Canine Influenza Virus risk for Dogs - another reason to find a House Sitter rather than a boarding Kennel

USA Today is reporting on the spread of the highly contagious canine influenza virus (CIV).

"it causes acute respiratory infections in dogs, and virtually all dogs who are exposed become infected. During the incubation period of two to four days, pets who appear healthy can still be spreading the germs."

Says Kimberly May, spokesperson for the American Veterinary Medical Association

Backgrounder: Canine influenza

May, also recommends exploring options such as having a house sitter stay with your pet.


Read full story- USA Today - Boarding your dogs? Find out if they need a flu vaccine

Denver Colorado Homeowner shares their house sitting experience

We've been using house-sitters for many years now and have become friends with some.
It's very important to be a good judge of character and to get references. I always check the potential house-sitter out on the internet if they pique my interest.

We don't pay our house-sitters and in fact, they're responsible for paying the utilities (other than water) while they're house-sitting. Most of our house-sitters are amenable to this because living in a different state or country gives them the opportunity for a "free" vacation. We let them use our vehicle while they're here. Our major requirement of house-sitters is that they vet our mail and let us know of bills due, to whom, the address and amount.

Yard maintenance is also an expectation. With one house-sitter, we set up an account for $1,000, in our joint names so that they could pay the bills for us. That worked out well, though I wouldn't recommend it unless the homeowner really trusted the house-sitter....

Read Full report in House Sitting Forum

2 months housesit Denver - Details:

We require a mature age couple or perhaps single non-smoker(s) to care for our home while we are on vacation.

We do not have pets.

No yard work is required other than shaking snow off trees and clearing of path and sidewalk (about 20 feet) if there is snow.

We require attention to our mail and e-mail notification of bills, so that we can timely pay them. The housesitter is responsible for paying electric/gas utilities and phone. We pay water bills.

Our home is two-storey and is located near Denver University and about an hour from the nearest ski fields. Denver has a good theater district. The home is handy to all facilities, such as supermarkets, post office, dining out, bus service and light rail to city.

Victoria British Columbia couple find wonderful Housesitter and Llama sitter

Thank you so much for your services. We have found a wonderful person - "charitygirl" who lives close by. We have met with her and
feel it will be a good contact. Please remove our ad for a sitter
now. Thank you. "Gigfreck "

House/ Llamas sit details :

We are 45 mins from Victoria BC. on the south western coast of Vancouver Island. 10 ks west of Sooke. Sunny, private, modern home and small llama farm on 10 forested acres. Magnificent ocean views and sunsets, 5 min walk to amazing beachcombing beach. Great hiking trails and other beaches close by. Super restaurants to choose from. We have one little cat 22 yrs old very healthy who needs a lap to sit on in the evenings and a hello during the day. The llamas are very easy to look after

Perfect house sitter found for 5.5 month housesit in Edmonton Alberta Canada

"Ian !
I wanted to thank you for the opportunity to use your Home Sitting Service!
We found the perfect person for our home sitting needs in less than 24 hours!
I was worried about finding a sitter and now know where to get the help i needed!
I would highly recommend your site to anyone!!!!!!!
Thank You !!!!!
Don (drkdrummer)


Housesit details: 5.5 Months, Edmonton Alberta Canada
1500 sq ft Bungalow, 3 bedroom, 2-2/2 Bathrooms, Developed Basement, pool table, shuffle bd and Sattelite TV 52". Front driveway parking. N/S N/P Close to Bus, shopping and 5 min to freeways. Oct 18th/09 to Apr 1st/10 Pay for utilities only!

Hervey Bay homeowner finds a housesitter and doesnt have to impose on family and friends

"Dear Housecarers,

I would like to thank you for the excellent service you have provided. You have made everything so easy and it's great not having to impose on family and friends. I have chosen a couple who were housesitting in the area so it was good to meet wit them in person.I will certainly use your service again if need be..." Tobyjug


House sit details: Hervey Bay QLD Australia

My house in Hervey Bay is a double storey home with 3 bedrooms upstairs, granny flat & bar room downstairs.

There is a huge balcony with unobstructed views of the ocean,Fraser Island & Bargara.We are about a half hour drive to historic Maryborough and about 80mins to Bundaberg T

he main shopping centre is 10mins from here.

I have a small dog that I take to the beach every morning and a quiet house cat.I hope I can find someone to take care of my pets and water the plants

Sitter reliable_pair report a very satisfying 27 months of house sitting, whilst awaiting their apartment, which is now finished

Thanks for a very satisfying 27 months of house sitting, whilst awaiting our apartment, which is now finished. Your notification service is excellent thankyou.
We have had the pleasure of minding some wonderful pets and have met some extraordinary people.

House sits have been at:


Macclesfield, SA
Morgan, SA
Glenwood, Qld
Mareeba, Qld
Townsville, Qld
Hervey Bay, Qld

regards

Helen: username reliable_pair

Pennsylvania HOme/dog owner forms close relationship with local house sitter

"I found your website invaluable.

When I needed a sitter for home and dog I posted an ad and got lots of responses.

I found a gentleman who lives very close to me and he has been dog and house sitting for me ever since. Thanks so much for your website!!

... Paula - (traveller1)

House/Pet sit details:
Philadelphia Pennsylvania

I have a small twin house in Drexel Hill - private backyard, porch, driveway.

I need someone to stay in the house and take care of my dog. He is a 10 year old australian sheepdog - 39lbs. and a real sweetheart. I don't want to leave him alone.

Person doesn't have to be in the house all day - just walk and feed him in the morning, walk him in the late afternoon and walk and feed him at night. Must spend the night in the house and take in the mail and just be a presence in the house. Keep my pup company!!

Manhattan Long Island homeowners settles on House Sitter for the third time.

well my goodness, i placed the ad last evening and we have already settled on someone. the couple sound just perfect and we are looking forward to their stay. we already checked out their references and everything is looking well.


our past two experiences with house carers.com have been totally and without exception, great.

thank you................portlovers.

House sit details

We need a housesitter for 3 and a half weeks around July 20th thru Aug 10th (approximately) for an elderly beagle, Mollie, and her sister, a manx cat named Toots.

Toots is an indoor cat and needs some attention but Mollie is getting on in years and does need her small walks and more attention as she has lost her hearing and now has arthritis

Our medium sized home with fireplace is located on a penninsula; a boating town not 20 miles from Manhattan by LIRR train. Our 2-2 bedroom home has a lovely backgarden with deck and one can sit out there in the evening, with Mollie on a leash, and watch the birds in their feeder or birdbath.

You can walk to lovely parks, beaches, library, restaurants, public transportation, movie theatres, and harbor overlooking Long Island Sound. It is a small, little jewel...quiet and peaceful but hop on the train, and you are downtown Manhattan in 30 minutes!!!

We are near many attractions too numerous to mention which are easily reached by public transportation. Our animals can be left for brief periods of time but need someone at night of course, and in the day to walk as needed and basically, just love as needed.

Austadventure from Cairns North QLD Australia efficiently finds a housesitter

"Thank you so much for this service. It has resulted in an efficient process of selecting a suitable sitter. We are very grateful for you help."

.... Austadventure.

House sit Details:

Wanted suitably referenced, mature, reliable non- smoking person/s to look after delightful home and pets from mid Sept to end October 2009 in suburb (10mins) to north of Cairns


Find house sitters listed as available for Cairns QLD Australia

Coffs Harbour homeowner finds wonderful housesitter and looks forward to her overseas trip

hi

"I have just used your service for the first time and have been amazed at the response to my add.All the applicants sounded so nice and it was difficult to choose just one.

I have recently met the successful applicants and feel they will prove to be wonderful house sitters for me. I will let you know after I return from my overseas trip.

I look forward to using your srvice in the future and have passed on your details to several friends.Kind regards."
Jenny (username Kalmiah)

Coffs Harbour North Coast NSW Australia housesit details:

I need a caring person/persons to look after my 2 dogs and cat.

Sprat is a small terrier cross and Tiffy a look alike Disney shaggy dog(clipped at the moment) Tootsie is a geriatric Birman cat who sleeps most of the time.

I live in a nearly new 3 bedroom townhouse 2 minutes from the CBD of Coffs Harbour. With beautiful mountain views from the front and back of the house I am only 5 minutes from main beach and Jetty areas. There is an enclosed dog park 2 minutes away and I walk the dogs there every morning.I would like you to be able to continue to do this.Other than that your time is free to enjoy this beautiful area.


House Sitters avaiailable for Coffs Harbour NSW

The Don'ts of Dog Training

Dog ownership can provide some of the richest and most fulfilling experiences in a person's life. That being said, dog training can sometimes drive a person to the point of pulling his or her hair out. Although, most dogs are exceptionally intelligent, they also tend to be quite hyperactive and often possess short attention spans.

Many dog training methods suggest all sorts of different techniques to try. However, most people are surprised to learn that effective dog training has less to do with the methods that are employed, and more to do with avoiding two fundamental mistakes.

Lack of Consistency

Unsuccessful dog training is almost always a result of inconsistent patterns of behavior by the trainer. Like children, dogs crave consistency. Effective dog training requires that the trainer react with the same response each time the dog fails to comply with a command. For every action the dog takes, there must be an expected reaction from you. This helps the dog learn that there will always be a single certain consequence when it behaves a certain way. It doesn't matter if you respond to the dog with physical discipline or with the simple word, "no." If the rule is: no dogs in the bed, but sometimes you let him get away with it, you can bet your dog will never transition into a well-mannered pooch. Although, it may seem harsh at times, tough love through consistent discipline is the only way to teach a dog what is acceptable and what isn't. Consistency is the key, and no dog training method can be effective without it.

Improper Physical Discipline

Physical discipline can be an extremely effective method of dog training. That being said, you should never swat or spank a dog on the nose. Although, a quick tap on the nose may seem like a good way to get your dog's attention, the unintended consequences can have a drastic long-term effect on your dog. Training a dog this way often causes them to develop a tendency to flinch and cower. This generally makes the dog fearful and hesitant to approach when he or she is called. Also, this method of dog training produces poor guard dogs as a simple raise of the hand tends to send them cowering.

If you decide you want to incorporate physical discipline into your dog training methods, your best bet is to use either a choke chain or a traditional swat to the dog's backside. This will get the dog's attention, but won't have the same unintended consequences as a swat to the nose.

Copyright © 2009, Ian White housesitting.com

Join forum discussion on dog or puppy training issues

Puppy Training information site

Grafton NSW homeowner finds wonderful house sitter

"Thank you for the opportunity to advertise freely on your site. It was difficult to pick one housesitter from a list of wonderful offers. I would thoroughly recommend your site to friends seeking a housesitter.
Many thanks Deborah W (graftongal)

Housesit Details:

Grafton North Coast 9 Dec 2008 until 25th Jan 2010

RURAL TRANQUILITY CLOSE TO TOWN! 10km from Grafton, a beautiful historic town with heritage buildings only 40 minutes from pristine beaches on the north coast of NSW. Grafton also has a brand new large shopping centre, and a major restoration of an art deco cinema is currently underway which will be operational by the end of the year.

We have a one year old house with expansive rural views, only 7 minutes from Grafton, and a dalmation dog and ginger cat who both live outside. The dog has plenty of space to run around the garden and can be exercised easily at home as there are 60 acres with the property. She loves to play as she is still a puppy. The house has air conditioning, an inground 10 metre pool, 2 living areas including a baby grand piano, 4 bedrooms 2 bathrooms, and kitchen with gas cooking , electric oven, dishwasher. The garden comprises lawn and trees with no garden beds to maintain, only mowing.

The pool will require basic maintenance :emptying the skimmer basket, checking the level of water and topping it up if required, and a vacuum once a week -10 days which takes about 15 minutes to keep it crystal clear.

The balance of the property is on agistment and does not require any intervention, except to keep an eye on the water trough occasionally for the horse. We are looking for a single or couple preferably, (no young children) to housesit and feed our animals and enjoy our house. We look forward to your enquiries

Launceston Tasmania homeonwer finds house sitter for 12 months at short notice.

"We decided in a short time to get a House Sitter in, we then discovered this wonderful site and once we place and ad, we had the right applicant chosen within 24 hrs. This is a brilliant site and we recommend it to everyone thinking of following in our foot steps."

Tony and Lyn (tonylyn)

House sit Details:
12 months + ongoing Evandale Deddington, launceston TAS Australia

Hello We are a young retired couple wishing to travel Australia on a permanent basis starting around mid July 2009.

We require a mature couple who are non smokers, pets ok, who are willing to participate in handyman work around the house and farm area. We will require absolutely NO RENT in exchange for simple handyman tasks such as gardening, some painting, general maintenance and so on.

"Highcliff" is a three acre property built in 1870 circa and located in the beautiful Nile River Valley only 20 mins comuting distance from Launceston and the Airport. If you feel that this is for you, then please contact us via email at highcliff activ8 thankyou regards Tony and Lyn

Housesitter found for small sailing town - spectacular views and kayaks, power boat,and bicycles included Pamlico North Carolina

"Thanks for your great service. Just wanted to let you know that we received many qualified applicants and have hired one of those. I have removed our ad. "

.. jayhawk64

house sit details:

Pamlico North Carolina USA 1 month From 2009-08-01

House on the water with spectacular views and kayaks, power boat,and bicycles included. Ocean beaches a ferry ride away. Must be willing to care for our 2 cats as well as looking after our home.

Wellington NZ homeowner securely finds a lovely housesitting couple for sunny house

"Wow! I signed up as a houseowner yesterday and had 6 fast responses. 24 hours later we have interviewed and accepted a lovely couple who only signed up as sitters themselves 2 weeks ago. Thanks for the wonderful and secure website :)"
Wendy in NZ (login wjkhar)

Housesit Details:
Karori Wellington New Zealand
6 weeks AvailFromDate = 2009-06

My family lives in a lovely sunny house with a 18 month old cat and a 4 month old kitten. We are going on our first long overseas trip and our primary concern is that our cats don't get lonely while we're away... Our house is on a bus route and is 8 minutes drive from central Wellington. It has heat pumps to keep you cosy. Please get in touch if you love cats :)

Qualicum Beach BC Homeowners delighted with sitters to mind their home with lots of live theater, miles of beach, curling and hockey during the winter

"An amazing website!!! SO well thought out, easy to use friendly. We had many responses to our ad and are delighted with the people we found. Many thanks "
...Dan and Carol (Angus1)

Housesit Details:
Qualicum Beach British Columbia Canada 4 months 2009-11-05

Looking for a couple to take care of our home and our two golden retrievers.

We live in a new home with all the latest amenities, central to both Qualicum Beach and Parksville on Central Vancouver Island.Mild winters (usually), ski hill close by, lots of live theater, miles of beach, curling and hockey during the winter.

Victoria is a two hour drive. Many artisans ans crafters live in the area therefore many galleries.

How to Keep Your House Safe While You're Away

Fox news have written an excellent article on making preparations for travel with home security and pets in mind.

The following observation is interesting

"House sitters are usually a “better choice for cat owners since cats usually don’t appreciate change,” Arden says, but where the debate really heats up is deciding between a sitter and a kennel. "


Read entire article on Preparing for Travel, with home security and pets in mind

House Sitting Services Offer Inexpensive Vacationing Opportunities

House sitting is quickly becoming the popular choice when it comes to taking an economical vacation. One of the reasons for this is simply because the vacationer gets to take a rent-free vacation at a place of his choosing. This fact alone provides a huge savings that allows even those who are strapped for cash to enjoy a bit of down time for relaxation and fun.

Homeowners provide their residence to house sitters free of charge. In exchange, the house sitters promise to watch over the home, take care of the pets, and perform any necessary duties as required by the homeowner. It is a good situation for everyone involved, since each party obtains something that they need or want without the exchange of money.

Another reason for an increase in the house sitting trend is the increase in the number of people offering house sits. Not only are house sitting opportunities more readily available, but also, they are more readily available in a greater number of locations. From fun in the sun to fun in the snow, vacation goers can enjoy almost any type of vacation at a reduced cost.

House sitters can enjoy some of the most exotic spots in the world at a fraction of the normal cost. If they prefer, house sitters can choose to enjoy a trip to some less exotic space while still enjoying a reduction in the cost of the trip since rent is free. House sitting opportunities are growing in numbers, allowing more people to take advantage of an excellent opportunity to see different spots in the world.

Since house sitting vacations provide a less expensive way to get away and enjoy the pleasures of life for a few days, people can start to enjoy more than one vacation a year. With minimized costs in the forefront, the excuses for not taking a vacation are greatly diminished. House sitting holidays are just another one of the amazing opportunities out there for frugal people looking to enjoy life to the best of their ability.

By Susan M. Keenan ©2009

House sitter found for A perfect place for someone that likes to read, paint, water color, photography, and smelling roses: Naples Florida

"What a great service you provide! The first day we posted we received over ten interested contacts. We have now selected a candidate. and have removed our ad.

Thank you so much.

Pennie (username pinki61)

Housesit Details: Naples Florida USA
We need a responsible person to house sit and care for our dog and cat while we are away. O

ur home is in the country 16 miles from the beach and resort areas. A perfect place for someone that likes to read, paint, water color, photography, and smelling roses.

Recession Survival Tips for Dog Owners

Everyone is looking for ways to cut back in these tough economic times. While you look for ways to save money, don’t forget to consider what you are spending on your dog. While you want to make sure your dog is healthy and happy, you may be able to cut back your spending on him with compromising your dog’s well-being. Here’s how:

Learn What You Can Do on Your Own:

Many pet owners turn to vets or groomers for even simple procedures that can be done at home, but there is no need to pay a professional for things like nail trimming, bathing, and ear cleaning. Nail clippers for dogs cost about $10 and will last for years, whereas professional groomers will charge $5-10 for each trim. If you are nervous about trimming your dog’s nails, ask your vet to show you how to do it at your next visit. Tips for grooming your dog can also be found online or in a book at your local library.

You can also clean your dog’s ears yourself with a bottle of ear cleaner available at any pet store and a cheap pair of tweezers. Simply remove any hairs growing inside your dog’s ear, and follow the instructions on the back of the bottle of ear cleaning solution.

To cut costs even further, why not consider trimming your dog’s hair yourself? A pair of dog clippers can be bought for little more than the cost of one visit to the groomer, and will likely last your dog’s entire lifetime. Worried you’ll hurt your dog? Most clippers are designed with guards to keep you from cutting your dog. If your concerns are mainly cosmetic, you should know that some clippers now come with booklets or even DVDs that offer detailed instructions on how to get the look you want. And remember that no matter what you do, your dog’s hair will grow out in time, so you may as well give it a try!

Ask Your Vet About Generic Drugs:

Pet owners in regions of the US where heartworm disease is endemic must give their dog heartworm prevention pills each month. Many dogs take other medicines as well. What you may not know is that, just like human medicines, both name brand and generic options are often available. If you buy your dog’s medicines directly from your vet, ask if you are buying name brand or generic drugs, and if there may be a less expensive option for you.

Get a live-in House/Pet Sitter

One of your biggest costs as a pet owner is probably pet care when you are away from home. Boarding your dog can cost $20 a day or more, and hiring a pet sitter is often even more costly. To avoid this expense, why not match up with a responsible pet/house sitter? There are many retirees, travelers and others who are willing to sit your home and pets for free in exchange for rent-free accommodation. This will save you both the cost of boarding, and you have the security of knowing your dog is kept in their familiar environment.

Practice Preventive Medicine

Another big cost for any dog owner is vet care. An unexpected illness or injury in your pet can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars in medicines and vet bills. To avoid these incidents as much as possible, it is important to practice preventive medicine with your dog. Make sure your dog stays up-to-date on all vaccinations and that he takes heartworm prevention pills each month. Prevention costs much less than treating an illness—not to mention the suffering you will save your dog! Also make sure that your dog gets plenty of exercise and that he maintains a healthy weight, as this can help avoid major health complications. Brushing your dog’s teeth regularly can also prevent dangerous infections that can result from bacteria in your dog’s mouth entering his bloodstream.

By switching your dog to generic drugs and doing most of his grooming yourself, you can save a lot on monthly pet bills. Combine that with free pet sitting and disease prevention, and you can count on saving hundreds of dollars a year on pet care without sacrificing your dog’s health or well-being.

Match with responsible House/Pet Sitters

Copyright © 2009, Ian White housesitting.com