Hi @doglover24 wow what a thoughtful beautiful gesture you did for your sitters. I would have been extremley touched and very appreciative if I was your sitter. I’m sorry to hear you felt unappreciated. I hope they at least thanks you for all your hard work.
I had Christmas at one of my regular PP’S homes. It was the 3rd time I sat for them and they left me nothing. Not a card, present, nothing. They didnt even get their 2 cats Christmas presents! Whats up with that
I agree with everyone else. I would have sent you a private message or phoned you after the sit to thank you but not mention any of the gifts on the review. Its not the time and place for it…
Hi Doglover,
If they did not even leave a thank you card, with words of appesiation then I would not have them back either. Just plain mean sprited. I frequently leave a card even if nothing left for me. Some home owners are far more generous than others. I would definitely always show my appreciation to those who have been welcoming and very generous, with food/gifts left.
That’s lovely that you enjoyed it and that you showed your appreciation for your sitter’s additional efforts. It really makes all the difference so thank you.
I can only imagine how disheartening that must have felt. I sincerely hope that I get to experience your warm and generous hospitality on one of my future sits. I agree with the general comments that perhaps they didn’t mention the gifts as they didn’t want to create an expectation for other sitters, and personal note of their appreciation would have been appropriate. I guess this is a case of different strokes for different folks.
Hi
Please try again with another sitter at Christmas. We just did a short Christmas sit and I was quite sad. The “ luxury” apartment was a student dive. No glasses just a couple of jars, no side plates everything needed to be washed before I could eat off it. Definitely the sort of place you pass through hopefully in life. it was dark/ dirty and horrible. It was Christmas and too depressing to spend time in so we took the pet with us and did our best to enjoy the neighborhood which was very pleasant. I spent hours with their pet that was completely untrained working on some basic commands. The HO were sweet ( young) folk who really appreciated us. But our Christmas experience really sucked! I would definitely re think doing a Christmas sit. As I sat in church Christmas Eve I said to myself well Jesus was born in a stable so what do I have to complain about? I tried to talk myself into being appreciative but it was hard.
So if I had been at your house and the recipient of your thoughtfulness it would have been lovely.
I’m quite new to this site. I am a professional but I find the attitude of some HO very strange. I met a HO recently who didn’t want my husband to enter as she didn’t want too much wear on her house. There was a pool and hot tub I couldn’t use…. Lots of rules. Including only allowed to leave pet 3 hours/day. Well then get out your wallet lady and pay someone as I’m not your personal slave. She couldn’t understand why I wasn’t interested in sitting for her. HO have rules often like no guests so it’s not equivalent to me renting a place. HO are not providing that level of “exchange”. I live in a luxury ocean front house. When I have people look after my pets I’m delighted for them to have family and friends join them. I’m 60 as is my husband. If I had friends over we would be playing cards/ games This has to be a win/win I’ve had one very pleasant sit but as a sitter and HO I feel like there needs to be respect given on both sides. Thank you for trying to be so thoughtful. Please keep trying.
sorry this happened, we love it when we go to a Christmas sit and the decorations are up and it’s a bonus if the owners leave us pressies, and for their pets too, we take photo’s and send them of their pets with their pressies and us too. I always leave a thank you in the feedback for the thoughtful gifts, I don’t put what the gifts were, I did in the early days, ppl can get a bit funny about it, however thanking them for being so thoughtful is polite. I usually leave a hand written card and if we have time a small handmade gift of cookies or home cooked meal and home made dog biscuits etc.
I have had numerous house/ dog sits the last year or so. I use my house as a VRBO type situation where the home is spotlessly clean, well stocked with essentials, comfortable beds, etc… From my understanding of Trusted Housesitters you let people into your home free to use during their stay and have them take care of the pets. I do not go over and beyond… I feel this is not required. Sometimes I will ask them to come a day early to meet the dogs and show them around the property and fix them a meal, or if it’s late when I return they can stay a night to get an early start back home. If I feel they did a great job I will give them a generous tip. I do not expect anymore of the sitters, and they shouldn’t expect more from me. It’s a fair exchange. The sitters get to stay in a fantastic, comfortable home surrounded by beautiful scenery, etc… and well behaved dogs, and I get someone I feel I can trust to take great care of my dogs. It’s pretty much like a vacation away from home , with fun dogs to enjoy. I thank each sitter numerous times that they picked my home to come sit and that I appreciate it very much. All of my sitters have enjoyed their stays here.
That does sound unappreciative, but just to offer another possible perspective: did they definitely know the gifts were for them? We’ve had hosts kindly leave things before but not tell us they were for us. Unless that’s explicit, we don’t touch them; we feel it would be inappropriate to ask, and we don’t want to assume.
Sounds Amazing all that trouble you went to Wow how lucky were your sitters Yes rude rude rude of them not to thank you but in the spirit of the Season really at Christmas isnt it all about giving without expectations ? Give yourself a pat on the back for the lovely effect you created there for your sitters and know that you just created paying good karma forwards for yourself…I often find when I do something really nice for someone the Universe finds a way to flow something nice my way from some other direction .It doesnt always come by way of direct response from the people I did good stuff for but it happens
Similiar to other sitters, I haven’t mentioned larger gifts or generosities that HOs have done for me so as not to put pressure on them to do the same for every sitter moving fwd. I’ve had HOs continue their meal services during my sits and offer me to use them up, cook the meals which I have an enjoyed, but they may not choose to keep doing that for every sit.
But I for sure make sure to thank the HOs for any extra special gifts or tokens or services (even if they have the cleaners come before or during my stay) - how appreciative we are.
I also felt unappreciated recently, where I went out of my way - extended the person’s stay, allowed them to leave bags, amongst other things, and they didn’t bother to leave a review. For our next short trip I’m getting in a local hourly sitter - it’s too much hassle at times with all the cleaning etc and hard to say if it’s better for the cat!
But on the plus side, apparently doing acts of kindness without return contributes to improved health (for BBC Sounds Listeners, Michael Mosley on kindness!) so I’ll go with that…Hope you had a lovely xmas !
Oh dear…I would have felt disappointed too. Reviews are so important on both sides I feel. If i had been you I would have expected a lovely long well typed review.
Don’t let it upset you though, you were very kind and considerate
My host gave us a bag of chocolate as a welcome gift, and we left a cat toy with a thank-you card. Both of us didn’t mention anything about the gifts in the comments. Your sitter taking good care of your pets and house is the best feedback! So don’t feel sad if gifts aren’t mentioned in the comments.
