It’s easy to avoid sharing sensitive info if you send a welcome guide using Word, Google Docs or such. You can send such welcome guides early, minus passwords, etc., and share that info later. Similarly, you can update your WGs even if you use the THS platform.
Some sitters make expectations clear at the outset that they will need the welcome guide well ahead of the sit.
Personally, I will not make travel arrangements without having received a WG. In one case, I withdrew once I discovered via the WG that a host had withheld info earlier about a dog who needed letting out overnight and another who was prone to diarrhea. In another case, I asked a question and helped the host realize that he’d sent me an old version, because they’d moved units in a high-rise apartment building and he’d sent the old address.
I also expect the WG to be sent right away. It’s nice when people who use Word or Google docs send it before confirmation, although I’ve only had that happen a couple times. But I do request it as soon as I accept the sit. I won’t make plans to travel anywhere until I have the address and WG.
Here’s my quandary I like the home and dogs, I like the Home Owner on a video call and when I asked politely for more info she explained shes in France at present. The very strong single review is also confirming that things should go well.
The Home owner has suggested I get in touch with the housekeeper if I need to know anything more. The Home Owners are meeting me at the bus stop as arranged.
When the sit was agreed the Home Owner wanted me to stay on for an extra week. This was because the housekeeper preferred to return on a direct flight. She wanted me to change the dates but I explained that was something only the Home Owner could do as it’s their property. I screen shot the procedure to help the Home Owner who managed to make the necessary alterations herself.
It appears that The Home Owner is uncomfortable with IT. They are not alone there.
I will definitely need quite a lengthy induction if the material isn’t written down somewhere. I may be able to help the Home Owner as from the records they’ve only had one sitter. Maybe they normally use the housekeeper?
No doubt more will be revealed on meeting each other. All may be well but I’d prefer preparation and planning to be clearly in place and few, if any, surprises.
I wouldn’t recommend this to an inexperienced sitter but I have 25 reviews and know what I am about.
I don’t have Google Docs or Word and I am not very tech. I do talk to my prospective sitters and hope I am open and honest with them. There are no hidden secrets or chores or problems in my guide, just details of where everything is, when the bins go out etc. The passwords are not given until they arrive and they are on separate instructions like how to set the alarm system which I also discuss before they accept. I am sorry that some people have been badly let down but I am on my 21st sitter and not had one single complaint so I must be doing something right.
I have had this issue many times. Once it was quite bad. While the HO told me in our zoom meeting that their dog was fine for 4-5 hours alone I discovered in the welcome guide after committing to the sit that actually it was only an hour! And he chewed everything. I immediately called membership and told them I would not be doing the sit. You cannot retroactively change an agreement. There was no way I was going to be able to do that. I then told the HO I would not be able to sit for them. I did not have a problem with membership at all. They totally understood.
How about when they refuse to supply the WG on the platform and ask you to just wait and read their print out? Then you get there and it’s five walks a day, dog poops everywhere etc.
@Itchyfeet Yes, we discuss the WG during the video chat and indicate that we’d like it within two days of confirming. If that doesn’t happen, we’ve sent a gentle reminder and we’ve gotten it that day. So far, that method has worked.
However, if that doesn’t work, we will cancel. Absolutely.
Well sometimes one’s gut feeling has turned up trumps.
The scanty Welcome Guide has been understandable when one understands the need for privacy and confidentiality.
My Home Owners picked me up from my bus stop and brought me to their home today. The home is very gracious Georgian and I am in the main house. The dogs are small and very manageable and affectionate. There is a gardener and cleaner who visit regularly. I am allowed guests during the day. The Home Owners have a housekeeper who is travelling with them to South Africa.
My remit is Home Security and dog care. I have already signed up for 3 weeks.
Dear Reader I am feeling very blessed.
It is annoying when the WG is not detailed, especially on meds. Most of the HOs are great with pill pockets, meds are set up with med pocket files, with AM and PM.
Vague meds, with them all lined up without details is the worst. But what to do when they say they have printed that out and when you get there, the instructions are as vague as before? That is not fair to the pets.
Not fair to the pets .. nor to the long suffering pet sitters.. caring is sharing information!
The worst Home Owners in my experience are disorganised, messy, casual about important things like pet care and security ( one had several cars and regularly left one unlocked in a sleepy village till a smart BMW of theirs got lifted!)
If I don’t feel part of a team with the Home Owner to achieve a great substitution for them while they are away then yes there’s failure to face but I don’t feel it’s fair to place that at the sitter’s door.
I do view this like a supply teaching job. Who would leave a substitute teacher with no plans or materials and expect a great outcome? A good guide for reference and a good handover are the least a Home Owner can do. Otherwise the experience is likely to be stressful and unsatisfying for all concerned.
Sometimes I feel I’m working against the tide!
The review then becomes a Damoclean sword.
Fortunately I mostly feel part of a team and my needs considered too. I do sympathize with many housesitters who have been left with the dirty end of the stick.. and it’s not by chance!
They really are great companions.. they want to be with me all day and probably all night too, if I’d let them! They like me to sit in a generous armchair so they can both pile on! They don’t enjoy being on their own in the spacious garden, much preferring me to be on hand to throw fallen apples from the orchard for them to find and retrieve. They squeal with delight and never seem to tire of the game. If I withdraw to the kitchen they obligingly bring the apples to me so the game can continue, however sporadically.. I used to throw a ball but then it got hidden in undergrowth and these little shorties have their limitations.. I have learnt that lost apples are cheaper and easily replaced!
I’m here for three weeks and I’m training them not to bark unnecessarily.. it may take all the time I’m here! I sat in the drawing room, where they are not allowed, for a much needed time out. They learnt that barking doesn’t bring them the results they want. They are definitely improving and now wait for me to come down to officially start the day and breakfast routine.
They come in from the garden on demand and are no real trouble. They are good on the lead but react when crossing other dogs, so I play with them a lot on the garden. The owner told me one of them had nipped another dog so I don’t try to join walking groups with them. It’s not worth the risk of spoiling anyone’s day.
I’ve learnt to work with what I have and make improvements if I feel I can. The dogs are very affectionate and get on very well with each other. They are also very vocal about visitors! So much so I’ve been told not to worry about the alarm if the dogs are staying put. The owners don’t want the dogs taken out on trips in the car, (although I can use it for shopping. )
They are worried about the heat and also possible dog thieves. These dogs are very valuable. Their pedigree papers are framed. Princess Margaret owned the great grandmother of one of these!
Should I bow to these bow wows?
They may be a couple of Queens but I’m King here! They bow to my commands.
I’m going to miss these majestic magnets.
The owners love the photos I send them, clearly missing them too.
Curious as to how both sides could decided on the sit if the sitter doesn’t know what they are signing up for? lol And as a HO, how would you know what the sitter is capable of if they don’t know what is expected. lol Find the process baffling lol
