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People occasionally joke that house sitting means moving into someone else’s home, feeding the dog, and settling down with Netflix for a few days.
There can certainly be quiet evenings, but looking after somebody’s pets and home involves rather more than that.
When I house sit, my job is to keep life as familiar and predictable as I reasonably can while you are away. That means following feeding and walking routines, providing company and enrichment, keeping an eye on how your pets are doing and making sure your home remains secure.
No two house sits are exactly the same because no two households are exactly the same.
A quick summary
When I stay in your home, I follow the routine we agreed on before you leave.
A typical house sit may include:
- Morning and evening dog walks
- Feeding and fresh water
- Agreed medication
- Toilet breaks
- Play and enrichment
- Plenty of time for rest
- Photo and message updates
- Keeping an eye on general wellbeing
- Bringing in post
- Managing agreed lights or curtains
- Basic plant watering where agreed
- Staying overnight in your home
I only look after one house-sitting household at a time, so I don’t move between several overnight bookings or bring other people’s pets into your home.
You can read more about what is included in my House Sitting in Finchley and North London service.
My day starts with your pet’s normal routine
One advantage of house sitting is that your pets don’t have to learn an entirely new routine just because you have gone away.
If your dog normally goes into the garden first thing, has breakfast at 7.30 and then goes for a walk, I will aim to keep reasonably close to that.
If your cat expects breakfast before anybody is allowed to make a cup of tea, I will soon be informed of that arrangement too.
The routine we agree before the booking gives me a starting point, although I will always adapt if your pet tells me they need something slightly different.
Breakfast, water and medication
I prepare meals according to the instructions you leave for me.
I do not change diets or decide that your pet should try something different while you are away.
I check fresh drinking water regularly, and I clean or refresh bowls as needed.
If your pet has routine medication that we have discussed beforehand, I can usually incorporate it into their normal routine, as long as it is something I am comfortable and competent to administer.
I will not change a prescribed dose or treatment plan. I would discuss anything unusual or concerning with you and, where necessary, your veterinary practice.
Morning walks are about more than exercise
For dogs, the morning will usually include a local walk.
I do not bundle dogs into a van and take them somewhere miles away. My walks start and finish from the home where I am staying, using familiar local routes where appropriate.
How far we go depends on the dog.
An energetic youngster may enjoy a longer walk with plenty of sniffing and exploration. A senior dog might prefer a shorter, slower outing. A nervous or rescue dog may be happiest following the same predictable route they already know.
I am not interested in covering the greatest possible distance.
Sniffing, exploring, making choices and having time to process the environment are all part of a good walk.
You can read more about my approach to one-to-one dog walking and rescue and nervous dog support.
Not every hour needs to be filled
One of the easiest mistakes to make with dogs is assuming they need constant entertainment.
They do not.
A good house sit includes plenty of rest.
After a walk and breakfast, many dogs are perfectly happy to settle in their normal bed, on the sofa or in whichever slightly inconvenient spot they have decided belongs to them.
I try to follow the household’s normal rhythm rather than creating a non-stop holiday programme.
That is particularly important for puppies, older dogs, nervous dogs and dogs who can become over-aroused when too much is happening.
Sometimes the best thing I can provide is simply calm company.
Enrichment and play
Where appropriate, I will include some enrichment during the day.
That might mean:
- A food toy
- A scatter feed
- A sniffing game
- A short training game
- Searching for treats
- Gentle play
- A frozen enrichment toy in suitable weather
- Simply spending a few minutes interacting with your pet
What I choose depends on the individual animal.
Some dogs adore games. Others would much rather spend ten minutes investigating the garden.
Enrichment should suit the dog in front of me rather than being something they are expected to complete.
If you would like more ideas, have a look at my dog enrichment guides.
What happens while I am out during the day?
Standard overnight house sitting does not mean I remain inside your property continuously for 24 hours.
I still have existing dog-walking and pet-care commitments, along with normal errands and day-to-day life.
Under my standard house-sitting service, agreed daytime absences can be up to four continuous hours.
That works well for many adult dogs and other pets who are already comfortable being left for a reasonable period.
If your pet cannot safely or comfortably be left for that long, we need to discuss it before you book.
Continuous house sitting is a separate service for pets who need much more constant supervision.
My guide Does a House Sitter Stay All Day? Overnight vs Continuous Pet Care Explained explains the difference in more detail.
Keeping an eye on the little things
Living with a pet for several days means I often notice the small details.
I might notice that a dog:
- Is drinking more or less than usual
- Has not finished a meal they would normally demolish
- Is walking slightly differently
- Seems unusually tired
- Has loose stools
- Is licking a paw repeatedly
- Is finding it harder to get comfortable
- Seems more unsettled than usual
That does not mean I diagnose what is wrong.
My role is to notice, record and tell you when something appears different.
If something requires veterinary attention, I follow the arrangements agreed before the booking and contact you as appropriate.
Keeping you updated
I know that leaving your pets with somebody else can feel strange, particularly the first time.
So I send updates during the stay.
These will normally include photos and a short message letting you know how things are going.
I am not going to manufacture a daily report full of exciting events if your dog has spent most of the afternoon asleep.
Quite often, “everyone has eaten, we had a nice walk and they are now snoring” is exactly the update you want to receive.
The aim is to reassure you that things are normal.
Looking after cats during a house sit
House sitting is not only about dogs.
Many of the households I look after include cats as well.
For cats, staying in their own territory can be particularly useful because their familiar beds, hiding places, smells and routines remain unchanged.
Depending on your cat, my day may include:
- Feeding
- Refreshing water
- Litter tray care
- Medication where agreed
- Play
- Enrichment
- Quiet company
And, of course, accepting that some cats will spend several days carefully assessing whether I am worthy of their attention.
For shorter trips where overnight care is not needed, I also offer cat-sitting visits in Finchley.
The house matters too
My priority is always your pets, but part of house sitting is also maintaining a sensible occupied presence in your home.
Depending on what we agree beforehand, that may include:
- Bringing in post
- Putting bins out
- Opening or closing curtains
- Switching agreed lights on or off
- Checking doors and windows
- Watering a reasonable number of plants
I am happy to water plants, although I do ask that indoor pots have suitable saucers underneath them.
I would rather be remembered as the person who looked after your dog than the person who created an interesting water feature on your wooden floor.
Evening walks, dinner and settling down
The evening usually brings another walk or toilet break followed by dinner and a quieter period.
Again, I follow your pet’s normal routine as closely as practical.
Some dogs want an evening play session.
Some want to sit beside me.
Others eat their dinner, find their favourite bed and make it abundantly clear that my involvement in their day is now complete.
Before bed, I make sure everyone has what they need, doors are secure and any final toilet breaks have been completed.
Then we start again in the morning.
Where does your pet sleep?
Wherever they normally sleep, within reason.
If your dog normally sleeps downstairs, I do not suddenly invite them into a bedroom.
If they normally sleep in the bedroom with you and that is part of the arrangement we have discussed, I try to preserve that routine.
The aim is continuity rather than introducing new rules while you are away.
Why familiar routines matter
House sitting can be particularly helpful for pets who find major changes difficult.
That may include:
- Rescue dogs
- Nervous dogs
- Dogs who struggle in kennels
- Senior pets
- Cats who prefer their own territory
- Multi-pet households
- Pets with established medication routines
Instead of transporting them somewhere unfamiliar, their beds, smells, garden, walking routes and normal resting places stay exactly where they expect them to be.
There will still be one important change: you are not there.
I cannot pretend that does not matter.
What I can do is avoid adding several other unnecessary changes at the same time.
One household at a time
When I accept a house-sitting booking, I only take one house-sitting household for those dates.
There are no rotating overnight carers.
I do not bring unfamiliar dogs into your home.
You know who is staying in your property and who is responsible for your animals.
For many of my clients, particularly those with rescue, nervous or older pets, that consistency is one of the main reasons they choose house sitting.
Standard or continuous house sitting?
My standard overnight house-sitting service is currently £60 per night.
It allows agreed daytime absences of up to four continuous hours.
Continuous house sitting is currently £100 per night and is intended for animals who cannot manage those normal periods alone.
The right option depends on your pet rather than simply how much time you would prefer somebody to spend in the house.
Before accepting a booking, I need to understand how long your pet is normally comfortable being left, their routine and any medical or behavioural needs.
You can check my current pet-care prices before enquiring.
What I need to know before you go away
A good house sit starts before you leave.
At the meet-and-greet and before the booking begins, I will need information about things such as:
- Feeding times and quantities
- Walks
- Toilet routine
- Where your pets sleep
- Medication
- Veterinary details
- Behaviour around people and other animals
- Any fears or known triggers
- How long your pet can normally be left
- Home security
- Emergency contacts
- Where food, leads and other essentials are kept
Please tell me about problems rather than hoping they will not happen.
Knowing that a dog guards food, panics during thunderstorms or tries to escape through the front door does not automatically mean I cannot look after them.
Finding out after you have boarded a flight is considerably less helpful.
Is house sitting right for every pet?
Not necessarily.
Some pets cope perfectly well with boarding.
Others are comfortable with somebody visiting rather than staying overnight.
For many animals, however, remaining at home provides useful continuity.
House sitting can be particularly worth considering if your pet is nervous, older, has an established routine or simply finds unfamiliar environments difficult.
The important thing is choosing the arrangement that genuinely suits your pet.
Frequently asked questions
Will you stay in my house all day?
Not under standard overnight house sitting.
Standard care allows agreed daytime absences of up to four continuous hours.
If your pet needs somebody present for most or all of the day, ask me about continuous house sitting.
Will it always be you staying in my home?
Yes.
Finchley Dog Walker is my business and I provide the house-sitting service personally.
I do not send an unfamiliar substitute or rotate several carers through your home.
Will you walk my dog?
Yes, where dog walks form part of the agreed care plan.
The walks are based around your dog’s normal needs, health, behaviour and routine.
Can you give medication?
Routine medication may be possible if it has been discussed and agreed beforehand and I am competent to administer it.
I do not diagnose conditions or change veterinary treatment instructions.
Will you send photographs?
Yes.
I normally send photos and updates so you know how things are going.
Can you water my plants?
Usually, yes, within reason and if we have agreed it beforehand.
For indoor plants, please make sure pots that need them have saucers.
Looking for a house sitter in Finchley or North London?
If you are going away and would prefer your pets to remain in their own home, house sitting may be worth considering.
I provide house sitting in Finchley, Muswell Hill, Highgate, Whetstone and selected nearby parts of North London, subject to dates, location and your pet’s needs. The current service-area page confirms that house sitting covers a wider area than my regular weekday dog-walking route.
You can check my House Sitting in Finchley and North London page for full details, look at my current prices, check my service area, or contact me about your dates.
Tell me your postcode, the dates you need and a little about your pets and their normal routine. I will tell you whether standard house sitting, continuous care or another arrangement appears suitable.
