Is no living room a no go for all sitters? I am trying to create my first listing, but I don’t want to offer our living room as a space sitters have access to. This is because our rescue dog is extremely anxious and has decided the living room is her safe space. Having a stranger in her safe space stresses her out. I have made this clear in my listing, but just wondering if any sitters would be ok with that? Thoughts??
For me personally it would depend on the layout of the house and other spaces available
Is there a comfortable place to hang out and watch tv for example ? A nice place to relax, a place to sit down and eat?
If I were confined to a small bedroom for more than a couple of days without more space to spread out I personally wouldn’t apply.
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It depends on what space is available, but to be brutally honest, if your dog is so stressed out that the sitter can’t relax in the living room with her, I wouldn’t apply for the sit.
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All things equal among sits, I wouldn’t apply for such a listing. There are so many sits out there. But maybe your sit has other attractions that differentiate it. Or you might hire a professional sitter, who’d be more amenable.
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From what you’ve said I also wouldn’t apply - sounds like one that might need a pro. What do you do when friends/family come over? Does she warm up to them? If so maybe you could have the sitter come early to get to know her.
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Your pup may benefit from a dog trainer/psychologist/meds. A living room is a basic comfort item so I would not apply for this sit.
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Welcome @LovePupperz based on the information you have given , if there is no other living room / space available for the sitter to relax and enjoy ; it doesn’t seem like a very fair exchange for taking care of your anxious rescue dog .
This will definitely limit the number of sitters that will find it an attractive option .
However , if there are lots of other attractive features about your home and location you only need to find one sitter that is happy with the arrangement.
Potential Sitters will also need to know how long your anxious dog can be left alone for ?
If they are working from “ home “ is there an office or workspace with good Wi-Fi available for them to use ?
We like our space and have our own home. We would prefer to stay at home rather than apply for this sitting. Unfortunately for you, there are countless other sittings that we can all apply for,
Great though that you are carrying out your research
Good luck
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Depends whether there is a sofa somewhere else where the sitter can relax and watch TV or read. For example, do you have an additional sitting space as part of the kitchen for example?
If not, I wouldn’t apply.
But also bear in mind, the sitter is just a stranger when they first arrive, it’s amazing how timid, shy, and anxious dogs relax once they realise their sitter is kind. Just make sure you choose someone who is used to anxious dogs, so they know to leave your dog alone until your dog feel more at ease with them.
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I’ve dog sat, but not through THS where I have only sat for cats. However, if I did sit for dogs, that statement would be a GIANT red flag for me. Part of what makes the exchange fair is having privacy and for the most part the run of the house. Not being able to use the living room, unless there was some great guest suite, would be a no. But beyond that, caring for a dog that has the run of the livingroom which I am not permitted to use, sounds like a set up for a very weird uncomfortable sit and IMO could lead to various behavior issues if not dangers to the sitter.
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Like many other sitters have said, it would depend on what the rest of the house is like. I have been in many houses where the living room was not the main space where people sat, watched TV,etc…–it was a family room, a finished basement,etc, and we didn’t go into the living room at all. So in that sort of house, I wouldn’t mind. But if there is no other room to spend time in, and I was limited to the bedroom and the kitchen for example, I wouldn’t do that.
As for your dog’s anxiety issues, it’s important to be specific about that, and what day to day life with her would be like.
It is one thing to say a dog can be anxious at times, and that is where she likes to spend time and relax by herself, and another to have a dog with serious behavioral issues.
If it is the latter, you may have trouble finding a sitter though there are plenty of sitters who are more experienced with dogs who may have issues, and don’t mind dealing with it because they feel equipped to do so.
If it is more of the former, it is important to elaborate on that since potential sitters might assume her personality and behavior is more problematic than it actually is. I have sat for many dogs considered to be ‘anxious’ and they really weren’t a problem. So it is good to explain exactly what that means.
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I think it’s odd to want a sitter for your anxious dog that you believe she’ll consider a “stranger”. Surely by having a sitter at home with her (especially if you do an in person handover), then the dog will be more comfortable and relaxed with the sitter whilst you’re away. If she’s going to be stressed the whole time and need her own room it’s sadly going to be a miserable experience for both your lovely woofer and the sitter in situ. Maybe you’d be better with a local, paid, repeat sitter that can bond with your pet for ongoing sits? We wouldn’t apply for a sit with a dog that’s so anxious she needs her own room and/or needs to be the living room alone which is where humans hang out most evenings. Hope you find a solution @LovePupperz
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We have a rescue dog with longstanding issues. Instead of having just anyone sit him while we vacation together, we hire professionals whom he knows. Like someone from the shelter where we got him, who knew him well while he sat unwanted there for a long time. Or the trainer whom we have him work with. Otherwise, he’s always with one of us while the other travels. We also travel with him a lot.
We won’t leave him with random strangers, say from THS, because he’s not a normal dog.
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Almost certainly you are going to restrict the number of sitters who will apply. Having a problem once a sitter is in situ is one thing but knowingly going to a problem is another. Would it not be possible to very gradually ‘wean’ your dog into sharing the living room? The rescue dog seems to have had problems in its previous life but really potential sitters wouldn’t want the problem. Shame, but I think that’s the reality.
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Keep in mind many of us sitters are often home bodies, especially at night. So for us, the most comforting element of a sit is TV nights with cuddly pets…it’s amazing how fast pets adapt and cuddle on the first available lap… if this is still a real possibility at your home, then yes. If not, then many sitters might be disappointed with their experience.
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