It’s a bit weird for me to start a thread about beauty standards as, in general, I couldn’t care less about beauty.
However, I think we all have a general idea about what is beautiful for us and there are pets that really fill our eye and turn heads when walking in the street. There are others that don’t look so attractive.
I have sat for some pets that were not very good looking to me before I met them but then, I really bonded with them and I felt they were quite attractive.
Nice topic @Newpetlover.
I have a great love for tortoiseshell cats although many might not think of them as traditionally beautiful. I have had 2 of my own (RIP Priscilla and Scarlett) and am very drawn to sits with a tortie.
I sat a dog and separately a cat who both had grumpy-looking photos, but turned out to be lovely.
The dog ended up as my favorite sit dog, because he’s the most easygoing, lovable chap. Never met a stranger and could comfortably navigate crowds, got along with kids and animals, and enjoyed all sorts of adventures. Like a cruise boat, a ferry ride, a Ferris wheel, a hop on and off tour bus. His humans also were happy that we had so much fun together.
I’ve sat him twice. I’d clone him for myself if that were feasible.
I don’t think torties are unattractive. My favorite cat to date randomly happens to be a tortie, because of her personality. She was skittish and needed warming up, but once she got to that point, she was super loving and lovable. One of her fun traits was flopping over in front of you every five seconds, to make sure she got petting. As she’s a chubster, I found her especially endearing. Her sister from the same litter is a black cat that’s skinny and she’s a lot of fun, too, once warmed up. They look nothing alike, though.
I think well-groomed pets are really attractive. Doesn’t have to be some specific «hair-do» but clean fur, well brushed etc. - good cut where applicable. Saw a dog this morning that was obviously cut like a run-away lawn mover. Poor dog. Well cared for looks good.
I used to think dachshunds looked weird. Until I looked after my first, she won my heart like in two minutes and I could no longer see anything weird about her or any other dachshund.
The same happened with the cat I looked after. Her nose looks discolored because of the colour pattern. She looked unattractive at first sight. She’s got lovely eyes and she pays attention when you talk to her. I really fell in love with her. I kept looking at her nose to elicit the old feeling of unattractiveness. It had vanished. Even her nose looks attractive now.
Yes, when you get to know a pet they become more beautiful. I had a cocker Spaniel and a Bassett Hound, so when i see these breeds my heart melts. And i love puppies - any puppy.
That is one of the ten gazillion reasons we (I believe that I speak for most of us here ?) love animals ! Looks mean little to nothing.
I am not a fan of small dogs as I believe that anything less that 10kg is not a dog (I know, I know…but read on…). I’ve been known to fall in love with a chi from time to time just because these particular dogs had personality to spare and/or some other facet which over-rode my like/dislike list.
When you get to know pets they become more beautiful”
Have you ever gone right off a pet when you got to know them more?
I have.
I looked after a rescued old Podenco dog that was very elderly. This sit wasn’t with Trusted Housesitters. A friend had recommended us as great sitters. We were paid. This Podenco and two other rescues hunted like a pack. They went out as a three. We passed some farmers rabbiting and the Podenco was desperate to join them.. it reversed out of its harness that we’d been told was impossible to do by the Homd Owner who had given us a 30 minute handover before heading off to the airport! The dog had no interest in coming back and finally handed itself in back home with bloodied paws, making a field day of its escape!
On another occasion it again got out of its harness and killed a cat in front of us. We walked the dogs separately from them on. I know it’s a natural instinct but it was uncontrollable. It changed my feelings towards the dog and I am a dog lover through and through.
We couldn’t wait for the sit to end but we stayed to finish it. Wiser and wary for future offers of anything similar!
We looked after a standard poodle in NYC years ago. The apartment was overlooking Central Park so that’s where we walked everyday.
This dog was beautiful and she knew it. Every walk we were stopped by some passer-by who complimented the dog on her looks. Honestly, the dog would look the person up and down give a sniff and turn away with her nose in the air as if to say I know!
That’s interesting! I’ve sometimes had that feeling too when petting a beautiful dog in the street.
I looked after a gorgeous looking Bichon who had won several prizes and one of the pictures in the listing was of her at the prize-giving. I felt she might be a bit spoilt and difficult. But she was a real sweetheart. Later, I looked after three Lhasa Apsos who also had a lot of prizes and they were very well behaved, too. I think perhaps they are more patient because they are used to putting up with a lot of grooming and following orders for the show.
I remember going to stay at a friend of a friend’s home with a few people one weekend, to play music and go kayaking, and there was an elderly black cat who lived on the property.
He was very old, and a bit wobbly on his feet, and he looked like he’d had a stroke as his mouth drooped on one side and he drooled a bit (I was assured that he was happy and not in any pain though), and I did find him a bit unnerving.
However, as I sat in a rocking chair by the fire one night, the old soul scrabbled up my legs, firstly onto my lap for a snooze, and then draped himself around my neck like some kind of sentient scarf. I was hooked, and that old gentleman became my closest friend for the rest of the trip! He was a real lovebug!
I now have an elderly house panther of my own, and I’m sure it’s down to that sweet old boy in the seaside house at Montrose.
I absolutely adore Dachshunds, since I joined this site. I have now sat for 6 of them, long haired, smooth haired and wired haired Dachshunds. I have one more upcoming sit with a Wire Haired Dachshund, and 2 Cocker Spaniels, in same house. If anyone reading this is a Dachshund owner in Scotland, or North of England, please reach out to me and pick me for your future sits!
similarly, I was very anti Jack Russells, due to my neighbour having 2 yappy ones, but I have now sat for 2, seperately, in mixed breed households, who have completely won me over, and got an upcoming sit with another who I have already met.
I’ve never been a cat person until I started petsitting some on THS. We did a sit for an elderly black cat with hip problems. The more and more I spent time with her, she became so beautiful to me. Her gentle sweet nature won me over and then even her general appearance became beautiful. I still think about her and it’s been almost 2 years. I love cats now. I love dogs. I love rabbits. Basically just not the complaining humans.
I’ve sometimes chosen a sit purely on the opportunity of sitting a particular breed of dog or to widen my c.v. I chose rabbits. It’s great getting the chance to try out certain breeds new to me in cats and dogs or the chance to look after ducks goats or donkeys.. I would love to look after donkeys for sure.. so far no opportunity. Llamas are also on my list I spent a long time in South America and was in a bus when one joined the travelling party!
I think it’s great too.
Huskies are one of those breeds that I find really beautiful. But I have never gathered the courage to sit for one. I don’t think I would be able to manage if they pull.
Some breeds look everything but aren’t very bright. I like an intelligent, well behaved dog on a long sit but I might accept a shorter sit for another breed.
I’d love to sit a Saluki. They are fast and beautiful. Not sure how intelligent and biddable.
I love big dogs so a St Bernard would appeal or a Pyreneean Hound or Bernese would appeal too.