Author: Susan

Wintering in warmer locations

Mindahome house sitters David and Glenys of Albury have been members since early 2013. They explain how they escape the winter months.

Our names are Glenys and David. We reside in Albury NSW. For the last five years since our retirement we have been house sitting in Queensland to get away from our cold Southern winter in June, July and August. We have made many life long friends along with their pets and also gained some excellent references.

This year our house sitting commenced in May at Nindeeree on the Sunshine Coast between Yandina and Eumundi. This was a lovely home in the Hinterland of the Sunshine Coast. The home was on two acres and had three lovely Border Collies we looked after for seven weeks. We also had our daily chores of looking after the house, garden and pool.

Continue reading “Wintering in warmer locations”

Cat scratching

cat-750259_1920BCat owners, understandably, feel like
ripping their hair out every time they see a new piece of furniture scratched and torn at the paws of their big-eyed feline friend. Although this can be a natural trait for most cats, it is sometimes a learned behaviour that can be addressed.

We contacted our friend and expert animal behavourist, Dr Joanne Righetti from Pet Problems Solved, to give us some tips about how to understand cat scratching and what to do to curb the claws. Continue reading “Cat scratching”

Rural house sitting

We received an email from long time Mindahome house sitters Rick and Tara (members since 2014), describing their experiences house sitting in rural Tasmania back in 2015.

Screen Shot 05-24-17 at 03.43 PM 001Hi Mindahome, your article on rural house sitting was good and from our perspective on our 11th housesit in less than a year we are living rural, almost remote Tasmania.  We have a long housesit here now and love the peace and quiet.

The other advantages we didn’t expect where the friendly communities in the country.  The generosity and even work experience we are gaining.  Hubby has been helping fence paddocks and we moved cattle during one farmers short break.  So not just our homeowner benefits, but we are an extra pair of hands where needed. Learning all the time. Continue reading “Rural house sitting”

Stopovers in Regional NSW That Will Have You Salivating

17.4.2aSome of the best road trips I can remember involve a stopover (or two) at a nice cosy bakery or cafe, where the hospitality is as warm as the coffee.

Travelling the country as a house and pet sitter means that you get to explore more of the country and are able to take the time to stroll through regional towns and villages to get to know some of the lesser known attractions and sights of our beautiful country.

Everyone has their own favourite places across the country to rest their travelled legs and fill their empty stomachs with a good meat pie or coffee. Continue reading “Stopovers in Regional NSW That Will Have You Salivating”

7 tips for keeping your dog cool this summer

wildlife-photography-1551693_1920Summer has hit Australia! So if you’re considering a trip to the beach with your furry friend or a dip in the pool this summer, then check out this post from our friend and PAW by Blackmores ambassador, Dr Katrina Warren, about what to watch out for when keeping your canine companion cool this summer.

Summer is all about swimming. But is it okay to let your dog swim in your pool, and the ocean? And how do you take care of his/her coat and ears if your pooch is a regular dipper?

Taking a dip with your pooch can be oodles of fun, and under the right conditions, it’s quite safe to swim with your dog in a pool or in the ocean. But there a few things you need to consider before you set off for the water with your furry friend: Continue reading “7 tips for keeping your dog cool this summer”

5 things to do before the pet sitter arrives

dog-on-sofa2Preparing to leave our pet in the care of a sitter requires some careful planning and consideration for every eventuality.

Thanks to our friends at Petplan, this post covers some of the things you need to think about before you leave to make sure you, your pet and the pet sitter can rest easy.

You’re going on holiday, and as much as you might like to pack Fido into your luggage and take him with you, it’s simply not an option. So you’ve arranged for a pet sitter to come over to your home and make sure your furry friend is well taken care of and hopefully he won’t even notice you’re gone. To make sure everything goes off without a hitch and that the pet sitter is in the best position to look after your pet, here are five essentials to keep in mind before they arrive. Continue reading “5 things to do before the pet sitter arrives”

The House Sitter’s Guide to South Australia

adelaide_australiaHouse and pet sitting gives you the unparalleled opportunity to indulge the gypsy in your soul as you travel Australia with no accommodation budget required.

But with so much to see and do across this wonderful continent, it can be a little tricky deciding exactly where you’re going to head off to next. So here’s a clue: if you haven’t yet added South Australia to your ‘must visit’ list, you most definitely should.

Home to the red dunes of the Simpson Desert, the magnificent 100km-long Bunda Cliffs, and the wild expanses of the Nullarbor Plain, South Australia also boasts the rich and diverse culture of Adelaide (the internationally renowned City of Churches), the Fleurieu Peninsula’s glorious beaches, and the fabulous wine and produce of the Barossa Valley. Continue reading “The House Sitter’s Guide to South Australia”

Tips on how to teach your pets how to behave

dr-katrina-warren_tips-to-behave-article2Training your dog to behave around your home and in situations with other people can take some time, but it is worth the effort to ensure you and your furry family member are able to enjoy spending quality time together.

This post from Dr Katrina Warren outlines how you can help your dog understand boundaries and provides strategies to help you manage their behaviour.

Tips on how to teach your pet how to behave

It’s almost impossible to imagine your canine partner evoking any feeling other than joy. Alas – if not sufficiently trained, they can prove to be a difficult member of the family. Just like we teach our kids, we need to teach our pets to learn what behaviour is acceptable and what is not – remember they are not born understanding your house rules and despite common belief, with the right level of love and respect, dogs at any age can learn to behave.

Before you begin tearing your hair out about your misbehaved fur-ball, educate yourself on the most common problems when it comes to behaviour and how to solve them. Continue reading “Tips on how to teach your pets how to behave”

WELCOME TO PARADISE! Five fabulous Things to do in the NSW Northern Rivers

lighthouse-2Attention all nature lovers, art aficionados, market browsers, and good food fanatics … the beautiful NSW Northern Rivers region is calling!

Spanning the towns and villages from Grafton through to the Queensland border,  the region is bursting with treasures known to most that can only be discovered by a living like a local in the region.

Take advantage of Mindahome house sitting opportunities and head for the Northern Rivers to enjoy stunning national parks, magnificent beaches that stretch from the Gold Coast to Byron Bay, the world’s oldest subtropical rainforests, and mountains birthed by long extinct volcanoes. Continue reading “WELCOME TO PARADISE! Five fabulous Things to do in the NSW Northern Rivers”

House Sitting: Top Tips on picking the service that’s right for you

optionsYou’ve decided to try your hand at house and pet sitting?

Great idea! It’s a fantastic way to visit new locations while saving lots of money on one of the biggest travel expenses of all: accommodation.

No doubt you’ve already searched the web to find house and pet sitting services that can put you into contact with home and pet owners looking for sitters right across Australia.

But if you’ve done your homework, you may also have noticed that terms and conditions vary quite considerably from service to service. Continue reading “House Sitting: Top Tips on picking the service that’s right for you”