Hello! I’ve just signed up to THS and have made my first listing (not published yet). I’m worried because I have dog with separation anxiety/isolation distress and at present she cannot be left alone (we are in painstaking training). This is obviously quite a restriction on the sitter – do you think there’s likely to be anyone who’d willing to take this on? Otherwise she’s a lovely dog and I live in a great spot 
Can she go with the sitter if they venture out and about?
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It may limit who applies but can the dog go out and about with the sitter as this will make a difference. It may be worth specifying a couple of family so at least if shopping needs doing someone else can stay with the dog.
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I strongly suggest a couple or family and that you offer to hire a dog sitter for them to occasionally have some free time. I once had to care for a dog with separation anxiety and it was a nightmare. I was basically under house arrest because I wasn’t in a dog friendly country. I was sitting solo so grocery shopping was nuts. I had to tie the dog out front and he’d howl and bark while I sprinted in for a quick shop and apologized to everyone for the disturbance.
The HOs didn’t tell me until the day before I arrived that apparently they’d been threatened with eviction because their dog barked constantly while they were gone. I should have cancelled as it drastically changed the sit but I settled on them giving me access to someone else that they would pay for so I could go and be dog free for a couple hours on two occasions. It was not worth it.
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On occasions we have taken on severely anxious dogs because we’d love to help out the owners, and we have a soft spot for those dogs that need-need us. But we couldn’t do it week in week out, we’d be exhausted when it’s not our own dog.
Also you have only mentioned the bad bit about her, but as a sitter I’d probably weigh up if she has other things going in her favour. For example is she little and lightweight and loves going to cafes? Does she love being outdoors, does she get along with people, does she love other dogs, does she walk beautifully on a leader.
But if I were you, I would try to ask a family member or neighbour to possibly take care of her for a say 4 hours to let the sitter have a break. That way you’ll have a better chance of success.
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A good advice would be to put yourself in the shoes of your sitter when you write your profile and what you ask for there.
As said above, a couple or a family would probably be best. For a solo sitter it would be «house arrest» and I at least will not take on such a sit.
Are there opportunities to explore with the dog? Any dogfriendly cafes/ restaurants/ activities where one can bring the dog?
Can someone you know dog-sit a few hours as mentioned by others? Or a dog-care Where you can supply a few hours so the sitters can go for an outing?
If some of this is possible it will widen your pool of possible sitters.
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Hi @Loobyloo
Whilst it sounds a little restrictive on the face of it, when I think back to the sits that I have done, I’ve actually barely been separated from the dogs that I’ve looked after for the duration of the sits. Perhaps I’m the one with separation anxiety!
If your dog is happy and confident to be out and about with a sitter, and the area is appealing, then as long as you’re up-front about the potential limitations of the sit, along with your expectations, then I don’t think it’s necessarily a deal-breaker.
Good luck!
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I agree that it will exclude some sitters but if people can still have a good time, and can take the dog out, there are dog-friendly locations to go to, your home is nice, you’ll still get sitters.
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Welcome @Loobyloo
When you created your listing you probably indicated that your dog can’t be left alone ( there’s a section for this information)
However, what most newbies don’t realise is that this information won’t be visible when you do publish your listing . ( it’s only there for THS to collect data )
So you also need to write this information into your introduction and the responsibilities section . That way only sitters who are ok with this will apply .
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Yes I have put it under a please note section in responsibilities!
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Yes she can, and there’s plenty dog-friendly cafes, pubs and shops nearby, and even a dog-friendly restaurant.
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Yes she can absolutely go out and about with the sitter, even into the city to explore Edinburgh’s historic areas, and there’s plenty of dog-friendly cafes and pubs close by.
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Oh dear 
Sounds pretty much like my life!! Except that my area is very dog-friendly and there are plenty cafes, bars and shops that are dog-friendly, and I would have people who could come a few times a week to take Mabel out and give the sitter a break and to go grocery shopping etc.
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Unfortunately the sit would be for four weeks so that I can go and visit family in Australia. I do have neighbours who can help out, and take Mabel out for walks and etc to give the sitter a break. What do you mean by 4 hours? A day? Because that wouldn’t be possible 
I live in a really great area, 20 minutes from Edinburgh City Centre, and we have lots of dog-friendly cafes and pubs etc just three minutes walk from the house. Mabel is not a small dog, but she does well going to pubs and cafes. She’s a Romanian rescue dog and very beautiful!
Yes I have been very honest in my profile, and outlined the issue and the restrictions. I am well aware what I am asking as I’ve lived with this situation for two years 
As a result I haven’t been away on holiday for a long time!
There are definitely opportunities to go out exploring the city with the dog, Edinburgh is a very dog-friendly city, and my neighbourhood has lots of dog-friendly cafes and bars, even a bistro called ‘Sip & Bark’ dedicated to dogs and their owners! So there’s no need to be under ‘house arrest’ as such.
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Thank you Becca, that’s given me some encouragement! I’m feeling defeated before I’ve even publishing the profile 
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Yes people can still have a good time, I have a lovely wee cottage-style home in a conservation area, close to all the amenities you could want, dog-friendly cafes/shops/pubs/restaurants etc and 20 minutes walk into Edinburgh City Centre. So there are upsides, you just have to take the dog with you
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That will make a massive difference. We’re always a little disappointed when owners say a dog can’t go out and about beyond their normal walks because they would be scared or something similar. The joy for us when sitting dogs is being able to take them out with us. I think you’ll be absolutely fine finding - as long as you are totally upfront about the dog being left but make clear all the positive things you’ve described I’d be very surprised if you don’t find someone.
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I haven’t visited Edinburgh yet but it’s on my list and I am sure that a month long sit in Edinburgh will be a great opportunity for someone.
It may suit a remote worker - who will be home working during the day . Is your pup ok while they work online or will she be vocal and want to be part of the teams meetings and zoom calls ?
I have worked from “home” on many sits with a dog asleep at my feet but have also read of sitters trying to work whilst a nervous dog was howling , barking or otherwise demanding attention and making it impossible for the sitter to work .
If she’s happy just to be nearby an human and will sleep while they work mention that in your listing and a digital nomad or remote worker may apply .
The offer of someone else to have the dog while the sitter goes out a couple of times a week for several hours of free time is a good idea and will make the sit more of an equal exchange .
How do you do your grocery shopping , does your dog come with you or do you get deliveries ? All practical things that a sitter would need to know .
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We’re a couple and have sat for dogs with separation anxiety. The owner made it clear from the start and several times there after we gotta be home 24/7 (Maybe they couldn’t believe that someone would apply for the sit). At that time, we had a sit cancellation with no notice from another owner and I was working full time from home so we took that sit. It was one of the best sits we did and I still remember the time fondly. The dogs were super cute and the owner was very nice. It was however only for 10 days or so and staying home one weekend was no big deal for us. 4 weeks not so sure. The owner had arranged a dog walker twice a week for an hour for us but it didn’t do much as it was during my working hours so i was home anyway and even if I wasn’t working, 1 hour is quite short time to do anything. If it was a longer sit, daycare arrangement would be much better so sitter can enjoy a day a week(?) to go around dog free. That is if you can’t find anyone. You may find some family/couple who work from home full time and don’t mind going out separately. It all depends on the other merits such as locations you can offer I guess. Good luck finding the right sitter for you.
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