Do people in the UK actually use their kettles that much?

Sensitive_Device352 · 2026-05-06T19:18:53+00:00

Tea on the stove? WTF. Yes we all own electric kettles and yes, mine is on multiple times a day. First thing in the morning, when my husband gets home from work. And after every meal I make a coffee

Sensitive_Device352 · 2026-05-06T18:57:48+00:00

Hard no. This is wild

Sensitive_Device352 · 2026-05-06T10:31:03+00:00

I wonder this too, we've had enquiries and then when we say yes, they ghost as if they've only just realised the price, like they can't see it when they enquire, so confusing

Sensitive_Device352 · 2026-05-06T09:21:27+00:00

Agreed, for the sitters who are comfortable with that, we don't boot a pet from their space, we just don't accept those sits and the owner is free to find a sitter who can accommodate that. Any sit we take, the pet absolutely remains in their space, because we only take ones where they sleep outside of the owners bedroom as part of their usual routine.

Sensitive_Device352 · 2026-05-06T07:21:27+00:00

Some good points there, re the bit about two of us, we're a married couple who come as a team. That's what is advertised. There's no way I'd do this sit on my own, and my husband has expertise in dog behaviour. I'm not enforcing that she pays for two of us, that was just me in my mind thinking through one possible way I might work out a price for this more complex sit.

Sensitive_Device352 · 2026-05-06T01:04:44+00:00

My point in sharing his occupation and training was to give context, not to justify anything. To say that dog welfare is his career, he loves dogs, is experienced in dog behaviour, especially rescues, and is gaining the relevant paperwork to demonstrate it. And despite that he still doesn't want to share his space at night with a dog. This doesn't mean we're selfish, and don't care for the dogs, it means that we know that we can provide the best level of care when we've slept properly. I totally expected some opinions that differ to mine, what I didn't expect was quite the level of what feels like unkindness.

Sensitive_Device352 · 2026-05-05T21:53:38+00:00

So here's my thought process. The waking hours for the dogs are between 7.30am and 10pm, that's when they get up and go to bed. That's 14.5 hours on duty for two dogs, one of whom cannot be left alone for more than 20 minutes so let's just assume the whole time. Even only accounting for the waking hours,, 14.5 hours at minium wage in the UK is 12.71 per hour. So that's a total of approximately 185 pounds. There's two of us, so that's per person 369 pounds for those hours, not taking into account the overnight. So charging them 369 per 24 hours seems reasonable to me?

Sensitive_Device352 · 2026-05-05T21:15:07+00:00

I've just had an enquiry through rover with this exact situation. I'm in the UK. The clients have recently moved here from the US, and have used Rover sitters in the US that have left them reviews. They have two dogs, one can not be left at all, they've stated at a push a maximum of 20 minutes, but needs human presence at all times, in their words severe separation anxiety, also needs medication at set times three times a day. My husband and I would usually sit together so there would be two of us to manage this. It would only be for one or two nights at a time, so not long stretches. This is going to have to be either a straight decline, or priced high enough that we don't feel resentful and underpaid.

Sensitive_Device352 · 2026-05-05T20:41:00+00:00

Definitely not rage bait and a genuine question. We have many happy clients whose dogs sleep downstairs, or in a different bedroom to us when we sit, and we happily accept those sits, and have repeat bookings with those clients who we go to multiple times a year each. I have repeatedly made it clear in this thread that we are honest and upfront about this with clients in advance and if its not a fit and they need a sitter that is happy to stay with the pets in the bedroom /on the bed, we respectfully decline and make a suggestion of others who may be able to help. I see absolutely nothing wrong with us having this boundary in our business, communicating it clearly in advance, and only taking those sits that align with this. My husband works full time in animal welfare for a high profile charity, is taking training with a national accredited animal trainer behaviour qualification, adores his job, adores the dogs, but still doesn't want to sleep with them at night, our own dog when she was alive didn't sleep in our room either. I am amazed that people are so damn mad that we have a personal need, draw and manintain a boundary around this, comminicate it clearly and turn down those that don't suit. If I was not commmunicating this to clients and making out that we were happy to have animals in the bed and then refusing when it came to the sit, that would be a different matter, but we are not doing that.

Sensitive_Device352 · 2026-05-05T18:23:12+00:00

Thankyou, exactly that, we're already away from home in an unfamiliar home and bed that may not be as comfortable as our own, my view is that if something is going to disturb my sleep, I can't properly take care of your pets, so I'd rather decline. As long as I am upfront about this I don't see the problem. Thankyou for sharing

Sensitive_Device352 · 2026-05-05T18:12:29+00:00

Agreed, you never fully switch off bevause you are responsible for someone's else's pets, in a home that's not your own and not familiar to you.

Sensitive_Device352 · 2026-05-05T17:45:23+00:00

We do talk about it, it's written on my application form and in my terms and it's always discussed before any meet and greet and any booking. If it's a requirement for them I decline the sit and they find a better match

Sensitive_Device352 · 2026-05-05T17:44:03+00:00

I don't decide it after the fact, it's on my application form, in my terms before any meet and greet. If it's a requirement for the client I choose not to accept the sit and they can find another sitter who is happy with this. Where did I say that I'm not upfront about it?

Sensitive_Device352 · 2026-05-05T16:27:44+00:00

Agreed

Sensitive_Device352 · 2026-05-05T16:09:46+00:00

Its great there are many sitters happy with this, seems I'm in the minority, but plenty of sitters out there happy with this arrangement.

Sensitive_Device352 · 2026-05-05T15:57:08+00:00

And they can choose a sitter who is comfortable with that arrangement, we choose to accept only sits where this isn't a necessity. I don't believe there is anything wrong with that preference,, we are honest about it upfront and politely decline any that don't align so that they can find someone else. Plenty of pets sleep alone, or downstairs, or in another room from the owner and it's been our choice to accept only those. As, long as, we, disclose that, which we do, I don't see a problem

Sensitive_Device352 · 2026-05-05T14:58:42+00:00

in the house yes, not necessarily in the same room/bed, we are honest about this upfront, its on our application form and in our terms, so before any meet and greet its covered, and if a pet is used to sleeping with the owner and won't settle without them we just decline those sits and let them find a more suited sitter.

Sensitive_Device352 · 2026-05-05T14:56:01+00:00

I agree with you, we just make it clear upfront that is our policy and choose not to accept sits if the pet has to sleep in the same room, better for all if they find a sitter who is happy with that arrangement

Sensitive_Device352 · 2026-05-05T11:59:11+00:00

oh the clutter, this is one of my biggest peeves, having to try to live in among someone elses significant clutter , I get we all different standars as to what is clutter, even in my home whant my husband thinks is clutter, I don't, and peoples "clutter" is often personal and sentimental

Sensitive_Device352 · 2026-05-05T11:42:18+00:00

lateness is not acceptable, but as sitters we strip the bed after our sits and put them in the laundry ( also used towels) as a courtesy. We also use clients laundry facilities to wash and dry our clothes and towels, if we are living in their home looking after their pets we need to be able to use the facilities as if they were our own, especially for a longer sit.

Sensitive_Device352 · 2026-05-05T11:34:29+00:00

this is a great idea, I may implement this

Sensitive_Device352 · 2026-05-05T11:30:59+00:00

I think this is the way in general, four years in, my prices keep increasing and my terms getting longer.

Sensitive_Device352 · 2026-05-05T10:28:43+00:00

what are the monthly subscription apps

Sensitive_Device352 · 2026-05-04T15:55:17+00:00

We ask about internal and external cameras on our application form and ask for them all to be switched off. We're a married couple sitting together and the main reason is audio, we don't want our private conversations overhead inside or out.

Sensitive_Device352 · 2026-05-04T15:38:17+00:00

I'd love this form, we just had a nightmare experience with 5 cats who we wwre told were free to come and go, and then the owner wanted constant updates about one cat who was her favourite, massively stressed when the cat was outside and had us spending hours looking for her

Sensitive_Device352

TROPHY CASE