House Sitting 101

Dun, Dun, Dun... Your aunt and uncle are going out of town for the week and their two precious dogs need to be cared for. Who else would they turn to but you! As a teenager we have free time and enjoy mind getting paid to cuddle with dogs, yet do we really know what the job entails?

This week I was called upon to perform the previously mentioned tasks, and I have some helpful tips and tricks to survive five days of dog throw-up, ant invasions, and weird noises. To further simplify we have two responsibilities: keeping the happy and house in order.

Dogs are a man's best friend, but many of us teens have never solely cared for untrained dogs for days at a time. As I learned, it is important to to set alarms for everything, especially their breakfast which occurs long before we wake up (7 A.M.). Alarms also are useful for remembering to let them relieve themselves after three hours as we can become distracted by our phones, homework or even sleep. Accidents are inevitable, so make sure to ask the owners where cleaning supplies are to pre-soak sheets before washing away any ill-placed dog liquids. Most importantly, give the animals lots of love and attention! Constant petting, snuggles and treats are a must for keeping the furry friends happy and barking-free.

When watching dogs we will often be called upon to house sit. House care -- in its purest form -- is an of cleaning. If a dog has an accident -- paper towels, mop and all purpose cleaner; if ants raid the one piece of sauce that dripped on the ground -- bleach spray, paper towels, and vacuum; broken vase -- broom, vacuum, and replacement vase (shhhh). More so then spills, a house sitter should make sure to keep the general house tidy. After a meal you should wash your dishes and put them away, or you can even vacuum before the owners come home to get rid of the dog hair. The goal for a house sitter at the end of the day (or week) is to make it look like you were never there.

House sitting is a great way to get some alone time and develop our young adult responsibilities. We must make sure to keep the animals content and house clean, but while doing so enjoy a puppy snuggle and some quite time away from Parkside IRC.

Comments

  1. AngadsaysFebruary 20, 2019 at 7:33 PM

    Hey,
    Thanks for sharing. Have always wanted to get a dog, maybe in the future!
    I’m sure your House-sitting experience must have been one, with many learning outcomes- especially the importance of being independent.

    Best,
    Angad Singh

    ReplyDelete
  2. SandyFebruary 21, 2019 at 10:38 AM

    I would looooove to be paid for dogsitting and housesitting. When I was younger, I had to babysit all of my cousins and sisters while their parents and my parents were out. I definitely was not paid for that.

    Have you heard of websites where people connect with others to housesit?

    ReplyDelete
  3. James Yun BlogFebruary 25, 2019 at 3:14 AM

    Wow I never knew it was so much work being a house sitter. I thought you would be able to just relax on the couch and read your favorite book until the parents came home. Dog sitting on the other hand would be a lot of fun as you get to spend time with those cute little things.

    ReplyDelete

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