I am considering joining THS as a sitter. When on a sit, I will want to be out and about sometimes during the day after I have met the pet’s needs and be back in the evening to do the same and spend the night. Is this routine possible as a sitter? I will be looking for sits in an area in Wisconsin where I grew up and still have many friends and family there. I would like to meet some for lunch or go on hikes. Would there be some HOs who are ok with that? Thank you.
This is the norm.
How long the pets can be left one agree with the host. I would say being away 4-6 hours during the day is quite common. It will of course be restricted by the times for feeding, walking the pets etc. Sometimes for instance a dog can be taken with the sitter on a hike etc.
It is important to be transparent and respect the instructions for the care of the pet (-s) but as it is a voluntary, unpaid service many would frown upon requirements to stay in house 24/7. Discuss it with the host pre confirmation to ensure a good match.
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You bet, I’m in Wisconsin and do some sits locally. If they have dogs, of course you’re going to want to know how long they are able to be alone. Cats are easier as most can be left longer, but certainly ask the pet parents. Good luck.
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Every Sit is different. We have done many Sits in CA for the same reasons that you state. Some Owners provide a “dog transport car” so that we are able to take the dog with us without getting our car full of dog hair.
Some listings clearly state how long the pets can be left alone. You definitely want to be clear about the Owner’s wishes. Lots of Owners have doorbell cameras, so they can see when you are coming and going. Best to adhere to whatever you agreed.
We like to take dogs with us whenever we can! Family and friends love to see the dogs, and we have done many repeat Sits, so everyone gets to know our temporary dogs!
Have fun! THS is such a win, win, win! Be choosy!
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Hey there and welcome to THS! 
As long as you simply find a sit that suits you and the requirements of how long the pet can be left match what you’re looking for, then you should be fine
My partner and I don’t take sits where pets cannot be left for less than 5hrs at a time, as for us such requirements are not what we’re seeking. To help us find the right match, we are clear on our profile about what we’re looking for. We state ‘to ensure a fair exchange, we sit dogs who can be left for 5 - 6hrs if we’d like to explore the area or take day trip’s.’ This way, owners know straight away if we’re a good match for their needs. We have been back-to-back sitters for the past 4 years with various pet sit sites, and have never had a problem finding sits that match what we’re seeking.
Hope that helps!
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Hopefully the HOs will state how long the pets can be left alone, but if they don’t, you should ask. If it’s cats it’s generally easier. Dogs can be more complicated. But one thing to remember is that your primary purpose for being there is to care for the home/pets. This means that you need to be willing to sacrifice any plans you might have if you’re needed at home. You should also know that many HOs don’t want people besides the sitter in their house so if you’re planning on having guests while you’re there you should talk to the HO about that in advance and find out what their limits are.
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Hi Trudy,
Your request is not unreasonable at all. Most sits allow for sitters to be out and about within reasonable timeframes (5-6 hours or more). There is the occasional HO that wants a sitter to stay at their house 24/7; however, they typically list that requirement in the “Responsibilities” section in their listing. As others have mentioned, it is always good to double-check when speaking with the HO to make sure you are on the same page.
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@Trudy, welcome to THS Forum.
Hopefully listing will clearly state duration that pets can be left, and any pre-departure preparation.
Regardless, it’s an important question to ask in a video call with Pet Parent - as listing may be inaccurate due to stale, new pets, medical issues, etc. Confirm upfront as surprises on arrival are always bad.
Also regardless, good pet oversight applies. if leaving dogs for a while then take them out to relieve themselves before departure, etc.
This seems a topic that varies in important within housesitters - as some housesitters are remote workers, while others seek to explore local areas.
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