Hi
I am desperately searching for a reputable pet sitter and keep on drawing big blanks.  I had to leave my lovely lab overnight last night with a pet sitter due to a family function, who I have taken her to before and each time I pick her up she has diarrhoea and the pet sitter blames it on the tap water, then tells me that she has eaten things she should not have whilst walking her.  She also comes back smelling of smoke although the lady claims she herself is a non smoker!!!! She has also come back after one night away looking overweight when she had lost tons after surgery - I can't understand it.
Please please can anybody recommend a good pet sitter to me in the North London area or thereabouts.  I am looking for a responsible, reliable person who will have the dog living in the house with them as part of the family but who does not have other animals or young children (due to my labs TPLO operation she is not allowed to play right now)
They should also have a garden and truly love dogs.
I would be so grateful for any recommendations.
Many thanks

Have you tried looking in your vets? these sort of services are often advertised there and maybe they could recommend one?? good luck in your search and i hope you get your situation sorted out soon

Might you not be better looking for a good, professionally run kennels?

i would suggest looking in the vets, but the vets are not allowed to recommend any make sure they are NARP registered look here for registered sitters

tanya

It may be better for you dog if the sitter stayed at your home.  I've used Animal Aunts in the past and they were brilliant.

It's really hard to find someone who really loves dog, is in a situation where they can keep dogs - and does not have one.  I've seen adverts in my local free paper for a company (I cannot remember the name) who are recruiting people with no pets who will pet sit in their own homes.  It really rang alarm bells for me. 

Given your experience with the pet sitter, I would rather put her in a good kennel, especially if it's only for a night or two.

I always have somebody to come and live in when my OH forces me to go on holiday. It is much the best way. Your dog is in it's own environment, you know your own property is dog proof. If it's just for a night or two, if you have a good friend whom you know is good with dogs, offering them a couple of night of peace and quiet, a couple of good dvd's or access to the movie channels, a bottle of wine and some goodies to eat would just about swing it I should think.

One problem that strikes me is that people who love dogs but don't actually have one usually have a very good reason which is often directly related to the suitability of their home and their lifestyle.

A good friend of mine, for example who has both a huge love of dogs and experience of owning them simply hasn't got a "doggy" house at the moment. It's a lovely house but not at all suitable for more than the occasional overnight stay with me in attendance!

If you don't have friends you could leave your dog with or who could come and stay at your house, do as others have suggested and check the noticeboard at your vet's surgery for anyone advertising dog sitting or seriously consider using kennels.

Have you thought about boarding kennels? I have to admit to not understanding the current trend for pet sitters. I would worry the whole time that my dogs would run away or as the OP said they would not follow my instructions. Your dog is going to be upset and looking for you, I'm not sure being in a home environment makes this better. If I have to go away without the dogs, or without some of them they go into a boarding kennels. I visited all kennels in my area and decided on this one, my dogs run in there happily off their leads. The kennels are heated and most importantly they are very secure. The owner follows my instructions to the letter (and the dogs love her) so I can enjoy my time away without worrying :)  Of course it's different leaving your dog with a friend or family member they already know, but if I had to leave my dogs with a stranger I would want it to be in a secure environment.

I would never leave my dogs either at home with a stranger or at a stranger's house, I'm afraid. I'm perfectly happy with the boarding kennels that we use - they are secure and the dogs are well looked after. I never worry when I leave them there :)

Daisy

Agree, Daisy. For sure, a stranger would have to have become someone I knew well before trusting my dog to their care. By which time they wouldn't be a stranger of course! Far better to choose a good boarding kennel.

Hi
You know I am not at all happy to leave my dog with this lady anymore after a traumatic night last night which I am going to post about.  I was never sure about kennels but if anybody could recommend me some good ones in or near North London at all I would like to check them out for definite.  I just worry because of the TPLO surgery which is why I wanted her to go to somebody in the house.  I am also going to check out having somebody come here but then how do you know they can be trusted?

Because of the numbers they gain experience from I think it more likely that a kennels will be able to cope with special arrangements, giving of medication etc. than an individual.  They are more likely to be experience in recognising when an animal is in pain or otherwise stressed too and will have closely established links with their vet plus all the necessary insurance of course.  Unless I had numbers to consider they would always be my first choice. 

Do you know your dog's breeder? I was speaking to mine about another issue and it turns out the sire's breeder also runs a boarding kennel. They know the breed well and come highly recommended. They might be able to recommend someone. My OH thinks his kids could look after ours but I'd be happier with a professional who won't lose him, go to a party instead of a walk through rain and mud, and won't be an unhappy ex who now has dirty paw prints on her light pink carpet.

Admin deleted

I have a personal friend that has been house/pet sitting for years - I'm not sure which agency she is registered with but could find out if you would like me too.  She herself is based in Essex but I know has covered west london and will be coming to look after my dog at my house over the New Year Break.  Let me know if you want me to find out any more details from her...  I couldnt stand the thought of kennels due to lack of freedom and interaction, but then I have the luxury of knowing this lady for years - you have to go with what makes you feel confident.  Good luck,  Maxine.   

Ive used 3 different home boarding places in the past.  The first was in my village and was recommended by a couple of people, her garden was fully fenced so that even if the front door was left open two gates would have to have been left open too.  She lived on her own and was there all day with the dogs, she took them out twice a day in the car to safe areas for walks and swims in the lake, the dogs even slept in her bedroom Unfortunately she moved to Yorkshire, Fagan loved going there, he never looked back once he realised where he was.

The 2nd place I used was a gundog trainer who also did home boarding, she was a really nice lady and seemed good fun for the dogs.  Her house again was really well fenced so even if doors were left open the dogs wouldnt be able to escape.  She had a huge garden but also walked the dogs on lead.  The boys went there for a week and then just one night another time and she text me every now and then to say how they were and what they were up to, said they were sleeping on the sofa etc.  Something didnt feel right about it though, whenever I picked them up she wasnt there, would leave them in a kennel for me to collect, with other dogs crated in the kitchen.  The last time I picked them up was a scorching hot day and the kennel had no shade :( It made me wonder if they really did sleep on her sofas and play in the river with the other dogs or whether they were kept crated or kenneled most of the time.

The place I use now is FAB !!  Its someone who I knew kind of from school who I met up with again at dog training.  She does great dane rescue but also has some other waifs and strays.  She has loads of land horses etc and the boys have their own room with patio doors leading out to the garden - I wouldnt mind living there myself They dont get walked which is fine by me beacuse of all the land they have to run around and the other dogs they get to play with.  Again, she had a fully fenced in garden and if you see the size of her great danes no one would dare open the gate let alone leave it open

To be honest, if I didnt have someone I could 100% trust not to lose my dogs I would put them in kennels.

Claire - The first pet sitter sounds ideal, what a pity she moved to Yorkshire, the second sounds distinctley dodgy though and you did right not to take the dogs back, the third sounds ideal just what I am looking for although I am not sure with TPLO surgery if she can be with that many dogs yet.