The Reality of Pet Sitting Abroad: House Sitting as a Digital Nomad
When I heard you could stay for free in nice homes around the world by pet sitting, I thought pet sitting as a digital nomad sounded too good to be true. Maybe it is?
My First House Sitting Experience in Brighton
It’s day 4 of an 8-day pet sit in Brighton. This is my first ever pet sit with Trusted Pet Sitters. As a lifelong dog lover I thought this would be a match made in heaven. I get to spend 8 days solo in a beautiful 2-bed apartment by the sea while getting a daily hit of oxytocin from hanging out with mans best friend. Which in this case happens to be a cockadoodle named Bruce.
After all, I just left friends post Dimensions Festival in sunny Croatia to come here in the hope of a great review for my portfolio to increase my chances of getting one of those fancy Châteaus in France to house sit next summer. This is supposed to be great. I’ve been picturing myself walking along the pebbled beaches of Sussex in the sunshine. Smelling that fresh sea breeze with seagulls gliding above me in a non-aggressive way and taking the time to admire all the gorgeous Victorian architecture, from the old pubs in the arches to the intricate iron benches (some in better shape than others). And when I wasn’t doing that, I’d be spending my time sitting at cafes reading, bathed in the loving gaze of my new four-legged companion who’s sat quietly beside me. It’s not going that way. But there’s still time for a turn-around.
The Challenges of Pet Sitting: When “High Energy” Means Chaos
We’re only at the halfway mark, 4 more days to go. In reality, I left the sunshine behind me and flew into a rain storm that has lasted days. To top it all off, the sea breeze I’d been daydreaming of is more of a sleet-filled gale and the dog is so ‘high energy’ it’s impossible to sit anywhere without him creating a scene. That includes inside the house. Today, so far we’ve been on 2 x hour long fast paced walks. I’m knackered. I’m working up to take him outside into the rain for a 3rd one this evening.
How to Understand Pet Sitting Ads 101
On the flip side, at least I have a better idea of how to translate dog sitting ads now.
‘High Energy” meaning total nutter with the temparment of a spoilt 2 year old, unless exercised into a state of semi sedation.
‘Loving’ meaning, won’t stop trying to hump your leg, the couch or any soft furnishings around you.
‘A real character’ meaning, you’ve never met a dog like this, nor will you want to again. As Bruce continues to hump everything around, pull on the leash and generally be a bit of a dick. I can feel my identity as a self-described dog person crumbling. Maybe it’s me. Maybe the dog can sense I’m a push-over? With that in mind, my Friday nights going to be spent watching a bunch of Cesar Milan videos…
Discovering Brighton Through Pet Sitting
The storm clouds have cleared and I’ve had time to properly get a feel for the area. There’s a surprise on every corner, it’s heritage buildings galore and I can’t get enough of the historical plaques that read of the most notable tenants. There’s a different feel here to London. People swim in the rain. Youths sunbathe topless on cloudy days and silver-haired men and women congregate outside rainbow-doored beach shacks, sipping coffee on weekday afternoons.
Wall hangings spell out ‘Life’s Better By The Beach’. The jury’s out. I spend a good amount of the time today thinking about what I’m going to say to the owners when I see them.
How am I going to break it to them that in fact, I haven’t had a good time and he is absolutely not a ‘good boy’?
The Turning Point: Meeting the Neighbours
On our third hour-long walk of the day, I bumped into a neighbour who recognised the dog. “Hey that looks like Bruce,’“ I hear a small child say as I’m walking towards them.. I meet Mimi and her daughter not far from the flat and although the 7-year-old clearly has a connection with the dog – I can’t help but see the pity in her mother’s eyes when she asks me how I’m getting on with him.
She mentions the fact that they’ve had to take Bruce on the occasional night so that the owners can have a “break from him and some calm dinner at home because he’s so full on…” My heart skips a beat. I feel exonerated. I am a dog person. It’s not me, it’s him!!
Lessons Learned from My First House Sit
- Key takeaways for digital nomads thinking about pet sitting with trusted house sitters:
- Read between the lines on listings.
- Ensure you have the skills to look after the pets well
- Be honest with yourself about your energy levels taking work load into account
- Know when pet sitting is worth it vs. when a guesthouse/hotel makes more sense.
Trusted Pet Sitters Review
Overall, I can’t fault Trusted House Sitters. The app is awesome and there are so many amazing places on there to choose from. The in app reviews allow you to check each pet owner and made me feel like it was a safe option. My recommendation would be to aim for pet sits with more reviews so you know they’re authentic and always ensure you have a good rapport with the owners on a video call before you go. I would for sure do this again. Lastly, if you change the filters for 1 month+, you’ll be able to see the best slow travel options for pet sitting but be aware these go fast!
What’s your experience with Trusted House Sitters? Leave a comment below.
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