Pet Sitter Personal Service Workers
SaveWhat Does a Pet Sitter Do?
Pet sitters provide animal-sitting services including dog walking, home-boarding, pet/home sitting, day boarding and animal transportation services. They maintain records, use appropriate and safe handling techniques and do routine monitoring of the health and welfare of the animal.
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Where Do I Start?
Animal Welfare
Universally recognized animal welfare needs as applied to species, situation and occupation. These are: need for a suitable environment need for a suitable diet need to be able to exhibit normal behaviour patterns need to be housed with, or apart, from other animals need to be protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease.
Sign up to trackReady to go deeper? Pick up to 3 skills to focus on from the list below.
These are common skills for this role. Real-world experience matters more than ticking every box — use this as a guide, not a checklist.
Skills You Need to Become a Pet Sitter
Essential Skills
Essential Skills
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EssentialAnimal Welfare knowledge
Universally recognized animal welfare needs as applied to species, situation and occupation. These are: need for a suitable environment need for a suitable diet need to be able to exhibit …
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EssentialAnimal Welfare Legislation knowledge
The legal boundaries, codes of professional conduct, national and EU regulatory frameworks and legal procedures of working with animals and living organisms, ensuring their welfare and health.
Recommended Books
1 book -
EssentialEnvironmental Enrichment For Animals knowledge
Types, methods and use of enrichment for animals to allow the expression of natural behaviour, including the provision of environmental stimuli, feeding activities, puzzles, items for manipulation, social and training …
Recommended Books
1 book -
EssentialSafe Work Practices In A Veterinary Setting knowledge
Safe work practices in a veterinary setting in order to identify hazards and associated risks so as to prevent accidents or incidents. This includes injury from animals, zoonotic diseases, chemicals, …
No book recommendations available yet.
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EssentialBiosecurity Related To Animals knowledge
Awareness of hygiene and bio-security measures when working with animals, including causes, transmission and prevention of diseases and use of policies, materials and equipment.
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EssentialSigns Of Animal Illness knowledge
Physical, behavioural and environmental signs of health and ill health in various animals.
No book recommendations available yet.
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EssentialAnimal Behaviour knowledge
The natural behavioural patterns of animals, i.e. how normal and abnormal behaviour might be expressed according to species, environment, human-animal interaction and occupation.
No book recommendations available yet.
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EssentialAssist In Transportation Of Animals skill
Assist with the transportation of animals, including the loading and unloading of animals, the preparation of the transport vehicle, and maintaining the wellbeing of the animal throughout the transport process.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialControl Animal Movement skill
Direct, control or restrain some or part of an animal's, or a group of animals', movement.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialHandle Veterinary Emergencies skill
Handle unforeseen incidents concerning animals and circumstances which call for urgent action in an appropriate professional manner.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialImplement Exercise Activities For Animals skill
Provide exercise opportunities that are suitable for respective animals and meet their particular physical requirements.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialManage Animal Biosecurity skill
Plan and use appropriate biosafety measures to prevent transmission of diseases and ensure effective overall biosecurity. Maintain and follow biosecurity procedures and infection control when working with animals, including recognising …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialManage Animal Hygiene skill
Plan and use appropriate hygiene measures to prevent transmission of diseases and ensure an effective overall hygiene. Maintain and follow hygiene procedures and regulations when working with animals, communicate site …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialManage Animal Welfare skill
Plan, manage and evaluate the application of the five universally recognised animal welfare needs as appropriate to species, situation and own occupation.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialMonitor The Welfare Of Animals skill
Monitor animals' physical condition and behaviour and report any concerns or unexpected changes, including signs of health or ill-health, appearance, condition of the animals' accommodation, intake of food and water …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialProvide An Enriching Environment For Animals skill
Provide an enriching environment for animals to allow the expression of natural behaviour, and including adjusting environmental conditions, delivering feeding and puzzle exercises, and implementing manipulation, social, and training activities.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialProvide First Aid To Animals skill
Administer emergency treatment to prevent deterioration of the condition, suffering and pain until veterinary assistance can be sought. Basic emergency treatment needs to be done by non-veterinarians prior to first-aid …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialProvide Nutrition To Animals skill
Provide food and water to animals. This includes preparing food and water for animals and reporting any changes in the animal feeding or drinking habits.
Course recommendations coming soon.
Optional Skills (5 of 22 displayed)
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OptionalAnatomy Of Animals knowledge
The study of animal body parts, their structure and dynamic relationships, on a level as demanded by the specific occupation.
No book recommendations available yet.
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OptionalAnimal Species knowledge
The characteristics of different species and breeds of animals (relevant to the occupation).
No book recommendations available yet.
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OptionalPhysiology Of Animals knowledge
The study of the mechanical, physical, bioelectrical and biochemical functioning of animals, their organs and their cells.
No book recommendations available yet.
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OptionalAssess Animal's Condition skill
Inspect the animal for any external signs of parasites, disease or injury. Use this information to determine own actions and report your findings to owners.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalBudget For Financial Needs skill
Observe the status and availability of funds for the smooth running of projects or operations in order to foresee and estimate the quantity of future financial resources.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalCalculate Rates Per Hours skill
Make simple calculations regarding the money that should be earned in relation to the number of hours worked.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalCommunicate With Customers skill
Respond to and communicate with customers in the most efficient and appropriate manner to enable them to access the desired products or services, or any other help they may require.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalCope With Challenging Circumstances In The Veterinary Sector skill
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalDeal With Challenging People skill
Work safely and communicate effectively with individuals and groups of people who are in challenging circumstances. This would include recognition of signs of aggression, distress, threatening and how to address …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalFollow Work Schedule skill
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalHandle Petty Cash skill
Handle petty cash for minor expenses and transactions required for the daily running of a business.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalKeep Task Records skill
Organise and classify records of prepared reports and correspondence related to the performed work and progress records of tasks.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalMaintain Animal Accommodation skill
Make sure animal enclosures such as habitats, terrariums, cages or kennels are in the appropriate and hygienic condition. Clean the enclosure and provide new bedding material if called for.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalMake Decisions Regarding The Animal's Welfare skill
Make a choice from several alternative possibilities that promote the animal's well-being.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalManage A Small-to-medium Business skill
Manage the organisational, financial and day-to-day operation of a small-to-medium enterprise.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalProvide Dog Walking Services skill
Provide dog-walking services, including activities such as agreement of services with the customer, selection and use of handling equipment, interaction with the dog, and safe and responsible dog walking.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalUnderstand The Animal's Situation skill
Categorise and verify information about the environment and its impact on the animal. Analyse the situation, such as what the animal may want or need.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalUse Different Communication Channels skill
Make use of various types of communication channels such as verbal, handwritten, digital and telephonic communication with the purpose of constructing and sharing ideas or information.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalFollow Client Animal Handling Programme skill
Handle and train animals using the methods and resources specified by the owner.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalGroom Animals skill
Prepare the environment for grooming, select the correct grooming equipment and grooming methods for the animal. Apply occupational health and safety principles of basic animal anatomy and physiology, including the …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalProvide Pet Sitting Services In Owners' Homes skill
Provide pet sitting services in the home or property of the animal's owner. Account for the security and integrity of the premises and follow specific owner requirements for the care …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalUnderstand The Needs Of Animals skill
Learn and understand the needs of an animal and practice concern for its well-being, no matter how small the task.
Course recommendations coming soon.