yeah… I think it’s better to overstate the needs to “buffer” things a bit - especially when you routinely get tons of applicants. I’d rather have someone who’s willing to let my animal out every X hours even if it isn’t needed.
If a person is willing to accept a sit on the advertised terms then it’s fair for everyone. Just like if someone wants to pay $100k for an overpriced automobile or pays well above market value for a property that’s in a bidding war.
The point being- it’s a voluntary decision, no one is being forced, coerced or otherwise manipulated.
And in this case, we’re talking about a host requiring a sitter not to leave their pets alone for too long, that’s a relatively minor issue that might bother some (such as you) lot more than others.
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I am a HO and my little dog is older and needs to pee more often but she loves to go for car rides. We take her with us even when we just go for grocery shopping and she stays in a car for hours - if it has to be - with windows quite open, a shade for the front window and if possible in the shade. We state that so a pet sitter has enough time to go and visit place. Our cats can be left alone the entire day with food and water of course - and a clean litter box. Pets are way more flexible if they are trained from the beginning on. For us it’s like a ‘house share’ with pets so that the sitter has a vacation too.
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In this case @Canadagoose, do you leave a car for your sitter to be able to take your dog with them everywhere?
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That would be applicable if one were forced to take a sit.
This is entirely voluntary and the people who get “taken advantage of” are most often people who don’t ask enough questions, clarify the specifics of a given sit (or sitter), agree to terms or conditions they either don’t understand or don’t really want, etc.
I will , unfortnately, concede that there is a learning curve here and that newer sitters and ho’s discover aspects that only experience will reveal. That is where asking questions here can be of great value.
There certainly are sit(uation)s in which one party is taken advantage of but these are the exception and need to be addressed accordingly.
Barter away.
Agree to what you will accept. Walk away (turn down a sit) from what you don’t want. And ask many, many questions…..
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Yes I would. We live very rural and the sitter needs to go somewhere.
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That’s very thoughtful of you @Canadagoose
Do you not have the option to not accept a sit with those requirements? Unfair labor? Huh.
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Agree about the voluntary nature of sits. Don’t like the conditions, don’t accept the sit. No one is conscripted or enslaved to THS.
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I’m just curious about two things (not addressing the OP)… you took a dog on a ferris wheel? …lol…. Why? …and how did that happen? You must share “the story.”
And… secondly, curious to know about the window thing. Do they just want the windows closed so an anxious animal doesn’t force its way through to escape? To conserve energy? Because their dog has anxiety and barks a lot when alone and neighbors have complained? Would it not be fair to just ask sitters to close any windows they’d opened before leaving?
Windows? Not sure what you’re referring to. Maybe someone else’s comment?
The Ferris wheel was in a park and we just got in line and hopped on. We walked through the park often, because it was in the center of town and the hosts’ home was an easy stroll away. At least in some U.K. towns, there are Ferris wheels in parks. I’ve come across a couple while sitting.
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I think @DogMomster may have taken the meaning of “window” a bit too literally here
I was wondering myself and got back to your post to find out about the mysterious windows.
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Thanks, @Newpetlover. I was referring to windows in time.
hahah! ok, I’m a little dense some time. 
Although a sitter and host can agree on what they want, I agree that it doesn’t make sense to advertise sights and such on the sit that is not possible to enjoy due to the needs of the pet, regardless of sitter being a digital nomad or whatever. Just like it doesn’t make sense to advertise a hot tub you are not allowed to use.
This will only set you and the sitter up for failure, creating expectations that can’t be met.
To work around that, if you’d like to do so to get more or better applicants, one can for instance offer to host the sitter before or after the sit so they are able to visit :sight: or organize someone to take care of the pet for the day (or two) so the sitter can do a day out. Another option could be to allow a family or similar so they could split up and take turns looking after the pet(-s).
Personally 6+ hours out and about is usually my minimum. I’ve had great sits with dogs and cats. I stay at home a lot of the time, but I need to be able to go out and see the sights of the location, do some errands and such.
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Joined in May and after 6 sits: 3 with dogs and 3 with cats. I agree with you that it will be cats only from now on.
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I’ve noticed that too. I think some owners genuinely don’t realise how limiting a 2–3 hour rule can be for sitters who’d also like to explore a bit. It’s totally fair to ask them for clarity before accepting a sit, sometimes the restriction is flexible, or it’s only for certain times of day. And if not, it helps to know upfront so you can choose sits that match the kind of routine you’re comfortable with.
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@jag As you mentioned, it’s good to ask when you apply.
We just landed a sit in which the HO’s listing did not state how long the dogs could be left alone. So in our initial application, we politely asked that question. And the HO happily responded.
Fortunately, the pups can be left 6-7 hours. That flexibility works for us, so we proceeded with the video chat and accepted the sit.
Since this is one of our dealbreakers (if a HO is too restrictive with how long pets can be alone at home), we ask right away – it saves everyone time.
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I know you’ve provided examples of places a sitter could go and take the dog. However, that still limits where a sitter can go. In your situation maybe the dog can go a lot of places. However, not all pets can go places with the sitter. I have seen listings where the sitter can only leave for two hours a day or not at all. If someone wants to agree to that, fine. Personally, I spend a lot of money on travel and can’t imagine traveling somewhere just to be trapped in someone’s home. I work full-time remotely while traveling and sitting. But I still want to be able to go grocery shopping or out to dinner or go to a museum or to the theatre.
HOs with extreme restrictions just need to be very clear on that in their listing. That should never be something we find out after we’ve taken our time to apply.
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