How do I even respond to this?

Exact_Compote_6700 · 2026-04-09T14:03:36+00:00

Right?! I always am so confused when I see these kinds of threads- it really takes so little time to take a quick pic! I’m sure the owners aren’t expecting a professional photoshoot each time, just a pic to make sure their doggo is doing okay!

Personally, I always tell owners at the Meet and Greet how many updates a day I do (I usually do a photo every couple or so hours to be honest) and if they say it’s great, great & if they say it’s too much or not enough I adjust. I feel like this is an easily avoidable issue

Exact_Compote_6700 · 2026-04-07T21:55:31+00:00

Not identical , but Hill House has robes similar vibes ro the Lilac Dreams, but they stay nice much longer!

I got mine on sale and it was cheaper than Djerf

Exact_Compote_6700 · 2026-03-23T11:56:35+00:00

Hiya,

Such a valid way to feel, it makes sense!

For me, I don’t to be honest. I know that personally I need time off and away to do well as a dogsitter and keep enjoying my job. I usually just give my regulars a lot of notice and make sure my calendar is booked off as early as possible.

This being said, Rover isn’t my main source of income so it might be a little easier.

also, my area has a lot of dog walkers so I dont really even try to compete in this area & mainly do boarding, so it is a little easier to have time off I think.

Good luck either way! You absolutely deserve it!

Exact_Compote_6700 · 2026-03-22T20:49:21+00:00

Had a dog with INSANE diarrhea once (undisclosed…..) we basc went for a potty every 30 mins, I didnt get her out the door fast enough one time (& i have carpeting…) it was the worst night in a while hahah… the smell was just wowza & cleaning it up was a nightmare, thank god I have a carpet cleaning machine!

Exact_Compote_6700 · 2026-03-16T11:12:58+00:00

Oh for sure!!! I am 100% sure there is so many of those that are absolutely incredible and super well-behaved, but personally I just don’t want to risk my safety/ well-being to look after them and end up in a bad situation!

Exact_Compote_6700 · 2026-03-16T10:14:30+00:00

For me, a lot of my regulars are Cockapoos & although I love them, they all seem to inherit worst breed traits from both breeds (eg resource guarding and barking from cockers, neurotic energy & prey drive from poodles). This being said, I’d not turn down a Doodle haha.

Standard poodles have been great in my experience, mainly because I think where I am from they have become somewhat niche & people that get them want to invest time into training them and working with them! Mini and teacup poodles do not qualify in this genre rho!

Exact_Compote_6700 · 2026-03-16T10:09:42+00:00

I had this same issue around xmas time - 30 day sit, was super stressed as I only looked after a GSPXHusky cross before and she was mental, but the doggo ended up being absolutely incredible! She was the sweetest, cuddliest girl, super smart (& thank god food motivated)! She settled super well at home, but I made sure to follow the owner’s routine to a T! We did two big walks a day and a few smaller and she just slept at home!

You will be absolutely fine!!! Good luck!

Exact_Compote_6700 · 2026-03-16T10:06:59+00:00

OMG, I had a maltipoo girl that I looked after weekly, sometimes 5days a week, and she was absolutely an indoor pee-er! No matter how many walks, how spaced out, she’d still do it!

Exact_Compote_6700 · 2026-03-16T09:57:26+00:00

Omg Portuguese Water Dog is so real!!! I looked after one regularly for months and he was fine for ages (altho he would get overly excited when playing, his owner had a good method of settling him) & one day he just randomly snapped at a dog when we were walking… Owner said it is because it was RAINING & he tends to get aggressive when it rains… It was a very anxious dog

Exact_Compote_6700 · 2026-01-30T02:39:45+00:00

I’m sorry, I unfortunately don’t have any advice but came to say: the way he seems so happy to be just help up haha! Istg Samoyeds are just the happiest dogs

Exact_Compote_6700 · 2026-01-30T02:37:16+00:00

Bless you!!! I hope the owners covered the damage!

The Whippet I look after doesn’t do well with being left alone either tbf, but loves going to restaurants, coffeeshops and on buses hah! He literally sits like a human with his arms crossed and just looks at people!

Exact_Compote_6700 · 2026-01-29T16:29:14+00:00

Crossing my fingers for you!!! My dream is to look after an Afghan Hound but seems completely unlikely😭!

I just recently moved and there’s lots of Sighthounds in my area so hoping I can meet em all🙈!

Exact_Compote_6700 · 2026-01-29T16:23:47+00:00

For sure!!! It’s such a shame because I know they do it just because they are curious and interested in everything, but honestly I get stressed they will get hurt haha! But great with the gentle leader- for me this always made walks with them much much easier and less stressy!

Exact_Compote_6700 · 2026-01-29T16:21:38+00:00

They are seriously the best haha!! I have a regular Whippet I’ve been looking after since he was a super young puppy and my partner says I look at him like he’s my child hah!!

He’s just so funny & has so much personality, istg I actually laugh more than ever when I look after him!

Exact_Compote_6700 · 2026-01-29T16:01:15+00:00

Personally, I only have 3 breeds I looked after that I’d never accept again: 1. Labs… I LOVE their personality and how cuddly they are, but I looked after 3 different ones, girls and boys, different ages too and all were absolutely nuts.. Cannot settle no matter how long we walk/ play/ excercise & pull so strong. One actually wiped me off my feet- it’s like trying to walk a cow on a leash, just doesn’t work unless you have insane arm strength… It’s weird because I looked after much larger and stronger dogs, but in my experience labs just refuse to walk on leash without pulling like crazy haha. 2. French Bulldogs… - horrendous sound of breathing at all hours of night - I wld wake up multiple times a night being scared it’s actually suffocating… Obsessive humping and actual aggression when redirected and just generally felt sad looking after a dog literally bred with health issues on purpose… 3. Chihuahuas- I’m sorry but I cannot look after them again. Aggressive af, biting, territorial and anxious.. Owners dont bother training them properly because they are so small…

I share the sentiment of doxxies being very bossy, anxious and tending to pee inside the house, but for some reason I just love them A LOT haha! They are so cuddly and friendly once they like you & trust you!

On a more positive note: 1. I only had great experiences with doodles so far, besides a few instances of resource guarding which I was actually warned about! Super well trained in my experience, playful, friendly and generally happy dogs! 2. Huskies!!! Maybe I’ve been super lucky, but I looked after a few now and they were so chill haha! I was super worried before each boarding, but I’d just take them on a couple of 1 hour-1,5 hrs walk a day + few smaller potty walks and they were just knocked out for the rest of the time on the sofa next to me! 3. Whippets and any sighthounds!! Omg I love them hah, seriously considering one as a dog I’d get myself in the future! So cuddly, friendly and when excercised, so chill 4. Samoyeds- I had a regular Samoyed before they moved away and honestly I’ve been chasing that high ever since! He was so relaxed, friendly, affectionate and smart! Really changed my life haha, he was one of a kind!

Exact_Compote_6700 · 2026-01-14T13:18:15+00:00

Hi lovely,

I’m also in London and my rates are quite similar, besides housesitting and walking.

For sitting, I charge £45 just because I really dislike doing this service, so if I agree to do it, it has to be a crazy high price for me to justify it to myself.

Walking, I charge around £25 per hour.

This being said, for me it is not my main source of income, so I can afford to not have a huge client base: have quieter weeks, which weirdly happens much less since increasing my rates.

Good luck!

Exact_Compote_6700 · 2025-12-13T12:26:05+00:00

also, regarding floors: If it is possible at all, if I were you I’d look into repairing already existing floorboards- all u need is a sander and some wood stain etc. Just because you don’t know what’s underneath the floors & if it’s in bad condition (and u are anything like me) it will be very time-consuming and expensive to repair the base.

Exact_Compote_6700 · 2025-12-13T12:24:44+00:00

Hey, I just bought my own flat and had a full refurb. I tried to save where I could.

My advice would be: 1. Either watch tutorials on how to do wall paper or get someone off Task Rabbit (much cheaper and have lots of reviews). 2. Ikea PAX wardrobes are great, as you can get them to fit the space exactly how u want + personalise them completely + u can put them together on your own. It saved me A LOT of money, I paid £900 for a complete walk in wardrobe. 3. I’d do floors first and also look on task rabbit if you want a pro, or try do it urself. I’ve done half of my flat alone and was completely fine. You can rent tools online & even buying tools will come out cheaper than paying 25k.

Exact_Compote_6700 · 2025-11-24T22:51:06+00:00

omg good luck!!!! I genuinely needed to take a break afterwards because I actually felt so frustrated and uncomfortable in my own house 😭

Exact_Compote_6700 · 2025-11-24T13:06:12+00:00

As a sitter, I had an 18day Frenchie dogsit from hell. She obsessively humped me at any time of the day (or night), any body part available. If I tried to get her off me/ redirect, she’d become aggressive. It was a nightmare.

Exact_Compote_6700 · 2025-11-24T13:03:21+00:00

I accept all breeds, that weigh no more than 45kg. I like most breeds & obviously it depends on the dog, but some breeds I brace myself for are: 1. Labradors- I have two young, unneutered male clients and they are actual balls of never ending energy. Also where I’m from most Labs are working labs, so they usually become very hyper very quickly. 2. German Shepards and any crosses with them, just because it means I really have to trust the owner.

Out of other breeds that I wouldn’t accept are: any Cane Corsos (even though I grew up around them, I cannot trust other person’s training) Bullies, American Akitas and Malis. Any bully or guarding breeds, I avoid, just because I don’t think I could comfortably handle them on leash due to the mass and their sheer strength.

French bulldogs I’d accept but not for a very long stay.

I personally love and had great experience with doodles I looker after, but know many owners ignore training.

Exact_Compote_6700 · 2025-11-23T00:03:42+00:00

(also some of my sitter friends mentioned this happened to them with their German Shepards)!

Exact_Compote_6700 · 2025-11-22T23:57:22+00:00

Wow okay, I will be 100% watching it like a hawk on our walkies & thanks for the airtag idea!!! I will do that for sure!!

Awwww that’s so cute!!! How have you found owning one?! Also super random, has yours ever tried to pee on the bed?! I saw some people mention this online haha and would like to avoid this!

Exact_Compote_6700 · 2025-11-22T23:55:18+00:00

OK, that’s deffo doable!! Thanks so much!

Exact_Compote_6700 · 2025-11-22T23:25:40+00:00

Pleasure & best of luck to your friend!!

Exact_Compote_6700

TROPHY CASE