How do I communicate with my sitter when there was an issue during a past stay? – Rover Help Center

Though it happens rarely, if a problem arises during a stay or walk, communication with your sitter is key to ensure that you reach a resolution.

Resolving the issue

Pet owners who come to positive resolutions most often tend to embrace a few ideas:

Empathy. Your sitter may have faced unexpected challenges and have likely done their best to address issues in the moment.
Understanding. Realize that your sitter doesn't know your dog like you do, and they may use other problem-solving techniques that differ from your own.
Acknowledgement. Your dog is an individual, just like you. Even under the best possible care, your dog may act differently around others that you may not have seen before.
Trust. Your sitter has your dog's best interests at heart and likely did their best given the tools they had, including the care instructions you provided.

Communication isn't only important when a problem arises—it's just as crucial before a booking starts to prevent problems.

Write out your expectations. Record everything you expect from your sitter, even if you've told them verbally. Sitters are only human after all, and sometimes they might forget something. Having a detailed Rover message or care instructions to reference in case they have questions is ideal.
Offer clarity around communication. Let your sitter know how often you expect to receive updates and when you'd like to be alerted of any issues. Some sitters may assume you don't want to be bothered and will attempt to solve problems on their own.
Plan ahead. It's always better to give your sitter more info rather than not enough, even if you're not sure they'll use it. If they happen to need it, it'll be right at their fingertips. For example, make sure to supply an emergency contact, just in case.