I would love to do the same thing but unfortunately my own dog is too aggressive with other dogs.

This is where meet and greets are vital! I understand some people are uncomfortable meeting the client in the clients house for this but i always do, that way i can SEE what I'm getting myself into.That way you could have been like, 'Wow, what beautiful birds, will i be caring for them as well?'' this also gives you an opportunity to asses some basic behavior issues the dogs might have, and it's always nice to meet the dogs beforehand so they are able to get familiar with you. So in conclusion-- meet and greets are a sitter's best friend! I'm very sorry you were treated this way, that was not right and I hope things go better for you in the future!

This is always a sad subject, I hate that people assume a dog is bad just based on breed alone :( I have never owned a pit but my neighbor has rescued them for over 10 years (even flown across the country for a pit in need of a good home.) I think most people who give negative comments about pits are usually just uninformed and following stereotypes and they just need to be educated. I highly recommend gently informing them that a pit bull is not necessarily anymore aggressive than a yorkie and it's all based upon how they are bred and raised. COULD a pit bite someone without any warning? Absolutely. But so could a chihuahua... I would encourage them not to judge a dog by its breed, or a book by its cover :) and instead, meet the dog, dash their stereotypes, and educate themselves better. Just avoid stuping to their level by pointing fingers and name calling... To be honest, my Husky/Belgian Malinois is a menace in comparison with most pit bulls I know, I can hardly take her out in public without an episode! Again--people, please don't judge a dog by it's breed alone.

If you're asking because you are planning on house-sitting: typically this means living in the clients home and taking care of their pets there, and also the house itself which includes bringing in the mail, watering plants, making sure the house is always locked, etc. Because I am unable to bring dogs into my own home I have been dog/house sitting for years. First and foremost: the meet and greet, if anything, anything at all makes you uncomfortable whether it be the owner, house, or the pet, or even the neighbors, do not accept, always go with your gut feeling. I also recommend bringing someone along for the meet and greet (they can stay in the car) but inform your client of this and explain that it's just for your own safety. Discuss with the owner what will be expected of you and what you and are not allowed to use in the house. I also always inquire as to if the dogs are okay being left alone for short periods of time or not? Right now I do not have a job, so I sit full-time, but in the past, with some clients, I was able to sit for them and also attend a full-time/part-time job. And as I general rule I always bring my own groceries, even if they say you're welcome to their food. If you are looking for a house-sitter for your house: I recommend interviewing several sitters. Make sure to ask if they have a job or if they plan on staying in the house full-time. If they're going to be walking dog(s) you'll need to arrange for a spare key. I've never had to hire a sitter for my place (a trusted neighbor takes care of it) but I would always look for honesty in a sitter if it was me. I always assure my clients that I am strictly professional and will treat their home and their pets respectfully, this means absolutely NO entertaining anyone else in their house unless otherwise approved by the owner(s). Good luck!

very concerned about it I would talk to the sitter directly for starters.

That is a serious concern and I see where you are coming from. I for one make it my goal to make it LOOK like I wasn't even there, just to be professional and respectful. I've even had one of my steady clients (5 years) say the same thing, "You can barely even tell she was there!" But if you're--

I LOVE the dog report card idea! That is absolute genius!

Mine are essentially the same: Clean house/dishes, take out trash, make bed, straighten things up a bit, ensure doors and windows are locked at all times, water plants, I rarely eat anything of theirs, even if they ask me to (aside from salt or pepper, a bit of sugar for coffee, etc), wash dog bowls, pick up all dog toys. I also text them as soon as I arrive and right before I leave. My goal is to make the house look as if I was never there, and leave the doggies happy and safe!

You poor thing!! That sounds awful! I've only had one definite bad sitting experience (I almost had to go to the ER) and it was nowhere near these standards! I'm very impressed you stuck it out and completed all tasks, I admire that as I know it is not easy to deal with certain clients and situations. I think you were right to drop them as clients. I can understand a client wanting things to be 'just so' but this goes above and beyond your responsibilities as a sitter! I've only had to turn down one client that wanted to use me as a repeat sitter (she was unable to find any repeat sitters because her dog was VERY challenging) and it was hard and made me feel terrible but I assured her that my top concern was the dog's safety and happiness and I felt that the dog would be happier and better suited for someone else. It's important not to nick-pick these things over, though it can very frustrating.

Not at all unheard of. I for one have experience with 'exotic' animals like reptiles and tried to incorporate that into my profile for people to see. I actually just recently did a meet and greet where the client had to excuse herself from our conversation to answer the phone and it was actually another sitter calling about the job and while she told the sitter she had already found someone (me) she also asked her a couple questions regarding the job anyway. If it was my dog I would want to interview multiple sitters to ensure just the right fit! Just be yourself, respectful, and be sure to ask questions and show interest.

I don't blame you, I would be highly uncomfortable. What if he naps in the nude or something? Or he doesn't wake up when you knock on the door? Very weird! But unfortunately, all you can do is try... Good luck, hope it goes well!

That is just not acceptable behavior... I've been sitting 5+ years and even opening a client's fridge for the first time to put my own groceries that I bought away feels strangely wrong to me. I typically don't 'cook' when I'm house-sitting, I tend to just buy frozen pizza, TV dinners, etc that way I'm not using ALL the client's stuff and making a mess of the kitchen. I inform my client's that I provide my own groceries and aside from using things like salt and pepper or a dash of sugar for my coffee, I will definitely not be cleaning out their food supply! I also CLEAN the house before I leave. I wash all the dishes I used and put them back in their proper place, I clean off countertops, stovetops, I do a general clean of the bathroom, etc. I tell my client's, "Your house will either look exactly the same as when you left, with very little to no indication that I was even there, or it will look even BETTER than when you left." That said--I do not open anything that does not NEED to be opened and I don't go rifling through anything. Obviously, one has to get somewhat familiar with the kitchen and bathroom as they will be using those rooms, but I consider all other rooms to be off-limits and usually close all other doors to preserve the client's privacy. I would either talk to the sitter gently about this, or just not use her in the future. Like you said, the care of your animals is top priority but don't sacrifice your home in the process, the sitter is caring for your home AS WELL as your pets and the house should be treated with just as much care and respect. :)

I've been asking myself that same question for as long as I've been sitting! I started sitting independently I think before I even turned 18 and my mother has always been very over-protective so she hated the idea of me meeting total strangers in their own homes and while I tried to reassure her I was very nervous myself! Honestly, when I first started to get calls I would ask the client if it was okay if I brought someone with me, and assured them that the family member or friend would stay in the car while we did the meet and greet. At first, the clients were confused and thought less of me, I think, but when I explained that it was my own personal safety precaution they accepted and understood. Once my friend Nic rode along with me, and my mother also went once with me as well. It's not exactly ideal but it's something... I also agree with Erica M, I google map the address and leave a copy of it with someone I trust.

This would be an awesome idea! I'm always excited to meet people who are animal-crazy such as I myself :) Besides, I won't recommend anyone personally unless I know them well myself and trust them.

I completely agree! I've been sitting independently for over 5 years and I started off charging $25.00 a night (I stay in the client's house over-night, 24/7) and between buying my own groceries, and gas for my car I literally was not making a single penny. I actually added up the cost of gas and groceries so I was literally BUYING my own services! Thank god I met a fantastic couple not far from my house who insisted on paying me $50 a night and I've been sitting for them for years now and they're more like family friends than anything at this point. But once they became steady clients (they usually went out of town or state once or twice a month) I stopped advertising my pet-sitting altogether because people were not willing to pay enough to make it worth my while. I'm brand new to Rover, my profile is still under review, and while I don't mean to say anything bad about Rover because I think it is a really great service, honestly, between the 20% that they take, and you providing your own food, gas, and doing all the work, I'm beginning to think I could do much better on my own, the way I used to.

I never heard of those sites before. Thanks for the tip! This lady said that they used to rent out the basement apartment of their previous home to 'young people my age' so I'm sure they're very good hosts, it's just something I've never done before. I'm not pretty in the morning at all! Haha.

stay that night, and after that honestly I think she'll trust me and won't have any reason for that request in the future, but if she does I'll graciously decline. Thank you for the advice! It is much appreciated! I've been doing this for years but I never had any other sitters to talk to!

Thank you for the response, I'm glad to know my nervous jitters are justified! And I think you have some great advice, like you said, I've always let the client lead, thinking, well, they're the boss and I have to make them happy! Unfortunately, this was before Rover and I already agreed so I'll--

Okay, I'm new to Rover but have been sitting independently for a couple years. I will admit this is not an entirely new request that has been made to me. Some of my clients have to catch a very early flight and though I inform them I can be at the house very early, 5, even 4 a.m. before they leave if that would make them happy I still have had owners ask me to stay overnight the night before they leave. Is it just me or is staying overnight WITH the owner (someone you literally just met) kind of awkward and uncomfortable? Don't get me wrong, while staying in clients houses I always act as if they have security cameras (and yes, one of my clients actually did.) But there's just something very awkward and uncomfortable in trying to make yourself at home in a strangers house while said stranger is there. Anyway, all my past clients who made this suggestion later agreed not to have me stay in the house while they were there, but for the first time, I just recently accepted a stay where the client does wish me to come over the night before they leave. She seemed VERY nice in the meet and greet (I haven't met the husband yet). And while I'm quite good at engaging there is just something about a complete stranger(s) seeing me in my PJ's early in the morning that is making me really nervous and uncomfortable, am I the only one?! Also, I'm not 100% sure if she is planning on paying me for that night or just the nights that I'm staying with the dogs?? Just curious if any of you have ever had this same request and how you handled it? On the positive side, it will give me more time to bond with the dogs and ask her questions about them!

I'm brand new to Rover but I've been sitting in people's homes independently for a couple years now and I've always brought all my own groceries and necessities. I will admit between buying your own groceries and the gas for round-trip you're not making much no matter your rates :/