Doggie Doodie

[MelBay]

For those of you who utilize pet sitters, how often do they let your pups out to do their business?

I put myself in their paws, and at my advanced age if I only got to "go" 3 times a day, man, it wouldn't be pretty.

And how long between their last visit at night, until the next morning?

Now that my kids are grown & gone, these critters are my kids, and I have transferred all fretting & worries to them and their care. <sigh> It's just my nature.

 

[Steve]

I have some wonderful neighbors who take care of my 2 cocker spaniels when I can't take them with me during my travels. They come over 3 times a day. Their last visit at night is about 10 pm and their morning visits are about 8 am...so it's about 10 hours between visits to the backyard. Despite the fact that my dogs are getting older...my boy is 13 and my little girl is 9...they have very few accidents. In fact, during most of my trips they don't have a single accident the whole time I am away. They are happy to be in their own home, and I am happy that they are home, too.

Steve

 

[Fern Modena]

Brianna the Bichon is very people oriented. I cant leave her home alone with only somebody coming in every 8-10 hours. I use a house sitter. Around here they run about the same as a top quality kennel, the kind that doesnt keep the dogs caged all the time. In addition, my house sitter picks up my mail and sees to it that I have fresh milk and bread when I get back home.

Around here house sitters who also are dog sitters charge $30--$45. a day.

Fern

 

[MuranoJo]

Same as Fern. We have been using house-sitters for quite a while. I only hire those who basically move in and stay overnight the entire time we are gone. They take care of the pups (only one now, since we lost the older dog about 3 weeks ago ), feed the birds, bring in the mail and newspapers if we don't stop them, and water the plants in & out. They get about $35/day.

 

[Talent312]

We have a dog-door to a fenced yard. He's used to being home alone.
At Buddys age (13+) he prefers to snooze+snore than run, anyway.
DSS (dear stepson) stops by to feed and provide company 2x a day.

 

[hypnotiq]

I always try to have in-house sitters. I have two people that I usually use but if its an extended period of time (more than a long weekend), I don't like to tax someone with the responsibility. Plus, I can't just let anyone handle my guys. LOL

We're lucky here in the Seattle area that we have some really good places for our pets. This is a picture of where mine stay when I take week+ vacations.

100sqft heated cottage + 250sqft open fenced area for them.
Plus they get taken out for social/play/exercise time 3x a day.

They usually go ballistic on arrival, so I assume they enjoy their vacation too. :hysterical:

 

[lvhmbh]

We have two cats and used to have someone come in to feed them and do the litter twice a day. After our last trip they were so needy for affection I've decided to hire the young woman next door to move in with them. I know she likes to sleep in (she has an erratic schedule for school) but the boys won't let her without feeding them first - then they'll sleep with/on her.

 

[glypnirsgirl]

How do you go about finding a housesitter?

I have 2 fur nieces that are 8 and 13 year old cocker spaniels that I am concerned about. My sister and I will both be gone on this trip --- usually the dogs come stay with me when she is on vacation.

I like the idea of a house sitter --- my nieces need people, too.

elaine

 

[hypnotiq]

Im lucky. Its one of my friends daughter. Her parents have 6 Mastiffs, so she can handle my two just fine.

 

[presley]

I have a pet sitter who stays overnight. I have a lot of animals, so it runs me $85./per night.
It would cost me over $100. per night at the cheapest boarding kennel, just for my dogs. I'd still need to pay someone to care for the cat, chickens and goats. So, the $85./per night is a bargain for me and much less stressful for all the animals since they are all home together.

 

[lvhmbh]

When you walk your dogs ask the other owners if they know of a house sitter for the pets.