One can see just today how the topics resurface and/or are quickly shifted to off experiences that are basically individual preferences or petty annoyances that can be easily overlooked or noted without adding a lot of “me too” or adding more of what has already been discussed.
For me, the purpose of a community is to build it favorably in a respectful manner. To share ideas and discuss how we can make things better so it benefits all the members.
That means we can all bring things to the communal table. We leave it there for those who wish, take what we need and leave what someone else might enjoy.
It’s really very simple to some but can be very complex for others.
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@Amparo it’s wonderful to hear your words of wisdom. You have been missed! 
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One, I never left it unkept, but I also think that I am providing a service, walking dogs every 4 hours. My hosts, are very happy that I leave everything very neat and pretty clean. Appreciate that I took very good care of their dogs. I understand that if I was caring for cats and didn’t spend 5 man hours a day looking after the pets, but when you spend 5 man hours a day, every day you are there, taking care of their dogs, they don’t expect you to clean the bathroom.
I have to ask, how do you spend five man hours a day looking after dogs?
We have looked after some very needy dogs and not got even close to 5 hours work a day. And my thoughts on the bathroom, if you use it, you clean it
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While I agree with your core opinion – THS provides an even exchange and introduces sitters and homeowners into relationships – your wording could use some work so that you don’t sound like you are dictating or shoving your views down everyone’s throats. Forums serve many purposes. Those who complain and raise problems are just as welcome as those looking for camaraderie.
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I joined TH to travel! I’m a single individual with a single income, so its a nice way for me to travel and explore different areas on more of a budget, which I need as mentioned above. YET, its a win win as I love all animals and dont have any of my own, so I use TH for BOTH travel and my love of animals. I do also feel there are some very negative responses on this forum and I certainly try not to be one of them, I try to be empathetic to both sides of the coin. If I were the homeowner, how would I feel about this?? When someone posted “what things would you find unacceptable from a pet sitter” I did post, well what about “what things would you not put up with from a home owner” as I felt that was quite one sided, but it was not my intention to be negative or hurtful, just show that there are two sides to that! Anyhoo, I enjoy the forum and learn from it and will continue to come here and read what you fine folks have to say. Cheers to all!
I appreciate you starting this forum. I think everyone has views of how they sit and how good or not good they are as sitters, or HO. I use the service to do long stays in LA, where my kid is in school. So when I had to move her stuff into storage for the summer, when I have to go back in Aug, and move her stuff back into a USC apt, I have sits. It saves me thousands. But I am not looking to go touring. So my experience is very different. People want me because of how I take care of their dogs, I think. And I am an older widow who is not partying. One of the sits, just got a new large puppy. I am willing to spend 5 man hours a day making sure there are no accidents with that puppy. In exchange for having a place in the LA area.
With young dogs, I drove them to the dog run at least once a day, spent at least an hour there, throwing the ball. Large puppies have a lot of energy. They went for a walk at least 4 other times. The owners told me they had to be walked every 3 to 4 hours. I have had other owners at the dog run ask me to sit their dogs, so I think I am doing a decent job. And the owners have told me that many sitters come, and they have only taken care of small dogs, don’t walk larger dogs long enough. Smaller dogs usually don’t need that much. Neighbors comment how well I take care of the dogs. But having been a dog owner, I focus on the dog needs. And they are giving me 5 stars without cleaning the bathroom. And have asked me back. I think if I was taking care of cats, I would expect to do more housecleaning as cats are minimal care. You can feed a cat in the morning and go off and do a day tour. You cannot do that with dogs.
Ah, my definition of work is different to yours. That’s where the confusion is.
We mainly look after big dog breeds - Labrador retrievers, pointers, collies etc - specifically because they need lots of exercise. I walk at least six miles a day even when I am not looking after dogs. To me that is not work. It is the joy of being alive.
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