What are the pet care experiences of our members?

Updated 12 Aug 2024

Thinking about starting your house sitting adventure? Well it’s worldwide stays, home-from-home living, and of course, the best (furry) company: what’s not to love? Looking after a house and pet can be one of the most enjoyable ways to experience new places while hanging out with some super-cute new friends.

But what’s it like for our members? What are their pet care experiences, and what does it take to be a great pet sitter? Stick with us as we take a look at some of the best things about pet sitting, and what our members have to say.

What are the pet care experiences of our members?

If you want to become a pet sitter, one of the best ways to learn what it’s like (aside from securing a house sit), is to hear about our members’ pet sitting experiences. 

So take a look below, and stick with us as we explore some of the highlights about pet sitting, and what our members have to say - all based on their real life pet sitting experiences with TrustedHousesitters.

Making new animal friends

Our members are here for the love of pets - so one of the best pet sitting experiences anyone here will rave about is all the furry friends they get to take care of.

“Each animal has their own unique personality and it brings me so much joy to get to know their silly quirks.” - Nicole, TrustedHousesitters member - animal enthusiast and worldwide housesitter.

And after an amazing pet sitting experience, it’s not uncommon for our members to go back - time and time again - to care for their new (life-long) furry friends.

“With pet sitting we have the chance to love and care for animals around the world.” - Bentinho and Capitu, TrustedHousesitters members and pet sitting digital nomads.

New (human) friends

As well as spending time with four-pawed friends (and pets of all sorts of other shapes and sizes), you’ll also meet some lovely new humans. Through pet sitting, you can give a family the peace of mind they need to enjoy a vacation - while you stay in their home and give their pets the TLC they need.

“TrustedHousesitters have such a great sense of community and this is something that we didn’t take into consideration when we signed up, but we have formed some great friendships with all of our pet owners that we will always cherish.” - Eion and Aisling, TrustedHousesitters members and pet sitting remote workers.

Yup, for many of our members, forming friendships with pet owners around the world is what makes their pet care experience so unique from any other form of travel.

“Sharing the love for pets and traveling creates an instant connection between the home owners and the house sitters - that's why most of our hosts from our previous house sits instantly became our friends.” - Marco and Fran - TrustedHousesitters members and digital nomads.

Becoming part of the local community

As a house and pet sitter, you’re no tourist. Pet sitting experiences mean staying in local neighborhoods - sometimes for long periods of time - and getting to know the nearby spots.

“As pet sitters in the city of Iznik we had the opportunity to get in touch with local people and learn more about Turkish culture” - Bentinho and Capitu.

Your new furry friend may come with a ready-made social life: regular walk meet-ups, agility classes, puppy training, even doggie yoga. Embracing your companion’s usual agenda will help you meet new people, which is especially helpful if you’re on a longer sitting assignment. Plus, you’ll be surrounded by local people while caring for animals, so you’ll never be short of people to talk to.

“House sitting can help spark inspiration and cultivate creativity because you’ll be exposed to different sceneries, culture, languages, and people.” - Marco and Fran.

Traveling to new destinations

It goes without saying that one of the highlights in anyone’s personal experience with pet sitting has to be exploring new corners of the world. As a pet sitter, our members stay in capital city apartments, remote country houses, and all that’s in between. 

So, whether it’s a converted barn in the French Pyrenees, summers in the Umbrian Hills, snowscapes of winter in Switzerland or visiting all 50 states before your 50th birthday - the world truly is your oyster as a TrustedHousesitters member.

You’ll save money

Did you know that your pet sitting experience could save you some serious $$? Yup - our members don’t need to pay a single cent for accommodation. With stays in amazing locations in exchange for pet care, our members save quite literally thousands by exploring the world as a house sitter.

“For us, we’re able to save more than 20K USD every year because of house sitting. You’ll save lots of money on accommodation. It’s like living your normal life but rent-free in a different part of the world.” - Marco and Fran.

Discovering unexpected places

While it’s easy enough to secure house sits in sought-after tourist hot spots, your pet sitting experience can just as easily take you down a less-trodden path.

“It’s opened up the possibility of visiting countries that we once considered ‘out of budget’ due to the accommodation costs” -  Eion and Aisling.

So, whether it’s an oceanfront in the Caribbean or Utah’s snow-capped mountains you’d like for a view, there are sure to be pet parents looking for loving sitters.

It’s a flexible way to travel

If traditional vacations are starting to feel a little rigid, your pet care experiences could take you to open-ended trips, and new corners of the globe you’d never thought possible.

If you normally work from home, it’s pretty easy to pack up your laptop and set yourself up elsewhere - and it’s even simpler if you’re retired. 
“I can work remotely, travel the world, stay in beautiful places for free, and connect with other folks who, like me, believe life is meant to be enjoyed” - Nicole, TrustedHousesitters member and avid pet sitter.

Live a new lifestyle

Thinking about going house sitting, full time? Well it’s more than a possibility for our members. In fact, many have embraced the freedom of the nomadic lifestyle they’ve always dreamed of.

As self-confessed ‘slow-mads’, Lev and Mia stay in each country for around three months at a time - allowing themselves to really explore and get to know the place.

“TrustedHousesitters acts as a reset button to help us maintain our nomadic lifestyle” - Lev and Mia, TrustedHousesitters members and digital nomads.

Company when you’re away

For many of our members, their pet sitting experience has helped to fill a pet-shaped gap in their lives. Many have sadly lost pets of their own, while others seek the company of new furry companions so that their travels aren’t completely fur-free.

“Before we started sitting we’d had to have our elderly cat put to sleep and the time around animals allowed us to process that and fill a hole in our lives” - Jess and Tom, TrustedHousesitters members and full time pet sitters.

Stay in a home, not a hotel

Aside from the costs of conventional accommodation, your pet care experiences will have you staying in a real homes. And naturally, our members agree that living like a local brings a sense of comfort and community that can never be achieved with a hotel.

“TrustedHousesitters has given us the ability to live in proper homes with all of the comforts that we miss out on when we live in short-term accommodation.” - Lev and Mia.

Meet different kinds of animals

You might be here for a dog sitting experience - and that’s more than possible - canine companionship is one of life’s simple pleasures. But did you know that here, house sitting gives you the chance to meet animals of all shapes and sizes? Yup - from alpacas to horses, armadillos and all that’s in between, you won’t be short of new furry (and non-furry) friends to meet.

What does it take to become a pet sitter and gain pet care experience?

So, thinking about getting some pet care experience like our members? Great - explore house sits and get your pet sitting adventure started. 

And so that you can provide the pets (and their humans) with the best experience possible, here’s what our members have to say about what it takes to become the purrfect pet sitter.

A great pet sitter…

• “is someone that genuinely cares about the pets’ well being as well as respecting the homeowner's space and possessions” - Jess and Tom;
• “is reliable and responsible, making sure to follow instructions and create a safe environment for the pets in their care” - Nina and Jérémie;
• “is professional, trustworthy, and maintains open communication” - Nina and Jérémie;
• “treats the animals as if it were yours, giving them attention, care and love” - Bentinho and Capitu.

Want to make house sitting your lifestyle? 

If the idea of picking up sticks and house sitting full time sounds like the life for you, explore our blog to understand how it all works, and visit our community forum to hear more from our members.