What does this mean please? An underwater status?
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For sure, but our typical sit is a single dog who can’t even go close to any other dog. We would expect the situation to be different in the US, UK etc., our experience is limited to continental Europe.
I wouldn’t accept a sit where the dog couldn’t be trusted.
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How do I send a message to Therese-Moderator please?
I’ve just become aware that I have missed a message from her but now her message to me has disappeared.
Thanks.
Thanks for your thoughtful replies, I do have a lot of pets and my home is very family, kid friendly, so I am sure it will all work out, no trips away planned yet.
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Actually a sort of via admin warning system . If there had been negative remarks or complaints about a sit previously that the new sitters could maybe get some feedback as there seem to have been (from remarks in the past) some sits where the HO seemed to see the sitter as a cheap cleaner/ home help. And were otherwise quite unfriendly.
Lack of photos. especially photo of the house itself, so you can tell what kind of area its is in. We had one sit right in the middle of a london estate. lucky enough i grew up on a similar estate in south london. the photos of inside house was great and the location looked good. You get the post code once accepted so please do google maps street views. Also we where just starting out as sitters and needed to build up profile. Personally i would resit them again but for someone not used to that environment would probably just shut the door and wonder what you have done.
Honestly, Barclay and his owners sound like an absolute dream. I love detailed instructions and background info on a pet’s behavior. It eliminates any stress for us.
I think there are all sorts of sitters out there. If you are in rural Utah, comfortable and lived-in is just what we’d expect. Someone that has chickens likely won’t be living in a model home with white carpets. Honestly, please dont’ be too hard on yourself and your home. And I say that as someone that has enough anxiety to clean before my housecleaner gets here, and to obsess over someone coming to visit unexpectedly, even though the house is clean (but there might be yesterday’s mail on the counter or an Amazon box in the entryway). If you post clear photos of your home and pets, people will be able to make their own decisions, based on their needs. Important for us is a comfortable bed, wifi, a functional bath and kitchen and friendly pets and owners! So if you happen to be anywhere near Wayne county and need a sitter, feel free to look up our profile 
Re dogs: I think it important to ask the HO if it has any behavioural issues such as: what is their dog like with other dogs and humans, how is it when it is left alone, does it ever growl or lunge at others.
If you don’t ask, you won’t know! Ideally, you’d be able to see the dog before taking on the sit. Where you can’t see the dog in person, you could ask for a video of the dog out and about.
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But it’s always a question of how does the animal itself react. I mostly look after cats and twice I’ve had problems with cats going into weird mode. One was ok in the short time the owners were still there but went the second they closed the door into weird cat mode - I could attack at any moment. That was a very uneasy sit and I was actually glad when i could leave.
Another was actually a then friends cat. (not via TH) I looked after her 3 times before but one day I stepped into one of her triggers (she was a rescue that had been re homed & classed as aggressive) friend never encountered anything and me neither up to that point. But i always checked where she was when i left the house and Lifted the duvet and she went into complete attack mode. And I mean complete attack mode. It took 6 months for some wounds to heal and 20 days of antibiotics. I will spare you the photo’s but It looked like I had had a fight with Freddy Kreuger and lost and i have scars all down my left side from my foot right up to my head (unfortunately it was summer so i had on light not protective summer clothes)
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I’m a newbie too, a sit I considered had a single review where the sitter said something to the effect that upon arrival “the house was not ready “ for a sit and they made alternate arrangements. No more details, was house a total mess? Did the sitter go to a hotel paid for by HO? Imagine flying or driving somewhere and finding the arrangement unsuitable and needing to bail at possibly comsiderable added expense or inconvenience? Imagine being a HO with travel plans a d the sitter bails out?
- another red flag was no picture of the guest room. Turned out it had a full size bed which is uncomfortable for this couple.
@LosGatos I’m curious as to why a full sized bed is uncomfortable? I know in different countries we have different names for the various sized beds, what do do you mean by a full sized bed? Is this a small bed?
A full size bed in the US is 6” narrower than a Queen and 22” narrower than a King, too narrow for a couple unless they’re skinny.
Twin 38” x 75”
Full|54” X 74|
Queen 60” X 80”
King 76” X 80”
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I’m so sorry. That sounds awful.
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@LosGatos so it’s what we, in the UK, call a double. Thanks
Yes, in the US Full and Double are the same.
It was and it actually took me about a year before I actually dared look after even some of my other regular cats. Even now about 4 years later if a cat does something strange I really still break out in a cold sweat and have to leave the room.
I have only been round to the house of the cat that attacked me about twice and as nice as my friend is I couldn’t wait to leave.
I totally agree. If the house looks cluttered in the pictures it’s an automatic no. I always assume the HO has made the room look it’s best for the pictures.
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