Hello Trusted House sitters and owners,
I want to start a conversation about the puppy we are about to buy, an eight week old Irish terrier. My partner & I work freelance & our work can take us away for months on end. Life without a dog was passing us by. We have made this next step in the comforting/hoped knowledge that Trusted House sitters etc, exist. We live in Stroud, Gloucestershire and more recently we have bought a bolt hole in Polruan, Cornwall. Once the puppy is into its routine, housetrained and walking easily, striding out and about, one of us will start working again. It is very likely that the both of us will be working soon after that. I would love to meet up with potential house sitters ahead of time, especially ones based in the area, Stroud or Cornwall, is that possible? I want potential house sitters or house sitter to meet our new pooch as well as meet us as soon as possible. I would be grateful for feedback because I am a new to Trusted House sitters as well as needing affirmation that our life style choice is a workable one.
Thank you in advance,
Alex
Hi Alex
It sounds like it would be good for a petsitter! The way it usually works is that you list your home (whether Stroud or Cornwall) on the app along with your pup and people will look at the dates and tbe details in the listing (e.g. responsiblities, whether theyd need a car) and will then apply for the dates you’re going away. Many will be able to arrive the day before you leave or, if you find a local sitter they could meet you beforehand.
Most sitters will be looking to sit outside if their local area. If it’s a nice one though and you click with the pet sitter you might end up with a regular sitter who you can plan your trips with. It looks to me like most homeowners have different sitters at different times though! Hope you enjoy the app!
Most sitters as far as i know wouldnt usually go and meet the pet until the sit is confirmed. Maybe a newer sitter would but those with more references have more choice and might avoid the hassle of a journey out for a maybe sit (unless itnwas a very long sit or in a very desirable location in which case all bets are off!)
The Stroud valleys are my top choice for sits so I would definitely be interested! I’ll be in Nailsworth for 3 weeks over Xmas/New Year.
Hi @AlexE , Congratulations on the decision to get a puppy. After you have trained your puppy and established a good routine and a secure start for the little one, you can advertise your home(s) on Trusted Housesitters. There are many sitters who like long-term sits. When you have reached this point, come back to the forum and post your listing to your forum profile and forum members will give you feedback to help you make it stand out to help you attract the kind of sitter you want.
There is a lot to know about the entire process so read what you can on the THS website and here on the forum. Click on the spyglass icon on the upper right to enter a question or search term. Welcome to THS and the forum!
Thanks for your reply, really useful.
Thank you, your reply is really helpful and encouraging. As much as I want to have a puppy, I worry about the feasibility of looking after the dog as I would wish with the lifestyle my partner and I have to maintain, we both have to continue to work (freelance). I will take your advice.
Hello, Thanks for this. I know we will be home and with the puppy for this period so we won’t need a sitter then. If you are in the area over Christmas please get in touch. We could meet each other and the puppy? I am happy to share my mobile number here if that’s ok? Are you free other times or only over Christmas?
Best wishes,
Alex
I’m not free to sit over Xmas, just sitting in the area, so we could meet.
Welcome to THS. I sit in the UK several months every year although I am currently at home in California. You can tell a lot with meetings via Zoom so maybe give that a try and see how you feel. Puppies with training are tons of fun. If your locations can be accessed by public transit or include a car you will have no problem attracting sitters and maybe some would be open to a face to face in advance but it is asking a lot. I work while I travel and love looking after puppies. Good luck!
I appreciate this is not the question but if you are away for ‘months’ at a time, I dont see how this is compatible with owning a dog.
That would be great. Let’s contact each other nearer to the time.
Thank you for replying to me. I will follow your advice.
I understand your point of view. For years I have felt the same. The reason I have agreed to buy a puppy this time is because I will share the responsibility of the puppy/dog with my partner whom I live with.
As well as finding out about THS and other such sites. There are times when we will both have to work away from home. If this is the case one of us will try to take the dog with us. If this is not possible, it is then that we will look for a sitter. Neither of us can afford to retire from working. Life is passing us by without owning a dog. I am prepared to, happy to, put in the work and set up ahead of time alternative arrangements to ensure the dog is well looked after when neither of us are able to. As soon as we can train the puppy to be comfortable with other people and with other dogs we will to reduce the dog’s potential separation anxiety. The industry we work in is very intense and pressurised being able to have a dog with us would be a great help. I have had dogs in the past and at that time an old and dear friend looked after them when we were away. Sadly she has now passed. I am hoping very much we can make this work and THS or BMD look like a way to make this work. If it turns out not to be the case then we will have to adjust our lifestyle to suit. I want to assure you the dogs welfare will be a priority along the way.
Hi Alex,
You would not have any difficulty finding sitteres for either Cornwall or Gloucestershire as both locations sound good. I would definitely be interested if dates worked out. However I am in Essex, so unless doing a sit nearby would not be able to come and meet in advance. Most sitters are asked to arrive the day before though, so as to familiarise with everything. and perhaps be shown local walks etc… I don’t often do local sits, as prefer exploring further afield. Hope that helps.
Hello, Yes your message helps. It is likely that if we are both away working and leaving the dog with a house sitter that one if not both of us would return home for the weekends. We have three bedrooms in our flat in Stroud. I would hope that this would be ok as well? As long as house sitters are aware before they sit of the arrangements.
Thanks for your time,
Alex
Welcome @AlexE We have done lots of house sits in U.K. we just confirmed one for 2024 in Cornwall , the owners are new to THS . It would be a 5 hour drive to get there , we’re happy to do that for a holiday but wouldn’t do that length of journey for a pre-stay meet up or before confirming a sit.
Good experienced sitters get booked up with confirmed sits quickly so when you list on THS you will need some dates in mind as listings only appear to sitters when there are live dates .
@AlexE unfortunately it is against TH rules (Terms and Conditions) to have anyone else in the home whilst a sitter is there, regardless of if it is the homeowners themselves or anyone else. Just not permitted.
A few things that you have to realize: You probably won’t get many repeat sitters as people are often traveling through. You might find a great sitter, but their availability to come back may be very limited. If you can get wait till your dog is at least housebroken and somewhat socialized that’s helpful. Many dogowners want the sitter to meet the dogs before the sit. In addition to relying on local sitters or sitters who are already at a sit in your area, if you have the space you can often start the sit the day before you leave if you have a guest room or place for the sitter to sleep. (Some sitters will be okay with paying for a local accomodation the night before a sit starts, but you could also offer to put them up somewhere if you don’t have room in your home.)
Hello there! It’s wonderful that you’ve decided to open your home to a puppy. Irish Terriers are lively, intelligent dogs that will bring much joy. However, raising a puppy while working freelance does pose some challenges.
I’m glad you’re aware of TrustedHouseSitters - that is certainly helpful when you travel for work. Meeting potential sitters in advance is an excellent idea. I suggest reaching out to sitters in both Stroud and Cornwall to maximize your options. When you make a profile on TrustedHouseSitters, you can search for sitters in specific locations.
Here are some tips to make this lifestyle work:
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Crate train the puppy so he learns to be comfortable alone for reasonable periods. This will ease separation anxiety when you do travel.
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Consider doggy daycare a few days a week. This provides socialization and exercise.
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Dog walkers are another good option to break up long days alone.
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Stick to a consistent daily routine - dogs thrive on schedules.
As for insurance, I highly recommend getting both veterinary and liability coverage right away. As a puppy, he’ll be getting into all sorts of things! Reputable providers include PetPlan, ManyPets, Direct Line, and Animal Friends. Make sure to read the fine print about coverage details.
I hope this gives you some reassurance! Having a puppy is loads of work but ultimately very fulfilling. With smart planning and commitment, you can definitely make your lifestyle work. Let me know if any other questions come up!
Thank you for your reassuring reply and your good ideas. Cherry has been with us a week tomorrow. We are both smitten. We have made our Stroud home puppy friendly, this evening we are off to our first puppy party, more of a soirée, two puppies I understand. I have been reading Lucy Jackson’s book on Irish terriers. I am so glad my research led me to this breed. I am used to collies, whom I appreciate. Our Irish terrier is going to, has already taught me a thing or to. I am feeling quite emotional by the presence of this Irish terrier bundle. I am unlikely to work again until end of Jan/Feb and if my partner is on a contract by then, I will come to THS to look for a sitter, here in Stroud or Cornwall. Happy days 