First time with THS. We’re getting concerned about few responses. One sitter wants to bring her own small dog, which in the listing we said is not ok. Our pets are not used to other pets. They’re eager to please their humans so it could work but they’re both over 10 and it would be hard on them to make room for another critter. Does anyone have experience with a sitter’s pet in this situation? She’d be coming from far away and we are going far away so we need to guess right.
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@eljay, welcome to THS Forum and THS community. We’re housesitters rather than owners but thought jump on with a few pointers.
First, it is our impression that very very few housesitters ask to bring their own pets. It does happen but it is a rare request. Provided that you are not struggling with applicants then it would seem unnecessary to prioritize an early applicant that planned to bring their own pet (given you expressly deemed this ‘not ok’). Perhaps patience is in order.
Second, you can state prohibitions in listing. Pet Parent listings are welcome to place limitations on applicants (e.g. demographic, experience, otherwise). This upfront direction can help to reach a great win-win. But it may inherently narrow the pool of applicants.
Good luck!
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If you don’t feel comfortable, don’t do it! It’s your pet, your home, your rules for what you want and don’t want. It’s as simple as that, and we’re sitters 
You know what is best for your pets, no-one else. Those sitters that have their own dog sometimes get sits where there is farmland, or with younger dogs who love the extra company, among other places.
Yours doesn’t sound like a good match at all, there’s someone better suited to you and your dogs.
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It is pretty cheeky of a sitter to ask if they can bring their pet when you specifically said it was not OK in the listing. Pushing your boundaries like that would be enough of a red flag for me to decline this applicant.
It is perfectly acceptable - and very common - for homeowners not to want other pets in their houses. I understand that restriction, especially when you have elderly pets. I am a HO and sitter and would not allow a sitter to bring their pet because my cat would hate it.
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@eljay you know your pets best and it’s very reasonable not to want any unfamiliar pets to stay .
I’ve read your listing through ( 3 times ) and I can’t see where you have stated that you don’t want a sitter to bring their pet with them . Maybe check your listing to see if you have definitely added that , because I can’t see it there .
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From my experience over two sits, applicants have by and large asked if something is ok even if it’s clearly listed as not ok in the listing, making their application a complete waste of time for both parties.
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Did you specifically mention this in your listing text? If you just checked the box in your profile listing where it asks whether pets are OK, that is not enough. That does not transfer to the listing that sitters see (don’t ask me why THS asks for this information if they aren’t going to show it in the listing. It is a ridiculous and misleading step)
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Helpful, I’ll change it. Thanks.
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@eljay if you stated no other animals in your listing, there’s a red flag in two ways.
- They didn’t read your listing before applying. Hmmm.
- They did read it and think you didn’t mean it. LOL.
Either way, I’d decline the sitter on that alone.
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You are under no obligation to accept someone because they apply. If you don’t want other pets, just decline the sitter and tell them politiely that it’s not a good match. Sitters apply to multiple sits and don’t get every sit they apply to. You not only have the right to find someone you are comfortable with who suits the needs of your pets and your household, but “vetting” on both sides is how the site works.
There are very few sitters who sit with their own pets and they manage to find sits where this is accepted. That doesn’t mean you have to accept it.
If you aren’t getting many applications and you are afraid this is your only choice, that is not IMO a valid reason to accept it. Listen to your gut. You can use a forum thread to work on your listing and make it more attractive to sitters to get more applicants.
Updating: Just took a look at your listing. It’s a longish sit in a very cold place! Some sitters might be put off by the dog breed although I think it’s probably fine for most sitters used to “strong” breeds, but you could say a little something more about the dog’s behavior on the leesh and around other dogs. Because it’s a longer sit you might consider adding if the dates could be broken up eg if someone could do most but not all of the sit. I would also consider looking at other options, for instance, this might work for a local student or graduate student if you contacted university housing.
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It sounds like you might be wavering on your valid and acceptable request for your potential sitter to not bring their pets.
Please Don’t !
You have every right to make requests for the safety and harmony of your home and pets. The fact that you state that sitters’ pets are not acceptable and they STILL ask says much about the fact that they either don’t read well or that they’re testing your boundaries. In either case it is a red (or at least yellow) flag about these applicants. If they don’t respect your requests now, what will they push while you’re away ?
Please continue your search and stand by your requirements. Good luck with finding a great sitter !
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You don’t say how long ago you published your dates. If that was recently, having a “few responses” for the dead of winter in MSP is a good sign and you’re probably fine waiting for a better fitting applicant. It’s the bird in hand vs 2 in the bush conundrum.
If you have responses, either decline their application or setup a chat to start moving forward. Do NOT wait for more applicants.
Do NOT accept an applicant asking to bring their own pet. You were specific about that not being an option and they either ignored you or did not read your short profile. Neither is a good sign. Stick with applicants with all signs being “go”.
Finally, I would suggest changing your opening line and dropping “who can finally escape Minnesota winters”. THS sit profiles are a bit of a beauty contest and highlighting facial warts isn’t usually a good strategy.
Good suggestion. Done! None of the 3 applicants will work. One is not responding to messages, one wants to bring her dog, and one is interested in our house for the summer, not for the dates we need.
Do you have internet access? Many sitters will skip listings without it.
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I suggest declining the three you have now since you won’t choose any of them. That way it will show 0 and will allow 5 more to choose from. Also, I think the sitters would appreciate letting them know instead of them being hopeful.
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I didn’t realize I could do that. I have so much to learn. Thank you
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