10 Top Tips for a Happy Housesit with Your Dog!

Dog friendly travel is a booming industry with around 37% of UK families now opting to travel with their pets. Restaurants, cafes and hotels are increasingly featuring doggy menus. We even spent last summer working at a dog-friendly hotel in Skye.

But what about housesitting with your own dog?

We were apprehensive when we signed up for Trusted Housesitters, not knowing whether hosts would welcome those travelling with their own dog. Although this does bring limitations (we’d never sit for cats as we don’t want a Tom and Jerry reenactment!) there are many dog owners who love the idea of their pet having a dog buddy to play with while they’re away.

We’ve been housesitting almost full time since January 2024 and have had the pleasure of meeting so many delightful pups, happily settled in their own homes. This has given us the opportunity to explore parts of the UK we’ve never been to before. Here we give our insights into what it takes to go housesitting with your own dog.

1) Carefully consider whether the sit is right for you – it’s not a holiday.

If you have your heart set on a specific location or season because you want to sight see, you may end up disappointed if the pet you’re caring for cannot be left alone for more than a couple of hours. The home and pets you’ve agreed to sit for should always be your number one priority. Exploring the local area is a great perk of a housesit but not the main motivation. As long as you go along with the right expectations you should have a great time. In fact, staying in someone’s home means you can experience living like a local and enjoy a far more authentic travel experience.

2) Communicate realistically and honestly with the homeowners.

When you see a great property and dates that suit you it can be really tempting to rush in and apply. Stop and have a read of the full profile, including reviews, before committing to anything. Not every sit is going to be a great fit. For example, Belka is a working breed mix and therefore isn’t going to be great on a sit with livestock. He is however a great playmate for lively dogs who enjoy the company of other dogs. Making this clear to prospective homeowners means we all know what to expect. It’s also important to check the responsibilities expected of you. If a dog requires several hours of walks a day but you have a full time online remote job, be honest with yourself about whether you’d be able to provide the dog with the exercise it needs.
In addition, if an accident does happen (a broken glass for example), communicate this clearly and promptly (ideally with photos) and offer to pay for a replacement.

3) Bring supplies like stain remover and extra poo bags.

Even if you are vigilant and diligent, accidents can (and will!) happen. On one of our first sits both dogs had a 24hr tummy bug which meant clearing up plenty of stains. The homeowners were very understanding but we made sure for future sits we are always carrying some of the best reviewed stain removers, so we won’t have to scramble if caught off guard. Being dog owners means we also bring plenty of spare supplies such as extra poo bags just in case!

4) Check how much communication your host expects.

I love taking pictures and videos of Belka and his dog pals (as you can see!) I always check with homeowners how much communication they would like from us while they’re away. Some love regular updates, others prefer to switch off and unwind with as few distractions as possible. Making sure you’re both clear on this expectation is a great way to build a good relationship with the homeowner.

5) Take photos of where things are if you’re going to move them.

We learnt this lesson early on. If you’re going to use and/or move anything (moving a desk for work, for example). Take a photo before you do so to make it easier to return everything exactly how you found it for the homeowner’s return. We wouldn’t recommend touching anything that looks expensive or delicate, but just manoeuvring the odd chair or lamp should be fine as long as you’re careful and respectful.

6) Be prepared for unexpected – read manuals carefully.

Homeowners are expected to provide a welcome pack online and many also leave printed instructions. It’s a good idea to read these as soon as you receive them and/or when you arrive at the sit so you can ask any questions you need to before the homeowner has switched off on holiday.

7) It’s a nice gesture to make sure the house is welcoming to return to.

Each sit will be different – that’s one of the joys of housesitting. However, as a general rule, we will ensure we do a thorough clean of the home before the owners return. We will replace any food or essentials such as soap that we’ve used. I’ll usually leave some basics such as bread, milk and eggs so that the owners don’t have to go shopping as soon as they return. Depending on the circumstances, I’ve also left a meal for the owners to come back to. This has always been appreciated.

8) Be considerate of utilities.

While all homeowners have been extremely welcoming and wanted us to be comfortable during our stay, we are always keen not to abuse their hospitality. Everyone is experiencing the rising costs of utility bills so we’re conscious of not overusing these.

9) Introduce yourself to the neighbours (if appropriate).

You can ask your homeowners advice on this, but we have often introduced ourselves to at least one neighbour. This means they won’t be suspicious of seeing strangers in the home, plus if you need to ask any advice about the local area you have a good contact for this.

10) Check routes and transportation in advance.

A lot of housesits will specify that you should have a car. In fact, every sit we’ve done has been in a remote location where public transport would be problematic. Don’t just assume you’ll be able to make your way to the location. Check carefully before agreeing to the sit and consider whether you really want to be in an isolated area if you are without a car. If you do agree to sit, leave plenty of time on your travel day so you don’t leave your homeowner in the lurch. They are likely to be travelling that day too and don’t need the stress of a sitter arriving late!

Overall, with a little thought and preparation, housesitting can be a richly rewarding way to travel and see the world. Plus, for dog lovers like us, it’s a delight to bond with so many wonderful pets.

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Owners consent given to show property and pets.