Dog sitter staying at our house --- guidelines? UPDATE PAGE 3

[clh2]

If I have someone stay at our house with our dog-I insist that they sleep in our bed...cuz, that is where our dog sleeps. I stock the fridge with their favorite snacks.

I just do not have an issue with this at all. If I wanted a different routine for my dog, I would just have her kennel end instead.

We pay $50/night.

 

[Minnie_me]

Pets are usually happier in a familiar environment and cause damage to a home, furniture, etc, especially if they are stressed out about being somewhere new without their owners. Also, this person is younger, if she is in a rental she may not even be allowed to have a pet in her apartment.

Personally, and maybe it is a where you are from thing, I find it even odder that you would think of asking her to take your pet into her home, than that you would consider offering her only a couch to sleep on (coming at it form my experiences in varous parts of the US, Spain and Germany, but obviously some places see it differently according to your and other PPs experience)

She is young, but owns her own house.

The reason I hired her in the first place is that we were talking about her home, and she said that she was currently dogsitting for a family member, and the dog was staying at her house. And that is also why I assumed that my dog would go to her home. Like I said, this is new territory for me. This is my first dog, and last year, he went on vacation with us, so I haven't left him before.

 

[MrsJackSparrow4Life]

The couch or bed thing would depend on how long she is watching the dog. Just overnight I would have no problem sleeping on the couch but there is no way I could handle a couch for any length of time.

As for your house or hers? I would probably suggest staying at your home just like this girl did. If the dog is going to freak out, such as peeing, pooping, vomiting all over the place or ripping up furniture I would prefer they do it at your house over mine any day Plus it is much less likely for that stuff to happen if the dog is in a familiar setting.

 

[LJSquishy]

We had the younger sister of by sister-in-law (she was probably 20ish) stay at our house with our two dogs for a week when we went to Disney World. We paid her $200-$250, I can't remember exactly. I asked her ahead of time the kinds of items she would like to have on hand to cook with and stocked the fridge with everything. I told her to help herself to any and everything, relax, watch tv, don't worry about cleaning (except if a dog has an accident or if she makes a huge mess obviously), etc. We wanted her to feel comfortable since she was moving in for a full week.

I assumed she would sleep in our bed so I told her there were fresh sheets on the bed. I don't know if she slept on the bed or couch, but I'm assuming the bed. I just stripped the bed when we got back after our trip. We don't have a guest room and the only bed in our house is ours. I wouldn't expect someone to sleep in the couch.

If you're comfortable with her sleeping in a bed, let her know there are fresh sheets on it, and then maybe mention that if she feels more comfortable on the couch for whatever reason that there are extra sheets and blankets here (show her where). If you don't want her sleeping in a bed, lay out sheets, blankets, and a pillow on the couch and say you've put them out for her.

 

[RitaE]

You said "This is what she usually does" so I assume she has some sort of formalized experience in house sitting and she probably does have some expectations. Honestly I can't imagine anybody sleeping on a couch with a blanket when there's empty beds feet away. If it were me I'd tell you I slept on the couch and then I'd go sleep in the bed, so better not to hire me for that one.

I've only hired what I guess you'd call Professional Housesitters, in that they have client lists and contracts and recommendations and all that stuff and are not personal friends of ours but here are my experiences. I'm actually more comfortable with that than close friends who might be tempted to go through things and then gossip.

Yes, they expect a bed. With clean sheets. If you leave out a second set of bedding they will wash what they used and remake the bed for you before they leave. I can't remember what the contracts actually say but there was places in there for the homeowner to indicate which bedroom and bathroom they should use.

It seems to be common in my experience to leave them food for a first meal and then a list of nearby grocery stores, delivery, and restaurants. They often in return leave food for you. I've had everything from an accounting of what they used from my freezer and pantry with it replaced, to a bowl of fruit, some cookies and a bottle of wine.

Everything single time I have to admit that they've left my house probably cleaner and better than how they entered it. That's nice.

The group I usually use are all students/work from their laptop types and a reliable high speed internet was absolutely required. They also wanted a good work space reserved for them like a desk or dedicated table space.

The contract also states whether or not they get use of our cars. The ladies we've had here have all had their own vehicles so that just gets crossed out.

I usually go through the house and collect papers and anything else I consider too private or confidential and we put it all in a suitcase up in our attic. I usually start that about the week before and make 3 or 4 sweeps through the house and by the time they get here there really isn't anything left that I wouldn't want them to see.

 

[shortbun]

Our house sitters have always slept in a bed, even when we didn't have a guest room. We'd just super clean ours and provide clean sheets and towels. I'm not sure why that would be a problem; don't you know her very well?

 

[aprilgail2]

I would spell out where I want her to sleep and set some rules (no long distance no pay per view etc) and make sure you set rules on guest and company., Will she have her kids with her? Her boyfriend? Her own dog?

Long Distance?? Is that even a thing anymore?? Costs no more to call California from NY as it does to call the person living next door to me...

It really depends on how well you know her, how friendly you are, and how much you are paying her.

We're going out of town next week, and a colleague is watching our dog. She suggested that she stay at our house, since that's what she usually does and that's what's easier for the dog. After I agreed, I started wondering: where would she sleep? I'm assuming on the couch? Would I be expected to stock the fridge for her?

I have absolutely no experience with this, so any advice will be helpful. Thanks!

No way would I make them sleep on the couch, that is just so wrong.

 

[Mariep26]

When I did dog sitting the family expected me to stay at the house with the dogs. They offered numerous sleeping options laying out where the various sheets were etc.. (This was a two week stint so I would wash the sheets at least once and then leave a fresh set on the bed on the last day with a note).
I understand your feelings about the bedroom but just understand that everyone may not see it that way and could be insulted. Since it is an issue I would be explicit as to where the guest may sleep.

 

[lakelandgal70]

Our sitter stays at our house and she sleeps in our bed. We change the sheets for her and leave out clean towels. And when we get home we change the sheets and towels. I want her to be comfortable while she is here. I used to keep the fridge stocked but we both are not eating processed junk and she is a vegan so wasn't sure what to have on hand for her lol. We pay 30 for overnight and 12 for each visit out to take them potty.

 

[Pumbaa_]

My pet sitter prefers the couch. She builds a lovely nest and could not be happier

 

[disneydee6]

I dogsit for many different people, and never once have I only been given a couch to sleep. You should give her a bed to sleep in. If you are expecting her to stay overnight, and there is an unoccupied bed in the house, why not? I would be a little peeved that I have to stay overnight but can't get a good night sleep.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

We're going out of town next week, and a colleague is watching our dog. She suggested that she stay at our house, since that's what she usually does and that's what's easier for the dog. After I agreed, I started wondering: where would she sleep? I'm assuming on the couch? Would I be expected to stock the fridge for her?

I have absolutely no experience with this, so any advice will be helpful. Thanks!

You should offer your bed, with clean sheets of course. No way would I sleep on the couch.

As far as the fridge, I would just ask her what she wants for snacks, drinks, etc. Discuss it with her.

 

[anniemae]

I would prefer she use dd room if it were me. I would put on new sheets an tell her she is welcome to use that room. I would leave her basic food like snacks, fruit, bagels. But I would also leave money and let her know she can use it for groceries or take out since its hard to know what someone likes to eat. I would hate to stock the kitchen with foods she hates.

 

[leebee]

If you had an overnight guest, where would you ask them to sleep? I have friends who might volunteer to take the couch, but I would always offer DD's room first, and if it was a relative or close friend, I'd insist she sleep in my daughter's room. Is that a possibility? I understand how you might feel awkward offering up your room, but maybe your daughter's room would work.

Perhaps you could show her to your DD's room and say something like, "There are clean sheets on this bed and towels here for you, but I also made up the sofa bed just in case you are more comfortable sleeping downstairs." When I cat sat at a friend's house, I was more comfortable on the couch. They have a HUGE house and staying in the master suite, which is located over the garage and away from the main section of the house, seemed isolated and almost kind-of creepy; I liked sleeping in the centrally-located living room better.

We have friends here in town we often pet sit for. When I pet sit for our friends, if it's just the 2 cats, we usually do this as a favor (which they return when we are away), but when their 2 goldens are there, they pay $50 a day and expect someone to sleep at the house. Two dogs are more work, more time, more effort on my part, and they pay for this. I know the routine now, but the first few times we did this, we met with them and laid it all out- what to feed, how often, walking expectations/routines, what each dog likes/dislikes, etc. They always leave a stocked fridge with the simple request of replacing anything we use up. We usually purchase whatever meats we want for supper. I know that when they have college students stay, they often leave a couple of casseroles or something (lasagne, for example) for them. As far as bedspace, they are always very clear: There are clean sheet on DD's, DS's, and the guest room beds; choose whichever bed you find more comfortable. We don't stay in their room- but we don't stay on the couch.

 

[Minnie_me]

UPDATE:

Heeding everyone's advice, but also listening to my daughters, who both swore that the dogsitter wouldn't WANT to sleep in our bedrooms, this is what I did:

I super-cleaned my room and one of my DDs' rooms. Fresh sheets, and the works. I also put a pillow, sheets and a blanket on the bench in the living room.

While giving the dogsitter a tour of the house, I said to her: "There are linens on the bench if you'd like to sleep on the couch, but there are also fresh linens and air conditioning in my bedroom and DD's bedroom, if you'd be more comfortable upstairs."

We returned today, and ---------

She slept on the couch.

I laughed and told her that I didn't know what she would prefer, and she told me that she ABSOLUTELY ALWAYS sleeps on the couch when she dogsits, unless the family has a designated Guest Room.

Thanks for all of the advice!

 

[LJSquishy]

UPDATE:

Heeding everyone's advice, but also listening to my daughters, who both swore that the dogsitter wouldn't WANT to sleep in our bedrooms, this is what I did:

I super-cleaned my room and one of my DDs' rooms. Fresh sheets, and the works. I also put a pillow, sheets and a blanket on the bench in the living room.

While giving the dogsitter a tour of the house, I said to her: "There are linens on the bench if you'd like to sleep on the couch, but there are also fresh linens and air conditioning in my bedroom and DD's bedroom, if you'd be more comfortable upstairs."

We returned today, and ---------

She slept on the couch.

I laughed and told her that I didn't know what she would prefer, and she told me that she ABSOLUTELY ALWAYS sleeps on the couch when she dogsits, unless the family has a designated Guest Room.

Thanks for all of the advice!

It was nice of you to offer both options for her.

 

[bethy]

I house sat for families when I was in college and the absolute last place I felt comfortable sleeping was in the Master bedroom. It didn't matter how clean it was.

And now with my own household full of children and pets I feel the same way. On a rare occasion my wonderful parents have watched our kids overnight and slept in our bed in order to be closer to the kids' bedrooms. I hate to admit it but I cringe inwardly at the thought of even them sleeping in our bed.

There is just no way I'd ever want an overnight housesitter. I don't have anything to hide and my house is reasonably clean. But I'm just waaaay too private a person I guess.

For me, it's definitely not personal.

(but it's interesting to read peoples' differing perspectives on this issue)