We’re now seeing a constant flow of housesit listings for Christmas 2025. We’ve celebrated the last two festive seasons in Western US and Western Canada. In each case we committed in summertime. Fun times. This year UK beckons.
To our knowledge, Christmas is a time of extreme excess demand for housesitters. Plenty Pet Parents traveling. Some housesitters stay at home. Some pivot from THS to other platforms to receive hearty compensation as festive housesitters.
For those intending to housesit over Christmas, how far in advance do you commit to a housesit? How does your selection criteria, due diligence or other expectations differ for housesits over a Christmas period?
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There have been many years where we intended to stay in our home state to spend the holidays near family so if we saw a Christmas-time sit fairly far ahead that we really liked, we would book it since we know for sure we want to be in the area then.
Right now we don’t have any firm plans to spend the holidays there–I have already seen a couple of sits for the Christmas period–and we probably wouldn’t book anything in any other location yet either since it is so far off.
Between not being attached to being in any one particular location for that time period, and the volume of holiday sits that will be posted over the coming months, I am in no rush to book anything yet.
This year we spent Christmas abroad in London after having entered the UK mid-November. We booked this sit sometime in October after having booked a sit in Scotland about a week prior.
We were still in the US at this time and were scheduled to sit there through mid-November. At the time we saw the Scotland listing, we didn’t have any firm plans about whether we wanted to stay in the US or go abroad again–we were open to either.
The sitting opportunities we see largely shape our travel itinerary. So one day we had no idea where we would end up when our schedule freed up in November again, and by the next week, we had plans to visit Scotland and London.
How far ahead we tend to be booked out depends on a number of factors at a given time; but generally, we usually wouldn’t be booked out 5 months ahead on a regular basis.
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@KC1102, we take similar approach. Though there are exceptions to rule - if we see an especially appealing housesit (location, duration, context).
We find that confirming housesits many months in advance can create cancellation risk. For Christmas 2023 we booked six months out but Pet Parent had fully booked a high-cost trip. All good. For Christmas 2024 we booked several months out but Pet Parents ultimately did not book their flights until November. An anxious learning experience for us so we’d now require flight commitment before sit confirmation.
THS Sit Cancellation Insurance is only effective if cancellation occurs within 14 days of start date (nevermind other conditions)
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I have been seeing southern California Christmas sits for months now. I didn’t apply until recently because i wanted something really special. So i have already booked mine 5 months in advance
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We are on the verge of posting our December 2025 sit. Just firming up our own plans, then we’ll post our home and keep fingers crossed for awesome sitters! 
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As sitters, we’ve been invited to a lot of Christmas sits. Only did one local sit as we had sat for the couple seven times and we were the only sitters they ever had on THS. Now that our families live further away, we’re very open to sits at Christmas. If any homeowners are looking for sitters in the downtown Vancouver area we’re open and available this Christmas!
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I knew I wanted to be near family in Florida for the holidays. About a month ago I saw a 3 week holiday sit which was ten minutes from family with one small dog, I jumped at it and was confirmed. Hosts had great reviews and they are also sitters, so I felt lucky with no need to wait for something better! I can see the higher risks booking so far out, but it seems worth the risk when a sit feels just right. 
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I am enjoying this discussion! I’m going to set up a holiday sit search.
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@Rachael, happy hunting
Today we read a Christmas housesit that contained the dreaded amenities of “basic wifi” and nothing else. Given elevated competition for housesitters over Christmas, and holiday context, this needless laziness seems an own-goal as some tempted housesitters may simply not apply.
Shame that THS does not mandate completion of property amenities for all listings, and especially those over peak demand periods.
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We confirmed our Christmas 2025 sit in February 
this is repeat sit in Guernsey, and actually pretty long one, 4 months. We spent over 2 months there last year and we loved it, fantastic sit. Last year we wanted to be in London for Christmas - we lived there for a long time and it was a great opportunity to be close to our parents. We found a great sit there around the summertime and it worked perfectly for us.
We are booked till the Feb 2026 at the moment but just accepted another repeat sit for April/May next year.
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I have done 2 Christmas sits, 2023 (my first ever sit) and 2024. I enjoyed them both immensely. In fact I cried when I left last years 2 Collies and fluffy white cat.
But this year, my plans are different. to quote OP “Some pivot from THS to other platforms to receive hearty compensation as festive housesitters.”
That will likely be me. But never say never, if the right sit came along on THS that ticked all my boxes, I may take it.
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Congratulations. This seems a fabulous reason for a housesit. While some sits provide opportunity for bold adventure then some bring sheer joy.
That you completed a two-month housesit over Christmas and, by February, had already signed up for four-months the following year suggests a wonderful fit with pet parents and pets, and a fair trade. Congrats.
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@RedLassie, we know people that have done this. Those that were able to charge handsome fees had already established positive reviews. And some have ended up with more pets, greater responsibilities or other matters that were beyond average housesit. So perhaps, for some, just a different form of trade - more work but compensated. Good luck!
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Last year I was in Jeju Island Korea when I applied to a Sydney sit over Xmas. That would have been 2 months prior. The Xmas before that, we confirmed a Singapore sit and that was 4 months beforehand.
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For the first time ever we hope to go on holiday over Christmas and the New Year. I put the dates on the site a couple of weeks ago but have had no response. Have others secured sitters over the festive period ? Need to book the holiday but dare not do so until we are assured of sitters. Jean PS We have lots of positive reviews.
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I’m just negotiating a Xmas sit in Jersey… dates etc
Hi @jeangriggs
Your home and dogs look lovely but competition over the holiday period is fierce.
More people are looking for sitters than usual, but fewer sitters are available than usual, as not all sitters choose to sit over this time.
With five dogs, yours is not going to be seen as the easiest sit out there, so you have to sell it the best you can.
Do you have a car that sitters could use? maybe promise ‘food in the fridge’ or pay for a Christmas dinner at the local pub? Will the house be decorated? Do you have a Christmassy photo of your home or pets to use as your main photo?
There is plenty of time, so no need to panic yet, but this is about the time the majority of sitters start to get booked up, so now is the time to make your listing shine!
Good Luck 
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I agree with @Colin and would add that if you are open to a family sitting for you mention that as well. Plenty of rooms available and more people means more cuddles and attention for your lovely dogs.
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Great tip @Twitcher !
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