This housesit was a unique situation. For three weeks prior, we cared for the neighbor's cats in the house right next door, so we had the opportunity to get to know Rosana (pet parent), Miko, and Kuro (a bit! He's shy) for several weeks. We shared meals and enjoyed relaxed evenings together. 

Rosana was very thorough in preparing for our 4-day stay and showed us tasks related to caring for Miko and Kuro during the weeks before.

Miko is a beautiful border collie mix. As with border collies, she is smart and a bit stubborn. It was obvious she missed her mother as border collies are known to be loyal, but she behaved well with us sitters.

Every morning, I steamed chicken, vegetables, and an egg and hand fed her. We went for walks around the garden and played with her squeaky ball. Miko is a happy girl who enjoys being outside with her friend, Daisy (a sweet Thai dog who stays in the area), and is easygoing. 

One challenge we faced is that there are three soi dogs who come by the neighbor's for food every day. They are gentle with humans, but unpredictable with dogs. We monitored to make sure the dogs did not come into our yard. Luckily, everyone remained safe.

Kuro is a shy and independent outdoor cat. We thought it may be difficult to get close with him, but he did warm up to us within a day and we were able to pet him as well as put on/take off his harness (both pets have a GPS tracker on them).

It was a short housesit, but we enjoyed getting to know them for the weeks prior as well. 

We were in touch with the pet parents for several months prior to sitting for them. Unfortunately, another housesitter let them down so they thought they would be done with hosting petsitters after 20 years of good experiences.

However, they decided to give housesitting one more chance and trusted us. We visited their home and met Remy and Misha, two fluffy and sweet Ragdolls, and we agreed to care for them for three weeks in followed by caring for the next door neighbor's pets immediately after (more details on that in the next post).

Misha and Remy are easy to love and care for. We took them for walks, brushed daily, cleaned ears, and of course fed while monitoring carefully that Remy doesn't eat all of Misha's! They are smart and have their naughty cheeky moments. There were plenty of entertaining moments and it was a pleasure caring for them. 

The house is set in a peaceful area 40 minutes outside of town. The hosts were kind enough to let us use their car, which we only used occasionally for groceries. We also were flexible in meeting them at the airport and picking them up at the airport as well. We kept the house tidy with daily steam mopping as the host normally does. It's important to keep up with cleaning with fluffy pets in warm environments!

We also appreciated how everything in the house was clearly labeled and there was plenty of pet supplies stocked up. 

Overall, it was a smooth housesit.

Mogli is the most affectionate cat. We truly enjoyed our time with him and in this home. His owners were well-prepared and so thoughtful. Would love to see Mogli again!

We are primarily live-in housesitters, but sometimes we do daily visits. For two weeks, I (Lianne) went to feed this momma street cat and her babies! The hosts are caring for the kittens until they're older, neutered, and ready to go to new homes. So kind of them! The babies are so playful and adorable. It was a pleasure to care for them.  

First sit: While we were in Chiang Mai, Adam filled in on an emergency housesit at the last minute because their original petsitter canceled. Scruffy is an older cat who loves sun-bathing and eating. He is on a special diet to lose some of his chonkiness, but the automatic feeder made feeding time easy and straight-forward. Scruffy was really shy at first, but warmed up with cuddles soon after. The pet parents were so pleased with things that they asked Adam back for another two week sit. Scruffy is such a sweet cat; it was a pleasure to care for him! The owners gave the keys to their car to use freely, but Adam did not use it once. Still, it’s good to have access to transport in case of an emergency and the trust is appreciated! All of the money left for emergencies was thankfully unneeded as well. Hope to see you again, Scruffy!

Third sit: 2 months. We love Scruffy so much!

I (Lianne) looked after Mogu the bunny and Bbuyo the dwarf hamster for 10 days in a small town in Gyeongnam-do, South Korea. I’ve grown up with hamsters and have petsat for a caged rabbit before, but this was my first time caring for a free-roaming bunny with a whole room to explore.

Thanks to the pet parents’ clear and detailed instructions, daily care went smoothly: feeding both dry and fresh food, refreshing their water, changing the litter, vacuuming the bunny’s room now and then (and soothing with a treat after the noise!), monitoring the room temperature, etc. I made sure Bbuyo’s cage stayed clean and comfortable, and of course, gave Mogu plenty of attention and pets! Bbuyo is happiest when eating and I loved watching her munch on her daily sunflower seed.
​
While we usually don’t allow indoor cameras (as per TrustedHousesitters.com policy), I was fine with the setup in this case since the camera was only focused on the pets, and it gave the owners peace of mind. I still sent daily updates and photos, as always.
​
It was truly a pleasure caring for Mogu and Bbuyo. Thankful for Chrissi and Mike being generous and kind hosts with excellent communication. They made me feel welcome and arranged my round trip transportation which was really appreciated. I’d happily care for them again anytime.

Having already accepted this sit when a personal need came up for Lianne, I (Adam) flew to Taiwan alone for this time with Stella, a terrifically sweet, young Ragdoll. Stella and I had a blast; she is so adorable and just loves being where you are. She crawled into bed each night with me, sometime after presumably watching her programs or patrolling the kitchen. I will miss her and would be so happy to sit with Stella again someday! Her pet parents did a great job preparing all that she would need for the whole duration and all went smoothly. And even though a typhoon forced an adjustment to my travel plans on-the-fly, all worked out.

Georgia and Avery are two sweet dogs who were such a pleasure to spend time with. They have get different medications and doses each meal, so we were sure to carefully follow the feeding instructions twice a day thanks to the owners who labeled and left clear instructions. Additionally, we enjoyed for walks twice a day. They were very easy to care for and love, a pleasure to have as companions! We already miss them and hope to see them again.

After several years of hopping from one housesit to another, we began to feel the strain and needed a break. To recharge, we settled into a short-term rental in Bangkok for a few months. While the stability of staying in one place was refreshing, we found ourselves missing the company of animals. Our evening routine turned into wandering the neighborhood or Lumphini Park to feed / play with stray cats. 

So when a last-minute local housesit opportunity came up for a weekend in Bangkok, we didn’t hesitate. It was the perfect chance to be around cats again, explore a new neighborhood, and continue building our experience and client base. 

These three gorgeous cats each have a unique personality, but all were easy to care for and love. The youngest, Nettie, had just been spayed and was recovering in our room, separated from her sisters to protect her sutures. Despite wearing a cone, she still managed to remove the bandage a few times, so we closely monitored to ensure the wound stayed clean and covered, all while showering her with chin scratches and attention. We also administered her medication twice a day. Penny and Meredith are more independent and shy, especially Penny, who preferred to watch us at a distance from above. We managed to gain their trust with treats and letting them approach us when they felt ready.  

The hosts were welcoming and communicative. Overall, the petsit was smooth and enjoyable!

We had the pleasure of caring for Nitro, an energetic and intelligent Belgian Malinois, for two weeks in Hua Hin. Following the owner’s instructions, we took his car each morning and evening to a nearby reservoir where Nitro could run and play. Despite his boundless energy, Nitro was incredibly well-behaved and had excellent recall. Although we usually prefer to keep dogs on a lead, we felt confident allowing him off-leash, as the owner requested, and he never strayed far.

During our visits to the reservoir, we also looked after a local soi dog the owner had been feeding. She was initially shy, but by the third day she would sprint over to greet us, eager to play alongside Nitro. It turns out that she had recently given birth to two puppies, whom she introduced us to after a few days. We quickly grew attached to her. She and the other soi dogs were being cared for by multiple locals who brought food regularly. We had the urge to take her home though we don’t even have a stable home as traveling petsitters. 

All in all, it was a smooth housesit with good communication - we enjoyed caring for Nitro and would happily petsit for him again!

I (Lianne) planned a trip with my parents around SE Asia, Nov-Jan. The pet parent, Leandri, welcomed my parents to join on this 3-week housesit. It was a win-win for us and the dogs because it helped relieve some of their anxiety around new people. These dogs are young, energetic, and sweet puppies and must be handled with care since they are anxious and reactive. Leandri put in a lot of effort training them, so we were careful to maintain their consistent routine. This cheeky duo tried to push boundaries for us sitters. While we spoiled them with love, we didn't let them slip! (Yes that means no jumping on the bed, Nala.) The first night they were terrified of us and barked a lot; I was worried they wouldn't like us. However by the second day, we gained their trust. They were always by my side and loved cuddles. As asked, I drove Leandri's car to the park for long walks every weekend. I was nervous to drive in Bangkok, but it ended up being okay. Leandri's flight was delayed by two days unexpectedly, but I was able to rearrange my plans to stay with the dogs for the extra time. It's important to consider situations like this and be prepared for such incidents. We like these dogs so much we visited Leandri and the dogs several times since leaving the housesit. Adam later joined Lianne for a second housesit with these two.

Enjoyed caring for Yolo and Lola for a few weeks! They have such different personalities, but balance each other out well. They are sweet, well-behaved, loyal, and easy to love! We took them for hour-long walks at sunrise and sunset every day. We always encountered 'soi dogs' common in Thailand and while they tolerated each other, we stayed alert because they all can get a bit riled up unexpectedly and they are all super strong! We also played ball in the yard every afternoon while watering the plants.

Yolo had some recent health concerns, so we made sure to observe for potential incidents. Luckily, nothing happened under our watch, but we were prepared in case of that situation thanks to the pet parents’ preparedness.

For feeding, we measured out their raw meals twice a day after each walk in addition to various supplements and treats specific to each dog. One portion of their meals required cooking which we happily did.

​The pet parents were super hospitable and generous as well. We felt really appreciated with all of their thoughtful gestures (picking us up & dropping us off, introducing us to neighbors, treating us to meals, preparing groceries, having professional cleaners come, showing us around town) to make us feel comfortable and appreciated. They went above and beyond with their preparedness and clear & prompt communication! Would love to care for Yolo and Lola again!

Lianne cared for Roland and Basil for a nice weekend! ​I carefully followed instructions for one cat's medications—different dosages for morning and evening—and made sure his brother didn't eat while he finished his early! Other than that, it was a straight-forward and smooth housesit. I had a great time playing with them and getting much needed cat time! They don't like being picked up so I didn't do that, but I pet them and Roland cuddled on me with purrs. Best feeling ever! Thankful for the pet parents who are communicative, responsive, appreciative, and helpful by providing clear instructions and labeling things in the home. Would love to care for them again!

​Emergency housesit! Their sitter canceled so we filled in at the very last minute. It was just for three days, but very busy and full days with these guys! Still in Chiang Mai. Hard to get a clear photo of Dasher since he's a super active and playful pup. Joe Joe has a very calm demeanor.

These two don't get along very well with each other, so we were instructed to keep them separate, and go on separate walks and pee breaks, etc. They have different feeding times as well so we kept on top of it all ensuring each routine was not disrupted. Glad we could step in and reduce stress for the last-minute scramble due to a cancellation.

​We understand emergencies happen and plans change, but keeping dates is VERY important to us. We have never canceled on a housesit after we've confirmed, so you can count on us! Likewise, we expect homeowners to please maintain this commitment with us as much as possible as well.

We cared for Yoda and Chewie for three weeks in Malaysia. They have distinct personalities and were easy to care for. Twice daily, we prepared a special raw diet for these two, as per the homeowner's instructions, as well as a daily treat time. We also ensured the plants were watered.

Yoda is a gentle and shy soul, so we did not overwhelm her with too much attention. Chewie is quite the character and we feel honored he eventually cuddled up on us! This housesit was the first time we brought a pet to the vet. Thankfully, Yoda ended up being okay. (See blog post below for more on that.)

The pet parents are so hospitable and made us feel welcome and appreciated. They left us detailed and thorough instructions, as well as prepared enough food ahead of time. We felt equipped to handle any situation thanks to their preparedness. Would love to petsit for them again!

​I (Lianne) did 3 daily check-ins for two dogs over 8 days (morning, afternoon, and night). I took them for walks twice a day, let them out back, washed ears, brushed teeth, changed diapers, fed, and of course lots of playtime and cuddles! As a stranger, I was unfamiliar with their normal behavior, but I sensed the Yorkie was feeling anxious from being away from the owner - I know how loyal and social these breeds especially are! With the owner's approval, I brought my computer to their home to work where I can spend more time with the dogs (they loved sitting on my lap!) than three 15-20-minute visits as requested. Enjoyed caring for these two!

​I (Lianne) cared for three large and beautiful dogs (pit bull, mixed, white German Shepherd) in Philadelphia. I closely followed the instructions to maintain their routine - letting them on the patio in the morning, picking up poo, feeding twice a day in their designated spots, bringing their beds upstairs every night and down during the day. I took them each for their own walk for two hours a day. They are reactive to other dogs and the owners requested they not interact with others, so I was on very high alert though difficult in the busy area. I used treats, created physical barriers, and distracted them while other dogs walked by. I also used positive reinforcement if they didn't react to other dogs. I respected the owner's wishes by not allowing two of the dogs on the couch & bed. These dogs are very sweet and love attention, cuddles, and belly rubs. They got a lot of that from me! I brushed the long-haired dogs multiple times, vacuumed the house and emptied the dehumidifier every day as instructed. This was a challenging but rewarding housesit and I learned a lot. Loved these dogs!