House Sitting in Finchley and North London

Calm overnight care in your pet’s own home

Updated August 2026

Going away does not have to mean sending your dog to kennels or moving your pets into unfamiliar surroundings.

My house-sitting service allows your dogs, cats and other suitable pets to remain in their own home while I stay overnight and follow their normal routine as closely as reasonably possible.

This can be particularly helpful for:

• Rescue dogs
• Nervous or reactive dogs
• Senior pets
• Dogs who dislike kennels or boarding
• Cats who are happiest in familiar surroundings
• Multi-pet households
• Pets with established feeding or medication routines
• Owners who want one consistent person caring for their pets and home

I care for one house-sitting household at a time. There are no rotating carers, shared boarding arrangements or unfamiliar animals brought into your home.

I have provided professional dog walking and pet care since 2011 and offer house-sitting in Finchley, Muswell Hill, Whetstone, Highgate, and selected nearby areas of North London.

Contact Del about house sitting

View current house-sitting prices

House sitting at a glance

Service detail	Information
Standard service	Overnight house sitting in your home
Standard price	£60 per night
Continuous care	£100 per night
Daytime absences	Up to four continuous hours under standard care, unless a shorter period is agreed
Pets included	Dogs, cats and suitable small pets from the same household
Dog walks	Local walks based on the routine agreed before booking
Other households	Only one house-sitting household is accepted for the same dates
Reservation payment	£50, deducted from the final balance
Main areas	Finchley, Muswell Hill, Whetstone, Highgate and selected nearby areas
Booking process	Enquiry, suitability discussion, meet-and-greet and written confirmation

Standard overnight house sitting does not mean I remain inside your property continuously for 24 hours a day.

Continuous care is available separately where a pet cannot safely or comfortably be left for normal daytime periods.

What is house sitting?

House sitting means I stay overnight in your home and care for your pets while you are away.

Rather than moving your pets into kennels, a cattery, a boarding home or another unfamiliar environment, they remain surrounded by their normal:

• Beds
• Smells
• Feeding areas
• Walking routes
• Garden
• Household sounds
• Resting places
• Daily routines

I follow the care plan agreed before the booking and provide a familiar pattern around meals, walks, toilet breaks, medication, companionship and sleep.

I also carry out a limited number of simple household tasks, such as bringing in post and managing agreed lights or curtains.

Your pets remain the priority throughout the booking.

What does standard overnight house sitting include?

Standard house sitting is built around your pet’s normal evening, overnight and morning routine.

Depending on the household, it may include:

• Arriving at the agreed time
• Feeding your pets
• Refreshing drinking water
• Morning and evening dog walks
• Toilet breaks
• Litter-tray care
• Basic small-animal enclosure care
• Straightforward medication support
• Calm companionship
• Following usual sleeping arrangements
• Wiping wet paws
• Preparing agreed enrichment
• Daily photographs or messages
• Bringing in post
• Managing one household bin
• Opening or closing agreed curtains
• Switching agreed lights on or off
• Watering a reasonable number of suitable plants
• Keeping the home reasonably tidy during my stay
• Securing doors, windows and gates

The exact routine is discussed before the booking.

House sitting should not be based on assumptions. I need to understand what your pets genuinely require and what normally happens in your home.

Overnight presence versus continuous care

One of the most important parts of choosing a house sitter is understanding the difference between overnight care and continuous care.

Standard overnight house sitting

Standard house sitting costs £60 per night.

I stay overnight in your home and provide care during the evening, overnight and morning.

During the day, I may leave the property to:

• Walk regular dog-walking clients
• Complete agreed pet visits
• Shop for food
• Attend an appointment
• Travel home briefly where appropriate
• Take a normal personal break

Under the standard service, I may be away for up to four continuous hours.

A shorter maximum absence can be agreed where your pet needs it, subject to my availability and the nature of the booking.

Please tell me honestly how long your dog or other pet can normally be left.

Continuous house sitting

Continuous house sitting costs £100 per night.

This service is for pets who cannot safely or comfortably be left for normal daytime periods.

It may be appropriate for:

• Dogs with significant separation-related distress
• Newly adopted dogs who are not yet able to settle alone
• Senior pets needing frequent support
• Pets with tightly timed care routines
• Animals recovering from illness where the required care is within my competence
• Dogs who become distressed, destructive or unsafe when left
• Pets whose welfare would be affected by a normal daytime absence

Continuous care changes how I organise the entire booking. It limits my ability to visit other clients, shop, attend appointments or carry out ordinary activities away from the property.

That is why continuous care costs more than standard overnight house sitting.

Any short permitted absences must be discussed and agreed before the booking is confirmed.

How long will my pet be left during the day?

This depends on the individual pet and the service booked.

Under standard overnight house sitting, I may leave for up to four continuous hours.

Your agreed routine may require shorter absences.

Before accepting the booking, I will ask:

• How long your pet is normally comfortable alone
• Whether they bark, howl or pace
• Whether they become destructive
• Whether they toilet indoors
• Whether they attempt to escape
• Whether they guard doors or windows
• Whether they are monitored through a disclosed pet camera
• Whether medication must be given at specific times
• Whether their ability to cope alone has changed recently

Please do not describe a dog as comfortable alone if they regularly show signs of distress.

The RSPCA advises building time alone gradually and adjusting the process to the individual dog rather than expecting them to cope with long absences immediately.

Read the RSPCA’s guidance on helping dogs learn to stay home alone

If your dog cannot be left for the normal daytime periods included within standard house sitting, continuous care may be required.

Who is house sitting suitable for?

House sitting can work well for many different households.

It is particularly suitable where moving the pet would create more disruption than bringing the carer into the home.

Rescue dogs

Many rescue dogs rely heavily on familiar routines and surroundings.

A boarding environment may introduce:

• An unfamiliar building
• New people
• Other dogs
• Different sleeping arrangements
• Changed feeding times
• New walking routes
• Increased noise
• Unfamiliar handling

House sitting removes many of those changes.

Your dog remains in the environment they already understand while one consistent person follows their usual routine.

Dogs Trust recommends giving newly adopted dogs time, predictable routines and a safe home environment while they settle.

Read Dogs Trust advice on helping a rescue dog settle at home

For more specific guidance, read:

House Sitting for Rescue Dogs in Finchley

Nervous and reactive dogs

A nervous or reactive dog may find kennels, boarding homes or unfamiliar dogs overwhelming.

Remaining at home can allow me to:

• Use familiar walking routes
• Avoid busy areas
• Follow known handling routines
• Keep distance from triggers
• Maintain normal rest periods
• Avoid forced interaction with unfamiliar dogs
• Use the equipment and cues your dog already understands

I do not mix dogs from different households.

Any bite history, guarding, reactivity or handling concern must be disclosed before the booking.

Read about Rescue Dog Support in Finchley

Senior pets

Older pets often benefit from remaining in familiar surroundings.

They may need:

• More frequent toilet opportunities
• Slower walks
• Easier access to water
• Medication at set times
• Help navigating steps
• Additional time to stand or settle
• A quieter environment
• Closer observation
• Familiar sleeping arrangements

Please tell me about:

• Reduced mobility
• Hearing or sight changes
• Confusion
• Toileting accidents
• Appetite changes
• Pain-related behaviour
• Falls
• Night-time restlessness
• Medication
• Circumstances requiring veterinary help

I will not rush a senior animal or expect them to follow the routine of a younger pet.

Check out my house sitting for senior dog

Multi-pet households

House sitting can be particularly useful when several pets live together.

It avoids having to separate them between:

• Kennels
• Catteries
• Boarding homes
• Friends
• Family members
• Different professional carers

I may be able to care for:

• More than one dog
• Dogs and cats together
• Multi-cat households
• Dogs, cats and small animals
• Rabbits and guinea pigs
• Other suitable pets whose needs fall within my experience

Each pet may have different feeding, walking, medication and sleeping requirements.

Additional time or charges may be needed where the routine is particularly involved.

Read about House Sitting for Multi-Pet Households

Cats and small animals

Cats, rabbits, guinea pigs and other suitable small pets can also be included in a house-sitting booking.

Care may include:

• Feeding
• Fresh water
• Litter-tray cleaning
• Basic enclosure care
• Hay and bedding checks
• Agreed medication
• Calm companionship
• Play or enrichment
• General welfare observations

I do not force interaction.

A shy cat does not need to come out of hiding simply to prove that I have seen them. I will follow the agreed routine and observe their wellbeing without adding unnecessary pressure.

For visit-only cat care, see:

Cat Sitting in Finchley

Dog walks during a house sit

Morning and evening dog walks are normally included where they form part of your dog’s usual routine.

The frequency, duration and route depend on:

• Your dog’s age
• Health
• Mobility
• Behaviour
• Normal exercise
• Reactivity
• Weather
• Equipment
• Local conditions
• The routine agreed before booking

All walks begin from your home.

I do not collect dogs in a van, and I do not add dogs from other households to your dog’s walk.

Compatible dogs from the same home may be walked together where I can manage them safely and where this suits both dogs.

Additional walks or particularly involved exercise requirements may need extra booked time.

All outdoor care remains subject to my Extreme Weather Policy.

Medication support and medical boundaries

I may be able to provide straightforward medication support where:

• It has been discussed before booking
• Clear written instructions are provided
• The medication is properly labelled
• The prescribed dose and timing are clear
• The method is within my experience
• The pet accepts the procedure safely

This may include certain:

• Tablets
• Oral liquid medications
• Topical preparations
• Prescribed ear or eye preparations
• Routine supplements

Please provide:

• The medication name
• The correct dose
• Administration times
• Original packaging where possible
• Written instructions
• Known side effects
• Instructions for a refused or vomited dose
• Your veterinary practice details
• Enough medication to cover a delayed return

I do not:

• Diagnose illness
• Change a prescribed dose
• Decide when unprescribed medication should be used
• Automatically repeat a dose that may have been partly swallowed
• Provide treatment outside my competence
• Use restraint that I consider unsafe
• Replace veterinary or veterinary-nursing care

More complex, invasive or clinically involved care may require a veterinary professional or another appropriately qualified person.

The Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 restricts diagnosis and veterinary treatment to appropriately registered veterinary professionals, subject to specific legal exceptions.

Read the RCVS guidance on treatment by unqualified people

A trial visit may be required before medication support is accepted.

What happens if my pet becomes unwell?

Before the booking begins, I will normally ask for:

• Your usual veterinary practice
• Your preferred emergency veterinary provider
• Relevant medical history
• Current medication details
• Pet-insurance information
• Permission relating to emergency treatment
• Your contact details while away
• A local emergency contact
• Information about veterinary payment arrangements

If your pet becomes unwell, I will:

1. Assess the immediate situation without attempting to diagnose it.
2. Contact you where reasonably possible.
3. Follow the emergency instructions you have provided.
4. Contact your veterinary practice or emergency provider where necessary.
5. Contact your local emergency person where appropriate.
6. Prioritise the pet’s welfare where urgent action is needed.

Your emergency contact should ideally:

• Remain in the local area
• Not be travelling with you
• Know your pets
• Be able to reach the property
• Have permission to make practical decisions
• Have access to a spare key where appropriate

Please obtain their consent before giving me their personal information.

Home security and access

Reliable access is essential.

Before the booking, please ensure that:

• The key opens the correct door
• The key has been tested from outside
• Alarm instructions are accurate
• Key-safe codes are correct
• Gates and additional locks have been explained
• Smart locks are working
• A backup access arrangement exists where practical
• I know about anyone else entering the property

Please tell me if cleaners, gardeners, family members, neighbours, tradespeople or other professionals may enter during the house sit.

I cannot take responsibility for the conduct, security or actions of other people who have access to the property.

Keys are stored and handled according to the arrangement agreed before the booking.

Cameras and recording equipment

All active cameras and audio-recording devices must be disclosed before the booking begins.

This includes:

• Video doorbells
• Outdoor security cameras
• Indoor pet cameras
• Baby monitors
• Smart displays
• Audio-recording systems
• Devices that can be activated remotely

Disclosed entrance and outdoor security cameras are normally straightforward.

Indoor cameras may be acceptable in agreed areas, but they must not operate in:

• Bedrooms used by the sitter
• Bathrooms
• Changing areas
• Any place where personal privacy would reasonably be expected

Secret recording damages trust and may result in the booking being declined or ended.

Please tell me:

• Where each device is located
• Whether it records sound
• Whether it stores footage
• Whether it can be viewed live
• Whether anyone else has access
• Whether it can move or be activated remotely

Further details are included in my Welcome Pack and Policies and Professional Standards.

Simple home-care tasks

A limited number of practical home tasks can normally be included where they do not interfere with your pets’ care.

These may include:

• Bringing in post
• Moving a small delivery indoors
• Managing one household bin
• Opening or closing agreed curtains
• Switching agreed lights on or off
• Carrying out a simple visual check
• Watering a reasonable number of indoor plants

Plant watering must be discussed beforehand.

Plant pots should have suitable trays or saucers to protect floors, furniture and windowsills from water damage.

I cannot guarantee the survival or condition of plants.

More extensive watering, outdoor containers or time-consuming home tasks may require additional booked time.

I do not provide:

• Professional security patrols
• Property management
• Domestic cleaning
• Gardening
• Repairs
• Maintenance
• Management of contractors
• Professional home inspections

Read about Pet Care Add-ons and Holiday Home Help

Updates while you are away

I provide regular updates, so you know how your pets are doing.

Depending on the booking, these may include:

• A photograph
• A written summary
• A short video
• Confirmation of meals
• Medication confirmation
• Walk information
• Toileting observations
• Changes in behaviour
• Anything that concerns me

Please tell me how often you would like updates and whether there are times when you would prefer not to receive routine messages.

I will contact you promptly where something requires a decision or causes concern.

I do not force a nervous pet to pose for a cheerful photograph.

Sometimes the most useful update is that a shy cat remained in their safe place, ate normally and used the litter tray, or that a nervous dog completed a short, calm walk without being pushed beyond what they could manage.

The meet-and-greet process

A meet-and-greet is normally required before a new house-sitting booking.

This takes place in your home so I can:

• Meet you and your pets
• Learn the normal routine
• Discuss feeding
• Discuss walks and toilet arrangements
• Review medication
• Understand behaviour and triggers
• See the sleeping arrangements
• Check access and keys
• Discuss cameras
• Review emergency plans
• Identify escape risks
• Discuss other people entering the home
• Confirm the service you actually need

Your pet does not have to perform.

A dog does not need to greet me enthusiastically. A cat does not need to come out of hiding. A nervous pet does not need to accept touch.

Some rescue or nervous dogs may need:

• More than one introduction
• Familiarisation walks
• Short visits before the house sit
• Time to see me entering and leaving
• A gradual handover rather than a rushed meeting

A meet-and-greet does not automatically guarantee that I will accept the booking.

I may decline where:

• The care falls outside my competence
• I cannot safely handle a pet
• Important information has not been disclosed
• The property cannot be accessed securely
• The required care cannot fit the dates or location
• The pet needs more continuous supervision than I can provide
• The arrangement creates an unreasonable risk

What information should you leave?

Before you travel, please leave clear written instructions covering:

• Feeding
• Water
• Treats
• Walks
• Toilet routines
• Medication
• Sleeping arrangements
• Litter trays
• Small-animal care
• Behaviour and triggers
• Equipment
• Doors, gates and escape risks
• Veterinary details
• Emergency contacts
• Insurance
• Key and alarm information
• Cameras
• Household tasks
• Your travel and return details

Please also leave:

• Enough food
• Enough medication
• Spare food and medication for a possible delay
• Waste bags
• Litter
• Cleaning supplies
• Towels
• Safe leads, harnesses and collars
• Carrier information where relevant
• Instructions for heating or cooling
• A working contact number

My Homeowner’s Pet-Sitter Checklist can help you prepare.

House-sitting prices

Standard overnight house sitting: £60 per night

This includes an overnight stay and the care agreed around your pet’s normal routine.

Standard care may include daytime absences of up to four continuous hours.

Continuous house sitting: £100 per night

This is for a pet who cannot safely or comfortably be left for normal daytime periods.

Continuous care must be agreed before the booking is confirmed.

Reservation payment: £50

A £50 reservation payment is required to secure the booking.

This is not an additional fee.

It forms part of the total house-sitting price and is deducted from the final balance.

The remaining balance is normally due seven calendar days before the booking begins unless another arrangement has been confirmed in writing.

Christmas and New Year

An additional £10 applies to services provided on:

• Christmas Day, 25 December
• New Year’s Day, 1 January

Any additional charges will be included in your quote before you confirm the booking.

View the complete Finchley Dog Walker price list

Areas covered

House sitting is mainly available in:

• East Finchley, N2
• Finchley Central, N3
• Muswell Hill, N10
• North Finchley, N12
• Highgate, N6
• Whetstone, N20
• Selected nearby parts of North London

House sitting is available across a slightly wider area than my regular dog-walking service because I remain at the client’s home overnight.

Availability depends on:

• Your postcode
• Travel time
• The dates required
• Your pet’s routine
• How long your pet can be left
• Medication times
• My existing confirmed bookings

Send me your postcode and dates, and I will confirm whether I can help.

Check the complete Finchley Dog Walker service area

Availability and booking

House-sitting dates can fill well in advance, particularly during:

• School holidays
• Bank holidays
• Easter
• Summer
• Christmas
• New Year
• Popular travel weekends

I do not provide instant online booking.

An apparently free date does not automatically mean I can accept the booking. I must also consider your location, travel time, your pet’s care requirements, daytime absences and other confirmed work.

To enquire, please send:

• Your name
• Your postcode
• The dates required
• The number and type of pets
• How long they can normally be left
• A brief description of their routine
• Any medication
• Any nervousness, reactivity or handling concerns
• Whether you need standard overnight or continuous care

A booking is only confirmed when:

• I have accepted the arrangement
• The required meeting has taken place
• I have received the necessary information
• The £50 reservation payment has been received
• I have confirmed the booking in writing

Do not book travel solely because a date appears free before I have confirmed the care.

Find out how far in advance you need to book

Check how availability works

Contact Del about your dates

When house sitting may not be suitable

House sitting may not be appropriate where:

• I cannot safely enter the property
• A pet cannot be handled safely by one person
• Important bite, aggression or guarding information has been withheld
• The care requires veterinary treatment outside my role
• The pet requires two carers
• Continuous care is needed but cannot be accommodated
• Safe walking equipment is not available
• Cameras have not been disclosed
• Reliable access cannot be arranged
• There is no workable emergency plan
• The location is outside my practical area
• The requested routine cannot be provided safely

Depending on the circumstances, a more suitable arrangement may include:

• Veterinary boarding
• A registered veterinary nurse
• Specialist boarding
• A clinical animal behaviourist
• Care shared with a trusted family member
• Another professional with different availability or experience

I would rather decline an unsuitable booking than accept care that I cannot provide safely and reliably.

Why choose Finchley Dog Walker?

I have provided professional dog walking and pet care since 2011.

My approach is based on:

• One household at a time
• Familiar routines
• Calm handling
• Honest communication
• Respect for your home
• Practical experience with rescue and nervous pets
• Individual care
• Staying within my competence

I am:

• Fully insured
• Enhanced DBS checked through my Scouting role
• Trained in canine first aid
• Experienced with rescue, nervous and reactive dogs
• Familiar with multi-pet households
• Committed to reward-based, welfare-led handling

There are no rotating carers.

You know that it is me, Del, staying in your home and caring for your pets.

Read more about Del and Finchley Dog Walker

Frequently asked questions

Do you remain in my home continuously for 24 hours?

Not under the standard overnight service.

Standard house sitting includes the evening, overnight and morning routine, with agreed daytime absences of up to four continuous hours.

Continuous house sitting is available separately where a pet cannot be left for normal daytime periods.

How much does house sitting cost?

Standard overnight house sitting costs £60 per night.

Continuous house sitting costs £100 per night.

A £50 reservation payment is required and is deducted from the final balance.

Can you care for more than one dog?

Yes, subject to safe handling and a suitable routine.

I may care for several compatible dogs from the same household.

Can you care for dogs and cats together?

Yes.

House sitting can be particularly useful for multi-pet households because everyone remains together in their familiar home.

Are dog walks included?

Morning and evening walks are normally included where they form part of your dog’s usual routine.

Additional walks or unusually involved exercise requirements may need extra booked time.

Do you mix my dog with dogs from other homes?

No.

I do not bring other dogs into your home or combine dogs from different households on walks.

Can you care for a rescue or reactive dog?

Possibly.

I regularly support rescue, nervous and reactive dogs, but I need complete information about triggers, bite history, guarding, equipment and handling.

Familiarisation visits or walks may be required.

Can you administer medication?

Straightforward medication support may be possible where it has been discussed in advance, clearly labelled and falls within my competence.

Complex or invasive care may require a veterinary professional.

Will you sleep in my bed?

Sleeping arrangements are agreed before the booking.

Please provide a clean, suitable and private place to sleep.

Do you bring your own food?

Yes, unless we agree something different.

I do not expect you to provide my meals.

Can you use food or household supplies?

Only as agreed.

Please tell me what I may use and what should be left untouched.

Will you clean my home?

I keep the areas I use reasonably tidy and clean up after your pets.

House sitting is not a domestic cleaning service.

Will you water my plants?

A reasonable number of suitable plants can normally be watered where this has been agreed.

Plant pots must have trays or saucers to reduce the risk of water damage.

Can I use indoor cameras?

All cameras must be disclosed.

No camera or recording device may operate in a bedroom, bathroom, changing area or another place where personal privacy would reasonably be expected.

What happens if there is an emergency?

I follow the written emergency plan, attempt to contact you and involve your veterinary practice or emergency contact where necessary.

Your pet’s welfare comes first.

What happens if my return is delayed?

Contact me as soon as you know.

Any extension is subject to availability because I may already have another confirmed booking.

Please leave enough food, medication and essential supplies to cover a reasonable delay.

How far in advance should I book?

As early as reasonably possible.

School holidays, summer, Christmas, bank holidays and popular weekends can fill well in advance.

Do I need a meet-and-greet?

Yes, a suitable meet-and-greet is normally required for a new house-sitting client.

Some nervous pets may need more than one introduction.

Is the meet-and-greet a guarantee that you will accept the booking?

No.

It helps both of us decide whether the arrangement is appropriate and safe.

Do you offer cat visits instead of staying overnight?

Yes.

Where overnight care is not needed, my separate cat-sitting service may be more suitable.

Read about Cat Sitting in Finchley

Looking for a house sitter in Finchley?

Your pets do not have to leave their home simply because you need to travel.

House sitting allows them to keep their beds, familiar smells, normal routines and local walks while being cared for by one consistent person.

Send me:

• Your postcode
• Your dates
• The pets in your household
• Their normal routine
• How long they can be left
• Any health, medication or behavioural needs

I will tell you honestly whether standard overnight care, continuous care or another service appears most suitable.

Contact Del about house sitting

WhatsApp: 07707 763344

Email: info@finchleydogwalker.co.uk

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Important information

I provide routine pet care, practical support and general welfare observations within my competence.

I am not a veterinary surgeon or clinical animal behaviourist. I do not diagnose illness, prescribe treatment, change medication doses or provide veterinary treatment.

Please discuss complex medical needs with your veterinary practice before making travel arrangements.

Dogs with serious aggression, severe separation-related distress or other complex behavioural needs may require support from a vet and an appropriately qualified behaviour professional.

Find an assessed practitioner through the Animal Behaviour and Training Council.

All bookings are subject to location, availability, safe access, appropriate introductions, complete disclosure of health and behavioural information and my assessment that the required care can be provided safely.

Read my Policies and Professional Standards