I’m currently in Portugal but am amazed there are only 3 owners looking for sits over the next couple of months - anyone know why there are so few here compared to the UK for example…
Thanks
@i-mac I see over a dozen in reviewing. I think you just didn’t see them as soon as they listed.
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Same as @ExploreDreamDiscover we can see 4 live sits for summer and almost 20 for summer dates that are in reviewing. Might be worth favouriting those ones you like the look of as if they don’t find someone from the first 5 applicants then you will get an alert (normally faster than the general location alert) if they release the sit again @i-mac #fastestfingerfirst 
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It’s similar for Spain, where the population size is 4 to 5 larger than that of Portugal, but yet only 11 sits available in Spain. THS just mustn’t promote themselves in the two countries, which is strange given the amount of English speakers and THS seems largest in English speaking countries. You would think it would be a no-brainer for them to promote themselves in Spain and Portugal.
Given THS is quite large in the UK, I don’t think THS realise how many people from the UK have family that are living in either Portugal or Spain (LIKE I DO!), or how many of us from the UK take our main holidays in either Spain or Portugal, given the ease of flights.
I even thought of popping a paid ad on facebook for THS in the specific area of Spain where our family lives, but now we’re in contact with quite a number of owners there anyway.
I would imagine it’s to do with the language. The sits advertised are likely to be ex pats. THS probably needs to start reaching out to other countries in their language, but, who knows whether that will happen……There would then be a problem for sitters who don’t speak the local language
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We mostly use Nomador for sits abroad in Europe outside the UK. There are often sits in Spain & Portugal on there (we’ve used Nomador to gain sits in both) and sometimes ones on Mind My House too. Workaway also occasionally lists pet-sits in these countries, and there are Facebook groups specifically for pet-sitting in Spain & Portugal too.
THS doesn’t really market outside the UK, U.S, Canada & Australia - there are occasionally sits abroad in Europe but can be quite infrequent and are snapped up very quickly! As mentioned already in this thread it’s usually English speaking ex-pats who have listings in Europe, because THS is a British site.
Creating a saved search for Portugal will notify you as soon as any Portugal sits are posted.
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I’ve done a number of sits in both Portugal and Spain the last 18 months. However they are super popular sits. I remember one HO in portugal telling me last year (pre-5 sit rule) they were surprised they had over 30 applications within 24 hours and were a bit overwhelmed!
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@i-mac
Maybe the Portuguese really love their pets and the majority of pet owners go on holiday with them?
There are multiple reasons. One is that there are 20+ listings in Portugal that are currently active but “reviewing applications”. Similar to Spain ,and other countries with good weather, listings in Portugal can reach their 5 applications limit very quickly.
THS is UK based so it grew big there before expanding. They are now trying to grow in America as that’s a big and potentially profitable market so probably don’t have any interest in pushing into Portugal where the return is less.
THS is an English company. It is attractive to people who are in English speaking countries or English speaking people in foregin countries. Similarly Nomador is French and is big in France and French language countries
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Lots of people go south on holiday from the UK so loads of sits available here! Perhaps if you’re already somewhere with lovely weather you go on holiday locally so no need to use pet sitters. It’s probably also cultural I’d say.
Yes, this gives a better idea of the number of sits. Many listings in continental Europa are active for only a day or less, whereas UK sits in many locations can stay open for weeks.
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