Revelations about pet sitting
I am a dog person, mainly because I’m not allergic to them.
I like cats, but I’m highly allergic. Same with most other critters with fur. My kids’ “stackable” pets — guinea pigs, rabbit, chinchillas that all lived in self-contained cages — made me miserable when I had to be around them for any amount of time.
I used to be more allergic, because I’d react to dogs, too. Now I really don’t. And I can develop a tolerance to cats — if I have to live with them.
So why am I considering house sitting when most of the time you take care of pets?
Good question.
I recently had the opportunity to pet sit for a weekend. I figured it would give me a good taste of house sitting with pets. And it has.
I love the dogs. They are English cream golden retrievers — four beautiful, well behaved and friendly dogs. The puppy still needs some training, but she’s only 4 months old.
The routine is easy enough. They know it, too. It was nice being in the quiet of the country with the dogs and a big still house.
But, I don’t know that I want even this minimal level of responsibility all the time. I am here for the dogs. I am on their schedule. And that’s ok for now, but I wouldn’t want to do it all the time.
I spent some time on a house sitting app. I clicked on many of the opportunities, just to see what people need. Many of them are in remote areas. You’d need a car to get around. While that’s fine in the US; I won’t have a car in Europe.
Some owners require you to pay expenses while living there — especially on long-term sits.
Some just want you to feed the pets and let them out. Others require you to walk them and stick to a regimented schedule.
Some require couples — not singles. Some offer you a room, some a cottage or separate living space. Some require yard work or maintenance.
Anyway, it got me thinking if this is really something I want to do for extended periods. And I have to say no. I still think it would be a great way to travel cheaply from wherever I am living. I can consider some shorter sits — a week or two — to see someplace new and have a little vacation, if you will.
But I think I need — or maybe I just want — my own space without the responsibility of pets. I want to be able to come and go as I please. If I want to be gone for a day or a weekend, I want to be able to do that.
Everything happens for a reason. I don’t always know the reason right away. But I think this pet sitting came up now to help me figure out what I want to do. Or maybe what I don’t.
I still had a nice time. And I can get a reference from it for the future, because I’m sure I will pet sit again. Just not as a full-time gig.
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| Hanging out with Liza and Harley. |
I used to be more allergic, because I’d react to dogs, too. Now I really don’t. And I can develop a tolerance to cats — if I have to live with them.
So why am I considering house sitting when most of the time you take care of pets?
Good question.
I recently had the opportunity to pet sit for a weekend. I figured it would give me a good taste of house sitting with pets. And it has.
I love the dogs. They are English cream golden retrievers — four beautiful, well behaved and friendly dogs. The puppy still needs some training, but she’s only 4 months old.
 |
| Puppy Ivy gets a belly scratch. |
 |
| Leo loves attention. |
The routine is easy enough. They know it, too. It was nice being in the quiet of the country with the dogs and a big still house.
But, I don’t know that I want even this minimal level of responsibility all the time. I am here for the dogs. I am on their schedule. And that’s ok for now, but I wouldn’t want to do it all the time.
I spent some time on a house sitting app. I clicked on many of the opportunities, just to see what people need. Many of them are in remote areas. You’d need a car to get around. While that’s fine in the US; I won’t have a car in Europe.
Some owners require you to pay expenses while living there — especially on long-term sits.
Some just want you to feed the pets and let them out. Others require you to walk them and stick to a regimented schedule.
Some require couples — not singles. Some offer you a room, some a cottage or separate living space. Some require yard work or maintenance.
Anyway, it got me thinking if this is really something I want to do for extended periods. And I have to say no. I still think it would be a great way to travel cheaply from wherever I am living. I can consider some shorter sits — a week or two — to see someplace new and have a little vacation, if you will.
But I think I need — or maybe I just want — my own space without the responsibility of pets. I want to be able to come and go as I please. If I want to be gone for a day or a weekend, I want to be able to do that.
Everything happens for a reason. I don’t always know the reason right away. But I think this pet sitting came up now to help me figure out what I want to do. Or maybe what I don’t.
I still had a nice time. And I can get a reference from it for the future, because I’m sure I will pet sit again. Just not as a full-time gig.
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