Not understanding why there would be an option for hosts to choose regarding length of time the pets can be left alone, but sitters cannot see it. That would defeat the purpose.
Sounds like another glitch.
There are fields that hosts complete that sitters don’t see (including how long you can leave the dog) & equally ones we complete that hosts don’t see. For example how many hours of walks we will do daily & how big a dog we will care for with weight categories?! Apparently THS use it for data & matching sitters to hosts. It’s bonkers not to share it on profiles IMHO. #infoisgold
It certainly causes a lot of confusion, which is totally unnecessary.
I first found out when I applied to a sit and during the chat with the host I asked how long the dog could be left alone for and the host said I’ve ticked the box - he can never be left alone . I checked the listing and that wasn’t mentioned . The host checked the listing and said oh I see that this information isn’t visible to sitters I assumed it was . That was the first that I had heard of these boxes that owners complete when making a listing .
There is a text box alongside that says this will not appear on your listing but it also says THS would match the host with suitable sitters . Yet sitters do not have the equivalent boxes to indicate how much time they would stay with the pets so how will THS match us up ???
Honestly, I’d say don’t take it too personally. Sometimes life has other plans for us, and we can never really know what’s going on for other people. Maybe there was something that just didn’t feel quite right for them, but that doesn’t mean you did anything wrong,it just means whatever it was, it wasn’t for them. Just because they said the thing about the 4 hours doesn’t necessarily mean that’s the real reason.
And as someone who’s been sitting for a while, I really think if something doesn’t flow from the start or you get that gut feeling it’s not working (even if nobody did anything wrong), it’s actually better to call it off before the sit begins than to start and feel like it’s just an obligation.
As the op has previously stated, the 4 hours is in the profile. Second paragraph of the first section. Couldn’t be clearer.
Yup….there is something quite off here…
And if I were the HO, I would drive to get the key back asap.
No, you’re not being unreasonable…you’re just confusing it with the paid kind, like so many others
TH “matches sitters with hosts”? Since when? As a sitter, I read through the listings, I find the ones I like and believe to be a good fit, and I write the application letter. TH provides the website but I do not believe they find any sitter for any host. I wish they would change that wording. It is misleading to new and potential members.
Totally agree @Brindle, it is very misleading to owners, especially newbies who don’t know how it all works.
Curious when you say Aus and NZ often leave dogs all day which you personally don’t agree with. What I wonder is how does anyone have dogs and work then? I know the UK is more accommodating with taking dogs almost everywhere, but not every work place would be dog friendly. How does this work then from a practical perspective? A dog walker collect in the middle of the day? Doggy daycare? Or some other solution?
Looks like you have a sitter confirmed @marsbar as your listing now says “Currently no need for a sitter.” That’s a relief for you. Hope your key has been delivered by now.
Hi Temba. Yes the key was returned by post.
I have had a professional pet sitting business for 21 years. Until March 2020, my bread and butter was taking dogs out for bathroom breaks and walks/playtime in the yard for 20-30 minutes Mon.-Fri. Some dog parents hired me for two walks each workday. I often had 10 dog walks per day. These were people whose dogs needed potty and poop outings and exercise during the 10+ hours they were gone, between their commute and working hours. When Covid hit, everyone started working from home. I wound up deciding not to go back to daily dog walking and shifted to pet care while owners are away.