I have just spent time applying for a sit where the homeowner who did not initially state this in her original post has told me that her pet cannot be left alone at all and that I should not consider the sit as a holiday so therefore I was being unreasonable in hoping to get in 3-4 few hours sightseeing and shopping perhaps several times a week on a sit.
Naturally I passed and this owner has decided to get a couple in to sit so someone can be with her pooch at all times . I guess this will work for her but I was left uninspired by this persons disregard for the sitters human needs and her recognition of the valuable services a sitter provides at no actual cost .
I have gathered over 40 now 5 star reviews working two different agencies and would generally try to have a few days out a week with 3-4 hours away from the pet However in some cases especially without a car and being dependent on public transport timetables the homeowners have been perfectly reasonable and understanding if time away for the pet has run to 5 or 6 hours
I am always mindful of the pets being home alone while Iâm out and depending on the personality of the pet I make adjustments and will sometimes catch expensive taxis and ubers to get home earlier .I also make it a policy only to work for reasonable people properly centred in their humanity who can consider a sitters humanity and needs as every bit as important and valid to be considered as their pets and who recognize that a sitter is actually providing their valuable services without which homeowners could not take their trips away .for no actually monetary cost
A homeowner can make any rules they want in regard to their pet, itâs up to a sitter as to whether those terms are acceptable or not. I suspect this host will have a difficult time filling their sit given those restrictions and perhaps they will re-evaluate what they are expecting of a sitter and while not acknowledging they are completely unreasonable, they may understand the need to adjust in order to obtain free pet care.
Well itâs dependent on finding a match between sitter and HO. On a recent sit we were mostly at home with the dogs or walking with them or taking them with us to visit an elderly uncle (the purpose of our visit to the location) I think we left them alone on two occasions only. Our sits arenât holidays, weâre not tourists, weâre visiting nearby family⌠and so long as the HO is happy for them to go where we go (we ask specifically) when weâre out and about itâs a great match.
I think itâs harder maybe to find stay at home sitters but lots of sitters who simply want a change of home scene or wfh wonât find a sit like this too onerous.
What did the owner state in the original post for the length of time the dog can be left ? Did they originally state up to 4 hours in the responsibility section and later told you that that the dog can never be left at all ? If thatâs the case I can see why it felt like a bit of a bait-and-switchâthatâs frustrating.
On the bright side, itâs really good you found out before confirming the sit. Now youâre free to look for something thatâs a much better fit for you.
On the topic of dogs that can never be left alone thereâs a subtle difference between dogs that can come everywhere with you and those who canât be taken everywhere and also canât be left alone . Some sitters enjoy sits where the dog can come along with them wherever they go.
Thatâs true. But that said, itâs also true that the time pets can be left is now a compulsory part of the listing so there must have been a misrepresentation of requirements, which apart from making applicants waste their time is a big red flag, paired with the âyou should not consider this as a holidayâ entitled tone.
Yes this was the conclusion I came to that they needed a sitter with a car who could take the dog with them wherever they went and she came to the conclusion she would look for a couple so one of them could be with the dog at all times
.However I have to say with the newly worded post the HO put up after had she had spoken with me it seemed so demanding and unreasonable and OTT and telliing me the job was not a holiday didnt exactly inspire me . I figured what she required is actually a paid pet nanny .Definately not the right fit for me
Curious if she is a new host or has reviews visible. The fact that she called it a job says she has no idea what THS is about. I saw a sit that looked good to me but it said pet can only be left alone for two hours. I didnât apply because it did not seem like a fair exchange to me. Does the sit you saw really has the host never leaving the dog home alone, I doubt it.
Itâs up to them, I think itâs totally acceptable for an HO to ask for their pet to never be left alone, as long as they realise there will only be a tiny amount of THS sitters who will accept those needs (if any, in their particular area).
Itâs not a win-win scenario for us personally, we like a cafe, or a pub meal, or a short outing.
We love spending loads our time with pets, but weâve only done 1 sit where the pet could be left for 2hrs, two sits where the pets could be left for 3hrs, but usually we stick to ones where the pets can be left for a minimum of 4 hours. Thatâs the sweet spot for us.
What you are talking about is a little too gimme-gimme-gimme in my eyes, and we wouldnât sit for anyone that expected me and my partner to split up to do shopping etc, itâs just not us, we sit together, we walk dogs together, we also do the shopping together, unless itâs a little corner shop, thatâs just us, and we like the way we are. But the HO can ask for what they want, itâs their pet, their needs.
It sounded like the Home Owner was totally besotted with her pet and took him everywhere with her and doted on him you know like in the movies where besotted pet owners leave their million dollar fortunes to their dogs or cats It was that sort of OTT vibe and ridiculousness I personally have no time for
I wonder if some HOs using the arrival/departure times feature realize they are limiting applications from good sitters. Iâm finding that some think it refers to THEIR arrival/departure times, and then you talk to them and theyâre far more flexible than that. Especially related to cats, of course.
First of all, this isnât âworkâ or a âjob. Itâs an exchange. So if listing doesnât appeal to you, and/or you donât think the exchange is fair or reasonable, there is no point in arguing. Just donât apply. In the latest version the amount of time the pet can be left alone canât be left blank. Do not apply to listings that donât appeal to you. Do not accept a sit without you applied for without a chat to confirm the conditions and responsbilities.
Hi Wendy, I do not apply for any sits that say a pet can only be left two hours or less.
Most owners arer lovely but you do get the odd one that seem to treat you as if you are some upaid slave, and lower than their paid for cleaner and gardener etc. To say you should not consider it as a holiday rather impliers that you are thought of as an unpaid slave. I consider all m y sits as holidays, although some have been more of a chore than a holiday. I do frequently take any dogs out with me all day, especially if in scenic locations like coast paths or moorland etc. There are times however where I like to explore on my own, especially if looking around intersting craft centres, art galleries and small gift shops etc. And if I need to go to a supermarket where you cannot take dogs I do not want to be rushing back, especially if in or near an interesting old town that would be nice to explore. But since TH introduced the section, where owners say how long a pet can be left, I have seen more saying a max. of two hours and they all seem to say nil applicants. Definitely a couple I would have applied for, if not for this two hour or less restriction listed.
Actually as i stated in my post the owner was not forthcoming in her original post about what her expectations were about not leaving the pet alone otherwise I would not have applied
A good point I usually let homeowners know because I depend on public transport to get from A-B my usual âom âat the end of a sit is to leave their home by noon if possible . If they ar enot getting back until super late I might be able to stretch it out til 2.00pm or 3pm but thats rare and I have found HOs to be super flexible and understanding .
Yes Visit it makes me wonder if the home owners themselves NEVER go out at all leaving their dog alone for more than 2 hours ? Sounds like a very restrictive lifestyle if so
I agree the opportunity to do a bit of sight seeing and explore and experience the neighbourhood you are staying in is an integral part of what makes unpaid housesitting
viable for a sitter