There was a sit listed last year where the puppy wasn’t yet born and would be 14 weeks and crate trained by the time of the sit. The puppy who again I repeat was not yet born or seen or collected by the HOs was described as ‘will be fully trained to a crate, fully continent/house trained’ …..
Who buys a puppy then plans to be away for a month…..?
I was actually invited back because owner knows I am responsible, When the going gets tough, toughen up, roll your sleeves up, and do what you came to do.
currently on my 59th sit, this will be my 60th. I have never ever bailed out.
It does happen, some breeders have really great pairings, aren’t sure if the breeding will take or not, and have long waiting lists. So sometimes it’s like 'surprise, you’ll have a pup because 2 hopefuls ahead of you had to bow out…
But those breeders would usually take a 14 week old back for a short time.
If it were me, I’d cancel the trip. Such a special bonding time with a baby pup I wouldn’t want to miss it.
Also crate trained, maybe true if the breeder starts it and Ho follows through. Fully housebroken? Impossible. Most dogs can’t fully hold it until they are several months old so that’s untrue. You’d be running a 14 week old outside every 20-30 minutes while they were awake and active.
We agreed to sit one older retriever. Then was asked if we would be ok with 2 new kittens. We’ve owned kittens (long time ago) so we thought sure, that will be fine. Later thought we have agreed to pets that are an unknown . Luckily they were so adorable I would have kept them and still think about them fondly. Could have turned out different though.
To OP question, we answer ‘no’. But shortly before start date of a confirmed housesit in Schengen area (months after confirmation), we were contacted by pet parent to advise us that they had just adopted a stray puppy and was that ok with us? Gulp. After questions, we did progress and worked out fine but could have been a disaster.
I love this @RedLassie - what a great opportunity. I’m so envious that you’ll get to bottle feed the lambs! Please feel free to share any photos and updates!
I accepted a sit with 7 puppies (their parents, 4 rabbits, a gecko, a bearded dragon, & assorted poultry). The puppies were expected to be 3 months old when I took the sit, but timing was wrong and they were 6 weeks old. HOs offered me the opportunity to withdraw but I continued and had a great time. The house was well-arranged for managing the puppies. I don’t know that I’d sit 7 puppies again, but this experience was good.
Several years ago, I had a short ‘in-between’ sit in the UK and the puppies were late and the HO wasn’t traveling far and would stop back to care for them instead of having a sitter. Instead, she offered me the opportunity to sit for her parents nearby and their pups. I did get to meet the puppies and they were very small so it worked out well.
I was confirmed and traveling to a sit, when two days before I arrived the HO messaged me that their female dog was pregnant and might have the puppies on my sit. I was flabbergasted. First, I was never told that the female was pregnant and now so close to my arrival that she might give birth on my watch. I gave it some thought and spoke to friends and family. I decided that I would go through with the sit even though the HO never offered me an out. I was somewhat nervous because though I had grown up with mama cats giving birth to kittens, I had never had the same experience with puppies. Fortunately, she gave birth a couple days after my sit and the HO was kind enough to send some pics.
On another note, I was not told until I arrived that this was the female’s 4th expected litter and she was only two years old. I felt sorry for the young lady dog as she was small and carrying a heavy load and way too young to be on her fourth litter.
The bottom line was that I felt it was disingenuous to not have told me that one of the HO’s dogs was pregnant until two days before my arrival. And I don’t think they would have told me at all before I arrived except for the fact that the vet told them new due dates.
Don’t people think it’s important to tell a sitter if one of their animals is pregnant??
That was not cool on the HOs part at all. Did you include any of this info in your review @Treen-Bean? I think it could be addressed under communication and/or accuracy of listing.
Beyond important ! It says a lot about the HO’s and their concern/care for their animals (A 2yo on her 4th litter !!!?!!! Disgusting. BYB’s ?) and about their honesty.
This definitely would have gone into my review with at least a few stars knocked off for the pet section.
Nope, nor me.
. Luckily they were so adorable I would have kept them and still think about them fondly. Could have turned out different though.
and was that ok with us? Gulp. After questions, we did progress and worked out fine but could have been a disaster.
