FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS


Isabel poses for her portrait.

Is Philly Pet au Pair bonded and insured?
Absolutely! Philly Pet au Pair employees and contractors are insured and bonded.

Does Philly Pet au Pair perform criminal background checks on its employees? 
Yes, part of our employment application includes a background check.  

Do you offer a discount if we use your services consistently?
Yes! If you are signed up for "Recurring Visits" or "Dog Walking", you will get receive the discounted rate shown on the website. Please see the "Services and Pricing" tab for more detailed information on this.

May I give my pet sitter gratuity?
You are welcome to leave gratuity for your pet sitter, directly. Pet sitters are happy to receive appreciation for a job well done. Tips are not expected but greatly appreciated. 

Is my personal information kept confidential? 
Absolutely! We do not disclose personal information to any third parties. Only Philly Pet au Pair sitters will be given your chosen method of contact. 

My pet requires medication. Can you accommodate this?
Most of our sitters are trained to administer oral and topical medication. Please contact us to check on the availability of a trained sitter and for scheduling inquiries about administering injections. Our objective is to create a happy, healthy environment for your pets while you are away. 

My pet has "special needs". Can you accommodate this? 
We are able to care for most special needs pets. Please contact us for more specific information. We are happy to work with you to find the best quality care for your pet. 

Can you bring in my mail, take out my trash, rotate blinds, and lights in each room so it doesn't look like we're away? How about alarm systems?
We sure can! We offer this as a complimentary service to our customers. We want you to feel comfortable and know your pets are safe in their home while you're away. If you need specific room lights turned on/off, just be sure to specify. 

Do you accept credit cards?
Not at this time. We currently accept cash and checks.

How far in advance do I need to schedule and a booking for service? Do you take last minute visits?
Typically, one could schedule any service for about two weeks in advance. However, we do receive many requests around holiday times and the early Autumn season. We suggest that you book at least one month in advance for anytime between December 15th - January 5th, March 15th - April 28th, August 1st - September 15th. At times, we are able to accommodate last minute plans, so even if you're late trying to book with us, it's still worth a try!

I'd like to work for Philly Pet au Pair!  
Awesome! We are excited to have quality animal lovers join our team. As a representative of Philly Pet au Pair, we look for those who are reliable, experienced, and we need to know that you will be a fantastic Philly Pet au Pair representative when out walking dogs and in a customers home. 
  • Must absolutely adore animals
  • Live within our service area of Philadelphia
  • Have reliable and insured transportation
  • Make a one year commitment to Philly Pet au Pair
  • Be willing to walk in inclement or hot weather
  • Have access to a cell phone 24 hours a day
  • Have access to the internet
  • Must be capable of self-managing and maintaining a schedule
  • Pass a criminal background check
To apply, please email a resume to: PhillyPetauPair@gmail.com


GROOMING: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS



Happy Kithane fresh after grooming!

How often should I have you bathe and brush my dog?
Different breeds and coat types have different needs, but any breed with long hair needs to be brushed frequently. Shedding breeds with double coats also need brushing to remove loose undercoat and keep the undercoat from clumping together and matting with the outer coat.
How often you should have your dog bathed and brushed out will vary depending on the breed you have, the haircut desired, and how much work you are willing to do on your own. I typically recommend 4-6 weeks for most dogs, but have customers who do as often as 2 weeks or as long as 8 weeks. A dog in a shorter haircut can go longer while a dog with more hair may require less time between appointments to keep the hair from matting. We can discuss your dogs personal needs over the phone or at our first appointment and pick a schedule and hair style that works for everyone.

What is matting?
Matting is when the hair starts to tangle, and eventually gets so stuck together that it is almost impossible to comb out. A small mat will continue to collect hair and grow, pulling at the skin and causing the dog severe discomfort. The hair can also rip from the skin leaving a bald spot, hot spots, or other skin irritations. Due to the moisture that the mat traps in close to the skin, maggots, mold and other bacteria have also been found under mats in dogs! Numerous mats can all stick together forming a pelt on the entire dog which is extremely uncomfortable. You are not a bad owner if your dog gets some mats, but allowing a dog to frequently become excessively matted is inhumane. The best way to prevent this is to make an effort to brush and comb your dog, and keep the dog on a regular schedule for professional grooming. I will be happy to show you the proper tools and techniques you can use at home to keep your dog mat free. Many people bathe their dogs at home and do not brush before or after. This will actually speed up the mat process! If you are bathing your dog at home, you should brush before and after the bath. If possible, you should dry the dog with a hair dryer as well. If not, you can comb through the wet coat before it dries, then again when the hair is dry.

My dog is already matted and I can't get them out, what can you do?
Some tangles or small mats that are away from the skin can probably be brushed out, but if a dog is severely matted, I will have no choice but to shave the hair. This is the most humane option. De-matting can be very painful for the dog, and is also very time consuming, hard on my hands and my tools, and therefore, very expensive. Even if I were to brush out a severely matted coat, the hair would be so damaged, that it will mat up again almost instantly. If we shave the hair and start over, the dog will be happier, and the hair will grow in fresh and healthy. Then we can discuss what we can do to get your dog into the longer style that you desire!

What if my dog doesn't let me brush him/her?
You must teach your dog to behave while being brushed! You can sit on the floor and tie him to something or have someone hold him for you. If the dog really won't behave, you must lightly brush him everyday, even if the hair isn't tangled, to make it a quick, easy and enjoyable experience. If you make brushing a good experience at home and do not allow him to misbehave while being brushed, he will also have a better experience during his professional grooming.

Do you express anal glands?
I will perform this service on request or if it is obvious that it needs to be done. Some dogs do not need this done and others are better off having it done internally by their vet.

Will you come to my house to bathe, blow dry, and brush out my large dogs?
Yes, I will groom almost any breed of any size as long as I can safely handle the dog by myself. If the dog is too difficult for any reason, I may need to refuse service.

Do you bathe, blow dry, and brush out cats?
I cannot offer bathing at this time because most cats have a very hard time with the blow drying process. However, I am able to offer a full brush out, nail trim, ear cleaning, and tooth brushing.

If I bathe my dog before you come, can I get a discounted price?
Typically no. The grooming prices are for a package that includes a bath, brush out and blow dry. This assures that the dog is clean to my standards and gives me a chance to really look at your dogs skin and possibly uncover skin issues, fleas, ticks, lumps, bumps, etc.

My dog has skin issues, can you help?
I'm not a vet, but do have some knowledge in skin care. I can use a hypoallergenic, medicated or oatmeal shampoo to help sooth your dog temporarily. Many dogs are allergic to ingredients in their food such as corn, wheat and other grains, even poultry. Try an all natural food with no byproducts, no corn and no wheat.

How long does the bath, blow out, and brushing take?
Most dogs are done in 1-2 hours. Some larger or thicker dogs, or dogs with matting can take up to 3 hours.