Jennifer

More information about this house sitter

I was first asked to house and pet sit a border collie for a cousin and absolutely loved the experience.

I then joined Mindahome and have had many wonderful house and pet sit experiences some of which came as private referrals after a sit. 

SITS I LOVED

PITT TOWN - one older dog and 22 chickens - 20 days - collected 12-15 eggs per day - amazing I felt like pied piper - some of the eggs were pale blue and pale green

.MITTAGONG - one tomcat  - 10 days - independent but cuddled up to me on lounge - jumped into my car as I was about to leave.  Sat again for 5 days  - another lovely sit.  

BOWRAL repeats - Fairy Meadow cattle property - one cat and 20 cows - 3 weeks.  Wonderful experiences.  Cows are amazing and pretty smart as a herd.
. Bowral - new house - same cat - 6 weeks - female cat - attitude at first - but adorable and then ate everything I gave her and came when called. 
. Bowral - same cat - another new house.  Wonderful experiences with the cat, she has won my heart and made me laugh every day.  Still eats everything I give her and has me trained to lean down and give a belly rub when I am close by...lol  
. Bowral - same cat - I have been trained very well and thoroughly enjoy my regular sits for the past six years.

TUGGERAWONG- one border collie and bird - 3 weeks - amazingly intelligent older dog - would just come over and sit near me and loved a leisurely walk and a bit of a run - would just turn and walk back to me when the grandkids gave him multiple excited instructions - now sadly passed on.

BOWEN MOUNTAIN - six days - one gorgeous gentle dog and one galah - dog would sit close and roll over to be patted or gently nudge me if she wanted more pats - gently took treats - happy dog, wonderful experience.  Dog sadly passed on.
REPEAT - seven days - new Staffie/Doberman rescue - quite anxious at first then once he got to know me he was delightful and very friendly.  Had to watch my fingers on the cage with the Galah who would bob up and down with me when I was near.

SINGLETON - two Yorkshire terriers - friendly, gorgeous and an absolute delight to walk - walked with two leads and they pranced along in unison...lol

CHARLESTOWN - seven days -  border collie.  Owners complained he was not a very friendly dog to adults and worse to children but I was delighted with this very warm and friendly dog who sat against my legs as I watched TV and put his paw up on my knee as I played games at the table and let my card playing friends pat him and he sat gently with my two grandchildren at our very first meeting

COWRA property - 10 days - older Schnauzer and young Kelpie - gorgeous well behaved dogs who kept me entertained - an absolute delight to walk as they bounded off to do their own thing and as soon as I stopped they would turn around to check on me - lovely grounds and countryside - relaxed at night with Netflix and schnauzer.

MUDGEE - 3 gorgeous small dogs - Daschund plus two Tenterfield Terriers, I trained them to sit in a row and jump for the thin carrot sticks I threw separately.  Wonderful.  They watched and waited for me to have dinner then lay the big blanket over the chair and my lap then watched for my signal and immediately jumped up on my lap to watch TV at night - so loving and I enjoyed every minute.  Sitting on my lap was theirs (and my) favourite time!!   Oops the owner then asked if she was supposed to let them jump on HER lap now??

NORTH RICHMOND NSW - Poodle and Cavalier.  I trained them to sit for meals and treats and not to jump on me.  They learned so quickly and were such a delight to be around and I thoroughly enjoyed walking them especially the elderly poodle who I was told would not walk and yet led the way. 

BATHURST - repeat sits - one lovely staffi x red cattle dog and one cat - the cat is the boss and was standoffish at first.  I love this sit and walked the dog (staffie/red cattle dog cross) twice per day.  I then trained the cat to sit in the crook of my arm every evening with the dog on the other side of me for patting. 

DUBBO – repeat sits – Ridgeback x staffi – large and very strong female – yodels to me when she wants something… wonderful dog who loves being with us when we play cards and on walks I ask her to sit when walkers or riders approach.  They all thank me and she is so very good. 

Family - Staffi - wonderful older dog who loved a walk and was so gentle with kids.  Sadly now passed on.  Now a gorgeous young black staffi – adorable. 

On most sits there has been some watering which I find relaxing.  After my badly broken ankle I do not mow lawns.  I am happy use pooper scooper. 

Fish - I really just fed them and watched them and shooed the big birds away

One bird - fed and cleaned cage and enjoyed being whistled at – a lovely boost to the ego!

Guinea fowls - 15 - collected 4 to 7 eggs per day - they were like little alarms and only skwarked when it was time to be let out of their pen and again when it was time to go back in

Pitt Town unexpected experience – young horse in paddock next door - this wonderful creature galloped over to me as I was walking the dog up the lane on my first day and stuck his head over the fence near me and I patted him for a long time.  It was amazing.

He then did this three days in a row.

Then the horse trailer came and he was gone the next day.  This wonderful memory springs to mind frequently. 

I live in a unit and do not have any pets at this time but thoroughly enjoy caring for your precious pets when sitting.  It is therapeutic.

I am a happy person who is calm, clean, honest, active and a non smoker.  I am also responsible, caring and respectful and always request specific, detailed, typed instructions from each owner because every sit and every pet is different.  I sometimes take my Mum or a friend on a sit and we enjoy playing cards and board games with the animals at our feet.  I would consider it a privilege to look after your home and pets and I also enjoy a few relaxing hours in the evening watching some Netflix or catchup TV on streaming media. 

I have my own Transport.

When I visit mum I sometimes walk a friend's little terrier cross - her owner taught her to smile “beautifully” and she frequently jumps up and flashes it - am uploading photo - she really is the most adorable dog.

NEVER AGAIN - I have only had THREE experiences that I will never return to – ferocious animals, keys I am not aware have been left with friends/family, and ACTIVE internal security cameras.   

CHARLESTOWN - owner permitted without my knowledge, a wheelchair bound relative living in an adjoining flat to use her spare key to get into the home each day without my knowledge when I was not there and not disclosing this despite me knowing someone had been and not having a clue who - but they were the owners not the wonderful pets.  The relative was not as wheelchair bound as I was led to believe. 

ABERGLASSLYN - two ferocious cattle dogs – untrained with aggressive ear-piercing barking because I got home (all of which was then reported to council) – required to be in the lounge room for 2-3 hours per night.  I was shocked as I watched the owner husband encourage them by patting his own shoulders for them to repeatedly jump and bounce off his 190.5cm shoulders while barking incessantly and I felt quite scared.  It was obvious why I had no chance of stopping them trying to jump on me.   Claws the owners had promised to have clipped after I requested on the previous sit, deeply penetrated my forearm within 15 mins of my arrival.  Just too dangerous for me.  

BRISBANE - I will never again do sits with inside cameras.  This deceitful owner after his lovely wife contacted me direct and PROMISED the internal cameras WOULD BE SWITCHED OFF - waited 2 days then remotely switched them back on again with a small RED light on several cameras showing ACTIVE and on day 3 at 9.30pm from New Zealand I was shocked to catch him recording and LIVE VIEWING me with a powerful RED light glowing and as I glared at him the camera and bright red glow immediately went dead.  At 1.40AM it was live again.  I am not precious but simply must be able to trust the owner not to spy on me especially late at night.  Owners can remotely watch and record at any time but if it is conditional upon me accepting the sit that they agree to not switch internal cameras on at all - it then becomes a breach of a verbal agreement and a breach of the Mindahome guidelines if they turn them on at all during the sitter's stay – and the sitter has the option to leave.  This was an unsafe environment but the darling pets needed to be minded so with the high ceilings and a ladder the inside cameras in each room were completely covered - but I missed the one partially hidden behind the open door spanning his study and the entrance to my bedroom – I had never noticed it before.   I covered that one behind the door the next morning – but too late.  It was way too creepy and especially as a female sitting on her own I never want to feel my personal space is being violated again nor feel that I cannot trust an owner to honour and not breach our verbal or written agreement when I am looking after their loved pets.  I was supposed to also stay the night they arrived home but I was seriously scared of sleeping in that home after this untrustworthy man would arrive home and knowing his wife would not know about his dishonest behaviour, I contacted the sister and fed the dogs early evening and left knowing that the sister would be welcoming the owners home that evening. 

I am extremely logical and not precious in any way and have been sitting for many years now but it is best if you know the jobs/conditions I must now refuse to work under – and trust that you realise I am very happy to mind your wonderful pets. 

Thank you for considering me. 

Jennifer

  Read more...