At one point or another, many dog owners will find that they are in need of someone to take care of their furry pal. You may need to go out of town on a business trip or you might just be getting away for a while. When you are gone, you will need someone to see to the needs of your dog and make sure that he or she has everything they need. You can find a great dog watcher right in your neighborhood! If this is not an option, your local phone book should have several resources for you to find someone to take care of your dog. The question is, how do you know if you are finding a dog watcher that you can trust to care for your dog just the way you would and what are the benefits of hiring someone to care for your dog?

When someone takes on the responsibility of caring for your dog, they shouldn't just provide your dog with food, water and a bathroom break. In fact, they should care for your dog the same way you would; giving him or her time to play, exercise and get some much appreciated attention. This is why it's important to find someone who loves animals to take care of your pet. If you hire a professional, most of the time they watch out for other things too, such as watering your plants, bringing in your papers, turning the lights on and off, and even making sure that everything looks normal and that nothing is suspicious at your home. Often with a professional you have peace of mind not only as far as your pet is concerned, but your house as well.

Some of the things you want to look for when you are interviewing someone to take care of your dog for you are:

- Be sure that they truly love animals. Watch how they interact with your pet and how your pet responds.

- Be sure that they understand the schedule that your dog is on and that they are willing to keep things as close to that schedule as possible.

- Be sure that they can offer attention, play time and exercise time for your pet.

- What other things can he or she do in order to help you out while you're gone? Are they willing to bring in your papers, turn the lights off an on and even water your plants for you?

When you hire someone to take care of your dog for you, you simply don't have to worry about your dog barking or whining from being lonely. You will make sure that thieves and other sketchy characters don't know that you're gone and could prevent a robbery. You have someone to help you make sure that all is well at home. You can find a great pet sitter if you utilize the right resources. One of the things you can do is ask friends and family for references. If your family or friends have utilized the services of someone who took care of their dogs excellently, you may want to try this person on for size. You will have inside information on what he or she is like and how great they are.

Another option is asking your vet or your local animal shelter for great pet sitting resources. They may be able to offer great recommendations. Check your local phone book, or call (800-296-PETS). This is the number for the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters. You can get an experienced person who loves animals through this phone number and they can help you keep your mind at ease while you are away from your best four legged friend!