Well…. If you read my previous topic on here. I stated that I felt really bad to post a review of badly behaved dog.
I’ve just had the most childish response written from the “dog” which just proves that they have no respect for my 2.5 weeks. Unpaid for 2 dogs. And £20 for travel expenses.
I left them a meal when they returned to eat. I’d even had a lovely drawing done of one of their dogs.
Just proves how little my sit for them was appreciated.
Feeling used. If they would have put their dogs in kennels then that alone would have cost them over £600.
It will say so much more about them than it will about you @Lumpybum - you know you told the truth. People are so poor at taking constructive criticism but it’s essential and you did future sitters a great service! Have you responded to their review of you? #onwardsandupwards
I know you feel under appreciated and it isn’t fair they were childish in their response but to think of this as a monetary gain/loss isn’t right either. It’s an equal exchange. Nothing to do with money. Was the dog’s response funny, as in tongue in cheek? Maybe it was a silly way for the owner to apologise?
It proves absolutely nothing! Take a step back. They’ll be hurting, you’ve said something negative about the pet that they love, adore, and cherish.
They are only human! It’s not their review of you that was childish, it was their response to your review, so their response was only natural, they love their dog.
What was the response? Can you give us an idea?
Actually a house sit listing I applied to was written as if from the dog which I thought was lovely. I sat for the owners twice who became friends. Sadly the dog has since died.
As mentioned, you mustn’t think of the sit in terms of money. However, as a full term sitter I know just how much I save in hotel/airbnb costs while in someone’s house.
@Lumpybum I’ve just read their response. Personally I do not find it childish at all! They did the only thing they could which was to address each point, and they did it in a very respectful way to you in my opinion, I am surprised you do not see it in a respectful way. They have said nice things about you and thanked you and said they appreciated you.
I’ve read it and I think it is fine. One can of course debate the form, as it was «from the dog», but probably to give it a more friendly impact.
I see from their answer that it is a possibility for the dogs chewing etc resulting from the fact that things weren’t put away. That is valuable to future sitters to know how they can handle it to prevent the dog from chewing, get things it is not allowed etc. In my opinion they did what was necessary from their point of view in a factual way. It was an answer to you deducting stars, after all. Their review was good.
So I would just consider it communication that should be better next time and move on.
@Lumpybum
I read the response. It was as I thought, a kind and funny way to appreciate you and apologise for the poor behaviour of the Chocolate Labrador. It pointed out that you were forewarned too. So, to write a review as if you weren’t aware isn’t quite truthful, is it? Chalk it up as a lesson learned and ask more questions before applying for another sit.
Hi @Lumpybum I’m sorry your sit left you with such a disappointing feeling. It’s very easy to feel taken advantage of when you’re volunteering but I promise with time that sting does go away and you’ll still have happy memories of the sit.
I read the response and I can understand your feelings however it definitely was just a tongue in cheek response. They do take responsibility and it doesn’t look bad on either side. I’m sure they will learn for the future what to inform sitters.
Personally we are very wary with new homeowners for this exact reason. If they’ve never had a sitter before things get missed and the dynamic can be awkward. With experience we have managed to know what to ask but any hint of a red flag and we withdraw.
Best of luck for your future sits. You will also be better prepared now when talking with future HOs regarding the behaviour of the dogs.
Having now read the full response @Lumpybum they don’t seem unreasonable or cross with you, in fact they sound like nice HOs who acknowledge their boisterous & naughty puppy. However annoying the puppy was, best to avoid “naughty” dogs and puppies and new HOs as @Enjaybee suggests. It also appears they were kind people and left you food to enjoy, picked you up from a station and let you have visitors. #letsleepingdogslie
Other hosts take note - This was a pretty perfect response to the review in my eyes
Maybe it’s difficult for you to see it from that point of view right now @Lumpybum but every sit is an opportunity to learn for both parties. Wishing you many lovely sits ahead x
And yes, it was an excellent response. I actually took a screenshot. Not that our 6 years old very calm lady would do anything like that, but I really liked the tone of the response.
I am not dismissing how you feel. But I would not have read their post in a condescending way at all, they have put their words in a friendly way, so that you didn’t feel bad with what you wrote, and they were showed you total respect in their words, and showed appreciation in many different ways throughout their response.
They worded their response perfectly, when they didn’t have to acknowledge you at all, but they did, and it was in thankful and grateful way.
To be honest, it wouldn’t surprise me if they were on this forum and were initially a little hurt, but then read the appropriate way to respond by the various posts on here. Their response was perfect, light hearted, factual, and took total responsibility for everything that you raised, and worded in a friendly manner. In my eyes their response was lovely, kind, and appreciative towards you. They accepted everything and made you look like a good sitter.
They also gave you 5*'s in their review of you, and I think that speaks volumns.
I haven’t yet read the full review and response, but I can understand where the OP is coming from. Dogs like this are such a handful and take a lot of energy and attention. I do feel that in such situations, because of the amount of stress and work you put in, perhaps the hope for acknowledgement is greater.
I have just finished a similar house sit and the HO has not yet posted a review. This bothers me more than it might otherwise, because I know how much effort this sit took, and so not to receive a review is indicative of a lack of appreciation. It is natural to want to be acknowledged and appreciated, it’s hard work!
OP, I hope you have a better sit now and are able to rest in the knowledge you will never have to encounter this destructive dog again!
