As a telecommuter, I’ve done multiple sits where I’ve not been apart from the dog at all, because I take them on limited sightseeing, when dining out, etc. Plus, I order groceries delivered. I do that out of personal choice.
Despite that, I never apply for sits where the hosts expect little or no time apart from the pets, because I think they’re more likely to be entitled, self-absorbed, unrealistic or unreasonable. With such sits, they’re more likely to treat sitters like staff, and things will likely be messy with such folks if anything goes wrong.
I appreciate them stating their expectations transparently, because it makes it easier to avoid them by skipping their listings.
Even with what I’d consider unreasonable listings, other sitters will apply, though. So shrug, maybe they see value in those sits that I don’t.
I can’t help but say, “pet owners are getting a great deal.” Most of us, pet owners and pet sitters are pros at this. We have pets of our own and we take care of others pets. In this economy, this is a give-give situation, not a win-win situation. We agree to give our skills to others in exchange for staying in their home when they are out of town. And we are working regular pet sitters out of an otherwise good paying job. At the same time we are driving pet sitting prices down, so not a win-win at all!
It is good to keep in mind that dog sitting is an expensive proposition paying up to $800/week/dog between pet sitting and dog walking. Cats on the other hand are much less expensive.
The biggest problem I see is the lack of consideration about what is actually being given for what is being asked. These places are similar to airbnb’s not hotels… the comparison is another place the argument fails. This argument seems to be based on a need to put pet sitters in their place. Who does that, but someone who under values the services provided. This may sound like another bashing, but I ask you to keep in mind that this is a give-give situation and it has a monetary value that is comparable on both sides.
I sit dogs. And some are easy. Right now, 2 dogs. One 5 month old, 60 lb puppy. Who chews up everything, including some of my underwear, tries wrestling with the the other dog while walking them. But luckily, it is in hot CA desert. So only early morning and late evening walks. There is a doggie door the rest of the time. But cannot sit on the sofa without the puppy wanting to play, with its mouth and teeth. It is a puppy. To the point of annoying. But can leave during the day. I have one week left. It is not awful, not poop all over like the another topic. Just not pleasant. Then I really think about how much I am saving in hotel for being in this area, where I need to be for this period.
@Val I had an older small truck that I WISH I’d kept rather than trade-in, for exactly this reason. It’s a lot less nerve-wracking to allow use of that kind of vehicle, rather than my primary one that I still owe a lot of money on. It’s one of my biggest mistakes/regrets since I started using THS.
I totally agree. It’s definitely an exchange of responsibility. We are both essentially gifting something. That’s why as long as our dogs are well taken care of, we are happy. Ours is an easy sit but we don’t want a sitter gone all day. 4 hours is pretty much max for our older dog. Most sitters leave our house clean. We hand them a clean and comfortable home to stay in. And in turn I know our dogs are well taken care of!
I know that almost all sitters are wonderful and take this responsibility seriously. But I have heard about many sitters in the past year or two that feel like they should be able to leave all day and they are saving HO a lot of money. In our case it would be just the opposite but nevertheless, this entitled attitude has been concerning to many HO. I do know some have left THS because of bad experiences. We have been on the platform for about 5 years.
Couldn’t agree more. The money discussion is, frankly, crass. There are benefits to both the homeowner and the sitter, the potential to save money being one of many. I don’t believe either should laud this over the other in a ‘I’m saving you loads of money’ kind of way. That’s when it becomes unequal, ‘us’ and ‘them’.
The system has been designed to be a mutual exchange and, ideally, a respectful one. When a homeowner lists the benefits the sitter is gaining (or vice versa), it comes across as derisive as if ‘I’m doing you a favour’. No. You are also benefitting from this service.