Pet owners go to great lengths to ensure their animals are comfortable while they are away. We hire walkers, sitters, and neighbors to maintain a sense of normalcy for our furry companions. However, the specific ways we structure this care can inadvertently broadcast to the entire neighborhood that the house is currently empty. Criminals often look for these shifts in lifestyle cues to identify easy targets. Recognizing these eight routine choices helps you protect your home while providing the best care for your pets.
1. Relying on Fixed-Time Dog Walkers
Hiring a professional walker is excellent for a dog’s health, but predictability can be a security risk. If a walker arrives at the exact same minute every afternoon and leaves thirty minutes later without any other activity occurring, it confirms the homeowners are absent. This creates a visible window of vacancy that an observer can easily track. Asking a walker to vary their arrival time by just twenty minutes can break this predictable pattern.
2. Leaving Pet Waste Bags in Visible Bins
A full dog waste bin that is not emptied on the usual trash day is a subtle yet clear signal. When pet waste bags begin to pile up in a bin near the curb or side of the house, it suggests that the regular household chores have stopped. This indicates that the person currently caring for the pet is a visitor rather than a resident. You should ask your sitter to place waste in a less visible area or take it to the main outdoor bin.
3. Maintaining Static Window Coverings
When a sitter only visits for short periods, the blinds or curtains often remain in the same position for days at a time. A house where the windows stay completely shut or wide open through both day and night signals a lack of internal activity. Burglars look for these static visuals to confirm a house is unoccupied. Requesting that your pet sitter adjust at least one set of blinds during each visit helps maintain a lived-in appearance.
4. Allowing a Normally Vocal Dog to Fall Silent
A dog that usually barks at the mail carrier or neighborhood squirrels provides a natural soundtrack of occupancy. If that dog is suddenly boarded or becomes uncharacteristically quiet because they are lonely, the change is noticeable to passersby. The sudden absence of expected noise can be just as telling as an overflowing mailbox. Leaving a radio on a talk station provides background noise that can soothe the pet and mimic a human presence.
5. Leaving Leashes or Toys on Front Porches
Leaving a leash hanging on a front fence or a pile of toys on the porch suggests that the pet is being handled in a hurried or temporary manner. It often signals that a sitter is coming and going quickly rather than the owner engaging in their usual routine. These items left in plain sight serve as breadcrumbs for someone looking for a vacant home. Keeping all pet gear inside the entryway ensures that your pet’s presence—or your absence—remains private.
6. Neglecting External Yard Maintenance
Pet owners who are home usually stay on top of yard debris or stray toys that end up in the grass. When a pet is being cared for by a visitor, these small details are often overlooked. An accumulation of fallen branches or uncollected pet toys in the yard suggests a lack of active property management. Ensuring your sitter or a neighbor keeps the yard clear of clutter helps maintain the illusion that the home is fully staffed and monitored.
7. Using Identifiable Pet Sitter Vehicle Patterns
If a professional pet sitting company uses a vehicle with a prominent logo, their frequent visits clearly announce that the owners are away. Even a private sitter who parks in the same visitor spot every day can draw attention to the fact that the primary vehicles are missing. If possible, ask your sitter to park in the driveway to simulate a resident’s car. This simple change fills the void left by your absence and makes the house look occupied.
8. Forgetting to Toggle Exterior Lights
Many people leave their porch lights on 24/7 while traveling to light up the house, but a light glowing at noon is a classic sign of a vacant home. Conversely, a house that stays completely dark after sunset is equally suspicious. Using smart bulbs or timers to ensure lights only come on at dusk and turn off at a reasonable hour is essential. This keeps the home’s lighting consistent with your actual habits when you are physically there.
Which of these eight pet care choices was the most eye-opening for you, and do you have any other tips for keeping a house secure while traveling? Share your thoughts in the comments below to help our community of pet owners stay one step ahead.
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