Hi there! So sorry you went through this. I find myself in a situation where a sitter left a review that is untrue and harassing.. how did you get THS to remove it in your situation? And how did you speak to them? I’m just getting boilerplate replies via email.
While I don’t have a full surveillance system, I do have a doorbell camera. I’ve often thought that if I did have comprehensive backyard cameras, it would have been incredibly helpful in situations like the recent one with the THS investigation, where the neighbor’s testimony about my senior dogs being outside wasn’t considered sufficient proof.
The idea of installing more cameras is definitely on my mind, primarily because of the local wildlife. We’ve got bears, raccoons, and even a cougar sighted just last week! In fact, my neighbor’s camera recently caught a bear right in my yard. Having that kind of footage would offer a great sense of safety and peace of mind.
As for my dogs, they’re rarely left alone for long—I typically don’t venture out for more than two hours without them, as they usually come along. It’s a routine that I believe would offer a good balance for a dogsitter, allowing for both dedicated care and enjoyable exploration of our area.
Hello all
I have been reading the Forum for some while, but now I do need to say something here.
We have had way over 30 sitters in the last years. One better than the other. All second to none!! And had NO video calls with them.
Were we lucky? NO NO and NO.
It is a give and take. AND we share our cell phone number and have always been able to text or call if it was needed.
So WHY this insisting on video calls? Maybe I just don’t get it.
This said, we have a good welcome guide, and in our profile we have stated all our musts and dont’s as well as we communicate well.
There is an urgent support phone line number on your dashboard
Yes I was a HO but not on THS and had horse and housesitters for 20+ years, they were all good and pretty much all arranged over the phone….it seems it’s a different world these days for some people. We move with the times.
This is how I personally handled it. I took a screenshot of the review. Her review had stated that THS had launched a formal investigation on me due to this dog sit. Which wasn’t true. And that I left her a malicious and dishonest review. And a bunch of other nasty things. I went on THS chat and messaged live with an agent. I sent them her screenshot review. It obviously was against THS policies. They took the review down the same day. Same with her second review. She got a warning for doing this twice.
If they dont respond try emailing their support. support@trustedhousesitters.com
Trustedhousesitters policies on leaving a review
TrustedHousesitters has specific policies and guidelines for leaving reviews to maintain trust and transparency within their community. Here’s a breakdown:
Key Policies for Reviews:
- Timeliness: You have 14 days from the end date of the sit to leave a review. TrustedHousesitters will send you email reminders during this period. After 14 days, the review window closes, and you won’t be able to leave a review for that sit.
- Blind Review System: Reviews are “blind.” This means neither the sitter nor the homeowner can see the other’s review until:
- Both parties have submitted their reviews.
- The 14-day deadline has passed. This system is designed to encourage honest feedback without fear of retaliation.
- Content Guidelines: Reviews must always:
- Focus on facts, not emotion.
- Be respectful and polite.
- Be carefully considered.
- Relate only to the house and pet sit.
- No Tampering Policy: Once a review is published, it generally cannot be removed or amended by the member. TrustedHousesitters operates a “100% tamper-proof policy” to ensure reviews are genuine and reliable.
- Exceptions: A review will only be removed or amended by TrustedHousesitters if it violates their member guidelines, code of conduct, or Terms and Conditions. In cases of clear factual errors (e.g., incorrect star rating given by mistake), TrustedHousesitters support may be able to make a correction if the reviewer explicitly requests it.
Hope this helps
Interesting, and I am sorry for this bad experience, and hope Willow is doing better. I am a sitter, and have sat for miniature dachshunds. They do tend to bark a bit! It seems to me that this sitter’s behaviour was neglectful and unacceptable. That said, as a sitter I would not accept a sit where it was said that the dogs couldn’t be left for more than two hours - that’s a job for a paid sitter, or kennels. I would also never answer a call of any kind from an unknown number - you could use an esim another time? It seems essential to me to send regular picture updates, for the HO’s peace of mind, and I always do. So, broadly speaking, I am with the HO. But yes, go with. your gut. I turned down a sit once after a video call, because I didn’t like the feel of it, for reasons I can’t explain, and of course will never know if it would have turned out badly. And yes, if I were the neighbour I would have knocked, in January.
Is it on your listing that the dogs can only be left for 2 hours and can be disruptive at night? If you add this to the listing it will hopefully deter any applicants who would not be able to manage this.
Hope you get the right person / people next time 
I totally get that you are reacting to a traumatic experience – finding out that the dogs were left outside must have been gutwrenching. When I sit I have no problem with outdoor cameras, but the way you describe the actions plan to take in the future, would absolutely turn me off as a sitter.
I don’t know what your listing looks like, but from the way you describe the sit, it sounds like you have what some people call “velcro dogs” - dogs you can take with you on adventures but really can’t leave alone. That alone limits the number of sitters who will apply for the listing. This means that the sitter has to be willing to take them in their vehicle or yours if you offering its use. That means that you need to ask specifically about a sitter’s experiences with that kind of sit and to tell you about their previous adventues with velcro dogs and/or to look for a real homebody sitter who will walk the dogs around the neighborhood and not go out much. These are very narrow specific skill sets and types. Finding such a person, who wants to be in your area on your dates might not always be possible.
My point was that rather than set up all kinds of ways to monitor the sitters, that you consider NOT using a THS sitter if you can’t find the “right” one for your dates. I also think reviews alone are problematic because situations can vary so much and often like in your case, people may leave a review before they see the problem.
I’m not sure what you mean regarding the actions I plan to take in the future, concerning external cameras? As for the term “velcro dogs,” I wouldn’t personally consider my dogs to fall into that category, and I’m not sure if it’s meant as an insult or not. My husband and I love having our dogs with us on hikes, kayaking trips, outings to the pub, or coffee breaks—so, in that sense, I suppose they are velcro dogs, much like the people we regularly meet who also enjoy bringing their dogs along.
Of course, we do leave them alone, when necessary, typically in situations where bringing them isn’t an option, like grocery shopping or certain restaurants. Occasionally, we’ve left them for 4–5 hours when driving to another city about an hour and a half away, though that’s not a daily occurrence. In my Trusted Housesitters profile, I originally mentioned that I preferred not to leave them alone for more than two hours, and honestly, I didn’t think that would be a major issue. However, based on the responses I’ve received, I’ve updated that to 4–5 hours. Our dogs are great in the car and have travel for upto 6 hours with breaks – no issues.
I wouldn’t say I’m new to this, I’ve been on THS for 7 years, all 5 star all excellent, but this last sit has been a learning experience. My previous sits were seamless, and when everything goes smoothly, you simply move on.
Going on the THS forum I certainly have read some interesting comments but have learned some things too.
I have also found an THS sitter for my dates:)
Yes, it was included in my listing, but I’m not entirely sure that all sitters read the full listing—or the Welcome Guide, for that matter.
Based on input from others, I’ve since adjusted my listing to reflect a 4–5 hour time frame.
The only sitter who experienced nighttime disruptions was this one. Personally, I don’t believe the dogs settled well with her—perhaps being left outside in -7°C weather didn’t make for a very bonding experience.
Thank you yes I have found a THS sitter for my dates posted.
It wasn’t meant as an insult at all. I’ve seen it used to describe dogs that can’t be left alone for more than a very minimal period or at all, but can accompany humans. I had the impression from your opening post that your dogs couldn’t be left alone for more than 2 hours. I might have gotten it wrong.
What I do think and tried to express is that some of your “lessons learned” like more outdoor cameras, may not be helpful and may if anything turn off a lot of good sitters. The way it was stated implied that you thought more surviellance would prevent future issues. I don’t think it works that way. I think that approach will turn off good sitters.
It definitely is a tricky balance! On one hand, outdoor cameras can provide security and peace of mind, especially with the wildlife in your area. On the other hand, sitters might feel as if they think surveillance is more about monitoring them than protecting the property. Some sitters might actually appreciate the added security, especially in areas with bears and cougars roaming about!
Velcro dogs definitely a new one for me. I guess I need to keep up:)
It might be entirely accurate that the sitter’s daughter is excellent with animals but, since you know your elderly dogs ‘have never been around or socialized to children’, was it wise to use a sit to experiment with this?
Pet parents and sitters share equal responsibility for assessing ‘best fit’.
I remember your posts regarding this back in March, @shelleybean : Should I complain further to trusted house sitters?
I hope your dogs are now back to what’s normal for them? It’s clearly something which is still troubling you.
Going forwards, I’d recommend that you should agree arrival and departure plans with the sitter, in writing, and use a reliable commincations platform (we always use WhatsApp, once a sit is confirmed). State your expectations very clearly in your listing (if you prefer that the dogs shouldn’t be left for more than 2 hours or to accompany sitters on outings, be specific). State in your Welcome Guide how often you’d like updates and via which format, then applicants know the score.
Be honest with yourself about what kind of people your dogs best adjust to, and be honest with sitters about any issues they’ll likely encounter (like excessive barking, day or night). To find the right match, it’s important to be transparent. Don’t take risks or test the unknown, if you want the best outcomes for both pets and sitters.
In short, I’d recommend being proactive rather than reactive.
Wishing you the best of luck, going forwards.
Reading that now, I can’t help but wonder what I was thinking. Hindsight always offers valuable lessons. I’m still unsure if my dogs were comfortable with the sitter’s daughter, as her communication about this entire sitting arrangement was nonexistent
Back in March, I shared my troubling experience, but rather than dwelling on it, I’ve chosen to see it as a valuable learning opportunity for myself and others. A fellow member, JudyY, had a very similar experience a year ago, and she mentioned that it still haunts her. Thankfully, she has since moved on and found another good sit.
Through reading posts from others, I’ve gained significant insights. One key takeaway was the importance of clearly agreeing on arrival and departure times—both in writing and verbally. Something I had done with the last sit. As part of my proactive approach, I’ve started using WhatsApp for communication. Although I had the app installed, I had never actually used it before.
Additionally, after reflecting on feedback regarding leaving my dogs for only two hours, I’ve adjusted this expectation to allow for up to four hours. While I rarely leave them alone for that long myself, being retired allows me to have them with me most of the time. Like many dachshunds, they’re “Velcro dogs”—always by my side.
Recently, I’ve spoken with about seven potential sitters, making sure to ask important questions about arrival and departure times, communication updates, and preferred messaging platforms like TrustedHousesitters and WhatsApp. I also have a neighbor who can assist if any issues arise, and they will have a spare key and my contact information. In addition, I’ve connected with two local dog sitters who specialize in short-term sits—providing an additional safety net if needed.
Looking back, I realize just how relaxed and easygoing I was with previous sits. I was extremely fortunate to have great sitters—some truly exceptional. This journey has taught me the importance of being proactive rather than reactive when selecting a sitter.
With all these lessons in mind, I’ve just confirmed a dog sitter for my next trip, applying the advice I’ve gathered from this forum. I feel much more confident moving forward!
Hi @shelleybean. I really admire your adaptability. It sounds like you’ll be set for better experiences. I’d certainly sit for your pups if the opportunity arose. Good luck moving forward!
Please let us know how your next sit experience works out, @shelleybean . Have you invited sitters with lots of good reviews? Wishing you well.
Indeed. There is a sitter for every situation. I once spent 3 weeks with an elderly boxer who could never be left alone, due to a tragic event earlier in her life. The owners loaned me a car so I could take her everywhere (rental cars usually don’t allow dogs and are quite expensive). She could be left alone in the parked car briefly to allow for grocery shopping. And it was a small seaside town with plenty of dog friendly shops and eateries. One of the most pleasant sits I ever had.
My points are:
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Only 2 hours away from your dogs may work for some but it is restrictive FOR ME. I would need a car, grocery delivery, or a husband so that one of us could leave occasionally to a place dogs are not allowed. Or unique circumstances like my elderly boxer. I am glad your little doxies enjoy (or are allowed in/on) public transit, hiking, restaurants, supermarkets, local sites or whatever else is available to explore in your location.
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I am not sure why you insinuate I am not a dogsitter. I sit as many dogs as I do cats and actually have 2 nervous chihuahuas of my own. (I have worked out a system for sitters to be away 4-5 hours., and if longer is needed I offer a backup dog walker/visitor.)
Again, I am glad your babies are okay. What this sitter did was wrong.