Hi

I have a westie who is 6yrs old and as you all know has a compromised immune system meaning when we have vaccinated in the past ends up with an awful skin outbreak so for the past 3 yrs he has not been vaccinated and at the moment in very good health, we are looking for somebody to have him while we go on holiday but all kennels or dog sitters say they must be vaccinated so how do other people get on with dogs that cannot be vaccinated and leaving them for holidays??

I joined www.housesittersuk.co.uk.

It is free to join and I had no trouble getting a housesitter to look after my two whilst I went away for two weeks.

Most of them don't charge. They come with references and normally CRB checked. I had a lovely retired lady ( specifically requested a retired lady) I paid her £10 per day just to cover her food and petrol to my home.

Obvously, you must be willing for them to live in your house. Best thing I ever did as I would never leave mine in kennels. Mine are not vaccinated since puppy vacs and are raw fed so it is a problem with kennels.

Thanks

I need somebody to have him in there home as my partner wouldn't agree to somebody staying in our house while we are away (his funny like that) men for you!!

Be careful as those sort of websites may look good but it negates all your own household and personal liability insurance so unless these people are fully insured to cover that you are taking a huge risk.

Where abouts do you live as I have a very reputable company I use that are fully insured.

I would say, don't knock them until you have tried them. There are good and bad people in all schemes.

You are wrong about it negating your household insurance - just the opposite. I checked with my insurance and they were only too pleased that my property was going to be occupied whilst I was away.

As I said in my post, most people that offer their services have been doing it for years and generally they are CRB police checked and come with references. My lady was CRB housechecked and came with a whole host of references that were genuine. She keeps in touch now on a weekly basis as she consideres my dogs part of her 'extended' family.

Too pleased, did you get it in writing that your policy would be fully covered ?

Yes, I got it via email.......

Did the sitters have their own public liability insurance ?

Why do some people not like to be proved wrong and continue to 'nit pick' for the sake of it?

I'm not reading this as nit-picking, rather that LJS is just wanting to get some more info - perhaps she has been told the opposite (or indeed experienced the opposite) in the past and is interested in this different circumstance.

LJs wy would it negate your insurance as if you employed for example a cleaner in your hosue they are covered ? or at least that's my experience. ? good point to raise though definitely you need to check out what is and isnt covered and by whom

Hamish have you thought of homeopathic nosodes ? or titre testing some kennels accept those. What area are you I have forgotten ?

Why do some people not like to be proved wrong and continue to 'nit pick' for the sake of it?

I think some people just like to take the opposite view, for the sake of it - and treat forums like this as a debating society?

However, having said that, I would need a sitter to be insured and police checked - too many crooks around these days.   I guess if the person comes with good references from people you trust, then it's okay.   However, I'd still be wary.   I had sitters in when I needed to take a long weekend away.   They were bonded etc.etc. but I still came back to a house with soiled rugs in the living room which given I asked them not to leave my hounds with full access to the downstairs if they had to go out, shouldn't have happened.   And I doubt it would have happened had they been there!!   I knew they were 'multi-tasking', doing other 'sitting' than just mine.   I can only assume that at least they slept over!   My hounds were okay however, so I suppose that's the main thing.   I don't think I'd use them again tho.

Just remembered if you join the fb canine health concern page there is a list of dog sitters kennels etc that will accept non vaccinated dogs in the files at the top of the page .

I take offense that you imply that I am taking an opposite view just because I want to !

I think it is very important to ensure both your dogs and house are fully covered whilst you are aware as I would hate people to end up loosing out because of not doing your research properly.

My insurers would not allow any theft claim or accidental damage claim if the third party looking after my house and pet had made a claim in the last five years . That is why I use a company that has fully insured sitters and the company does on their behalf. That includes public liability insurance .

I value my dogs and house and so would want to be 100 % sure that I was comfortable everything was covered .

Why is it that people get so stroppy when you are asking simply quite valid questions ?

Sorry and just to add if anything goes missing that is not associated to a forced entry of the property then that isn't covered either by the insurers where as the company I use that is also covered under there cover .

I think your comment was most appropriate, insurance is such a minefield and important to know what you are covered for and what you arnt.
I didnt think you were nit picking at all just making a sensible point and one a lot would over look until there was problem.
That sis usally when people come and ask for advice after the horse has bolted so to speak

Also as the protocols except for lepto are 3 yearly for boosters why would the kennels not accept?

Sorry Chris wasn't aimed at you about the inference I was just being difficult It was the other two posters.

that's good:) funny co incidence got a phone call from insurance company re house contents and buildings just after I had read this. They would want to know in advance if someone was going to be there and the circumstances and pass by underwriters to see if policyholder was covered. |In y case I have central heating upgrade so starngers in the house. They cleared it with the underwriters, so to me that says as usual with insurance a grey area and don't do anything without telling them.
Brings to mind if you have say decorators in do you tell the insurance company. Gosh this gets silly ,I have a party at the weekend ( I don't really) do I tell the insurance company :!!:)

My insurance stands as normal while my dog sitter is here. He has his own insurance as well. I like to have someone local as opposed to a larger firm as that way the girls get to know the sitter and are comfortable with him They often have him pop in to walk them during the odd days I have to be out for longer than normal. We use the same couple of sitters all the time.
I find it very reassuring while I am away to know that someone is living in the house. It is a safety aspect as well as nicer for the girls. If you feel the need it is easy to put a lock on a door and lock all personal stuff away. I do not worry about it, we have nothing we would not like to be seen by anyone else. (Except maybe my knicker drawer !!) 
I like to have an ongoing friendship with my trusted sitters, and they know one another well so if for some reason one cannot do it the other will. While I am away my more regular sitter (the one who sleeps here for the duration of the holiday)has other dogs to walk (Its his business) and the other sitter will come in and spend a couple of hours and walk the girls if he has a busy day. That way I can be reassured the girls are never left for longer than 2 hours at a time while we are away. They usually get 3 walks a day too !
A trusted house sitter is worth every penny and I will bend over backwards to make them comfortable in order to keep them.
The most important thing what choosing one is to make sure you do it months before you need them and foster a good relationship. Not for me the franchises who send out someone who you do not know.
Aileen

Yes we had about four months where we had the initial visit from the company owners where we had a lengthy interview (two way ) then a full complete checklist with anything and everything you would need to know about the dogs,cats and house down to the things they like to do when chilling in the house , what treats and food they are allowed ( the last thing to would want is them being fed something you wouldn't normally feed them ) medication and supplement lists , nicknames and what are their dislikes . We went out on walks with both the owners and talked extensively a out the dos and don'ts when out and more for me to see how the acted with the dogs which is hugely important .

Very comprehensive and professional .