Yes it would be
I did paid sitting before I joined THS. I still do it. But only in my local area.
I think you’d be exceptionally lucky to find any paid work other than close to where you live. There are enough good professional sitters in most areas that it would make no sense for an HO to employ someone from a long way off. Besides, all the sites/apps I use for paid work only share details of HOs/sitters within a small area.
This is why I signed up with THS: I wanted to travel more widely and if that meant not being paid for those sits, I could hack it.
As for “how much is too much for free?”, only you can decide that, of course. But I’d suggest that if you’re seeing the sitting in those terms (giving a service “for free”, as opposed to a mutually beneficial exchange) then maybe you should investigate paid sits, in your own local area.
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I couldn’t agree more.
This platform only makes sense if we voluntarily agree to what both parties see as a mutually beneficial exchange and ignore the rest of offers and applications.
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Yes. Uf the thought cross my mind when reading a listing - «that sounds like a lot of work!» - then I don’t apply even if nice home/ location. And in comparison - I can do tasks that last a few hours uf they don’t feel like work. Some sits are for other sitters. A few sits should clearly be paid sits also - being a full time job for one or more sitters.
We have the power to scroll on. The problem would be deceiptful members (host or sitter ) that don’t disclose what it is really about. Then we can end sit - or at the least leave an honest and factual review.
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I agree. In theory, listings that require work related to some kind of business are against THS T&Cs but there’s always someone willing to take those sits so I guess it’s still about a voluntary mutual exchange.
Depends on location I think. Since I am traveling a specific route or want to be in a specific location, THS usually has a lot of options. I actually went nomadic end of Oct for 5 months, then deciding where I want to live. I am in southern US for the winter and having options works for me, in exchange for pet care. If you are being paid, you may not have many options for time and place. I would think doing dog walking and boarding would work.
I just got to a new sit and they left me flowers and $100 US. Now, I am here a week, so it isn’t like paid dog sitting, but first time anyone left me money.
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@Huronbase, kudos. Any such gesture presumably reflects perceived value-add and appreciation by related Pet Parent.
We neither ask for, nor expect, any payment or gifts. But we have received unexpected monetary and non-monetary gifts on multiple housesits. That said, we have also voluntarily provided non-monetary gifts - from token gestures to meaningful gifts - to some Pet Parents. Especially on longer duration housesits. Such gestures would not impact our selection process - we don’t volunteer for money ;). And I suspect similarly low, if any, impact for Pet Parents - many of their trips are relatively high cost. But are thoughtful, courteous and appreciated. Good manners need not be expensive.
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It was a nice gesture. Beautiful home. And totaly relaxing. A cold front is expected to hit over the next 3 days, but now, I am chilling on the back patio in 70 degree (21 C) sunny weather. While the shepherd brings me her toy every 3 minutes. I had to go inside and get some wine to escape. And people complain about leaving a dog for less than 6 hours. I walked these dogs and the playing hasn’t stopped for 2 hours.
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I don’t know where you live but here in the UK there are petsitting Facebook groups where pet owners from all over the UK advertise themselves wanting sitters and are prepared to pay in cash for the service
Why not? and this has not been our experience. If a sitter has the experience and skills required, surely it would make no sense not to hire them Just because they were not local?
We have mixed a few paid sits in with our THS sits, Our next is in April, in Devon, a fee weeks later we have one in London and then after that a third one in Sussex - non local to us as we don’t have a permanent address of our own.
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I have been here less than 24 hours and think they should have left more. It is 9 am. I have let the dogs out a few times, then I walked the shepherd, about 2 miles. I have let her in and out a dozen times in the last hour. Just in and out. And now she is on the floor crying because I am ignoring her. Never have I been with a more demanding dog. Even the 65 pound puppy that I sat last Aug, who chewed up my stuff and their stuff, was less demanding. I like to stay in the home and chill. Now I am thinking of heading out just to get out.
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Is it perhaps because the owners left?
Is the same sit where the owners left you a $100 tip and some flowers? If so, it’s becoming clear precisely why….they knew it would be a hard sit 
What does the WG say about the dog’s behaviour/routine? #demandingdogs
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no, they said she can be like that. Eventually she settles. For a short while. She is getting me used to saying no but it is like a toddler that won’t listen. I have never experienced a dog this needy for attention and because she has a bladder issue, I hate to not let her out. So in and out, in and out. It had to be 50 times today. And I walked her twice. Thought that might get her mellow. I cannot play fetch with her, which is what she really wants, because she has torn an ACL. So no fetch.
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What a great effort you’re making!
I’ve found mental simulation games can tire a dog with medical limited mobility. Are there any puzzle games available in the home. Can you play hide and seek with treats? Even doing rounds of “doggie pushups’” can help tire a dog.
For any not familiar with these pushups, you repeatedly ask the dog to sit, lie down, and sit again. I do rounds of 10 with a break in between, rewarding with verbal praise and/or a treat at varied intervals.
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She doesn’t sit on command. I have tried with treats. I can send her to her bed now. But I think she isn’t the smartest. I have dealt with a lot of dogs. This one is really tough. But I think she is learning with me. Even when going on a walk. It takes about 100 m, or 120 yards. for her to stop trying and jump on me a bit. Not sure why, before she gets in front of me and just walks. Even when I take the older, smaller male on the 2nd walk. Same behavior. Don’t know why. I think maybe mentally disabled dog. She is really sweet, but a large dog. Somewhat annoying but going with the flow. Beautiful house. And as cold as it is getting here tomorrow, nothing compared to where I was in MI. And I am treating her like she is somewhat mentally disabled.
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Well, good news. She has chilled. And as I reflect, it was warm on the patio on Sat and Sun and I hung out there. Then the cold front came in. I think she just wanted me to go out with her. And just kept trying. Still going with mental disability since I have not experienced a dog that took so long to learn. Today she is more chill. Realizing she gets the 2 walks, it is colder outside by 20 degrees from 2 days ago. So they get their snuggles and cuddles. And no more 50 times in and out.
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Great improvement - wish you a nice sit!
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Thank you. Very happy to be southern US and not in arctic northern US.
Southern US is pretty Arctic right now also!