most of our dog walks take place while dog parents like yourself are out of the house. Trusty Tails can come to your home while you are at work as a means of providing a bathroom break and exercise for your dog.
When it comes down to it, taking a dog out for a walk is often less about where you need to go and more of where he wants to go. Have you tried running errands with a stubborn dog in tow, or perhaps one with too much energy? You need to stop at the post office, dry cleaners, and the bank, but all he wants is to go and play in the park, chasing balls and sniffing bushes…well, those bills will get in the mail tomorrow, right? That’s the beauty of having a great career dog walker: they take your pup out on the walk he wants to go on so that he can enjoy his time outside.
The first thing that will happen after you sign up for our services (or even if you’re simply interested in them but want to chat with us before signing on) will be a meet and greet in your home at a time that’s convenient for you. Your first meet and greet are on us – that’s how excited we are to welcome you to our Trusty Tails family!
In this article, we address the question “Will my dog walker let my dog off leash?” It certainly doesn’t seem all too fun to spend your time attached to a leading line, does it? We’ve all found ourselves wondering if our dog really needs to be on his leash, or if maybe he’d enjoy being out a bit more if he could roam on his own. Unfortunately, cities aren’t exactly a great place to let your pooch run free. Rest assured, Trusty Tails dog walkers are going to keep your dog leashed by its side beyond the walls of your home.
Can’t get in touch with your dog walker? Do you rush home to let your dog out because you aren’t sure your walker came to walk your dog? Always wondering what that note on the counter at home from your walker says? With Trusty Tails, you don’t have to wait until you get home to find out that your dog was walked. With today’s technology, we make it easy for you to know as soon as it happens. In this article, we answer “How do I know my dog walker walked my dog?” by a Trusty Tails Walker.
Are you asking yourself “What Does A Dog Walker Do?” I know it may seem pretty simple, just take the dog out to go the bathroom, but there is actually a lot of thought Curious as to what happens during a dog walk with a Trusty Tails Hoboken Dog Walker? Here are just a few topics that come to mind:
Let’s face it! Things happen. No one likes to pay for something they’re not going to use. We get it. We really do. However, we’re trying to employ great staff to love and care for your animals and sometimes this means you have to pay for a last minute cancellation. In order to provide the absolute best care to our clients, keep our team members happy & productive, and ensure our office is operating as efficiently as possible, we have implemented a Trusty Tails Pet Care Cancellation Policy on all appointments. Here we explain why.
Bringing home a puppy is a wonderful event! How can you not be filled with love and happiness at the sight of a bundle of unconditional love and fur? As a new pet owner, there are things you need to consider when bringing home your new puppy.
I think most would agree that there’s not much in this world cuter than a puppy. The floppy ears… the squishy face… those eyes! Oh, and did I mention unconditional love? That’s why proper care and training are so important. Trusty Tails puppy visits are typical twice a day, about four hours apart, and the focus is on fun, fun, fun!
All that said, you are able to contact your sitter through our Online Scheduling System. This provides our office with the ability to respond when our pet sitters cannot and be in the loop on all your pet care needs.
Absolutely not. We understand some people have irregular work schedules and may need us at different times each week or month. Our online scheduling system allows you the freedom to schedule your own dates and times you would like us to visit. We’ll receive an email notification once your account is updated with your schedule. Then, we’ll assign a dog walker or pet sitter, approve your schedule, and send you a confirmation. And, of course, visit within the time range you requested.
- Current dog license and identification tags attached to collar.
- Current on all vaccinations.
- Friendly and socialized towards people and dogs.
- Have a 4-6 foot leash, no retractable leashes.
- Please make sure the collar and/or harness fit appropriately to your dogs size.
- Poo bags are not required, but most certainly appreciated.
Scheduling Questions
Cat & Pet Visits / Dog Walks / Day Care:
- 24-hour Notice is required for cancellation of visits to avoid being charged the full service for the 24-hour period.
- 48-hour notice is required for holiday cancellations to avoid being charged the full service for the 48-hour period.
Boarding / Overnight Sitting / In-home Sitting:
- If less than 7 days’ notice, the client must pay 50% of total fee.
- Should client return early from vacation, full services scheduled is charged.
You can read more on our blog on Why We Have a Cancellation Policy.
You can read about why we implement a cancellation policy here.
You can view our services area on our Service Areas page.
Don’t see your area listed? Reach out to us and just ask. We just might have a sitter in your neighborhood.
Billing Questions
You can take a look at our starting prices for our services here.
All payments are due upon booking and prior to service to secure your reservation. You are automatically emailed an invoiced receipt of the transaction for your records after your card is charged.
If your dog walker or pet sitter did a nice job and you would like to leave a tip, you may put it in a sealed envelope on the kitchen counter with their name on it; or, you may mail it into us and we would be happy to give it to them.
We prefer not to put gratuity on credit cards.