Dog sitter needed for two spaniels in lovely rural Dorset in September
Shaftesbury, United Kingdom
Introduction
Hello! My name is Jane Seekings and I am a garden designer living in the countryside with my two lovely working cocker spaniels - Bella and her daughter Daisy - just outside the market town of Shaftesbury in rural Dorset. I love what I do particularly when I can take Bella and Daisy with me to clients when I work. I started up my business about four years ago and am now in a position when I can actually start taking holidays!! I have been very lucky to have been invited to spend a week in Spain at the beginning of September with a very dear friend of mine and would love to go. So that is the reason I have joined Trustedhousesitters - to find lovely people to look after my much loved dogs when I am away.
Our Home & Location
My home is a three bedroom semi detached house off a quiet lane in a small village called East Melbury which is just outside the Dorset market town of Shaftesbury. Set in a third of an acre of garden with wonderful views over fields and hills, I live five minutes by car into Shaftesbury, 30 minutes into Sherborne and 35 minutes into Salisbury so very well positioned! Stonehenge is but a short drive away down the A303 and the spectacular Dorset 'Jurassic' coast is also about 45 minutes away. The house is very comfortable with a cosy sitting room where the television is, fully fitted kitchen including American style fridge/freezer and dishwasher, a dining area with a window seat to sit and read and look at the view and a garden room where the dogs are allowed up on the sofa! There is also a small utility room with washing machine and downstairs toilet off the kitchen. Upstairs is a shared bathroom and three double bedrooms.
The garden has two patios - a large secluded one at the rear with great countryside views - and a small one to catch the evening sun! There is also a sun lounger under the fruit trees to chill and relax in the shade when it's hot. There is private off road parking for two or three cars depending on size.
Responsibilities & Pets
Potential sitters would be responsible for the welfare and care of both of my dogs while I am away. They are high energy dogs (typical spaniels!) so they would normally have at least two hours of exercise a day. You would be responsible for feeding them, grooming them - really just combing their ears and de-tangling - and of course walking them. Plus lots of tummy tickles (Bella) and sharing of the sofa in the garden room (Daisy). I don't expect you to do any housework as the sitting is just for one week - just keep the house neat and tidy would be great.
Cocker spaniels have a reputation as high energy and maintenance dogs. This is true but Bella is one of the most chilled spaniels around - very happy in her own company and quite self-contained although once she gets to know you she will lie in wait on her back for a tummy tickle! Now she has turned 9 she does like her snoozing but mention a walk and she is up and out of her basket in a second! Daisy is slightly different - more of a 'Mummy's girl' and happy to cosy up with you on the sofa in the garden room. Although if you try to lie on the sun lounger then you will have company!! Both dogs are trained gun dogs and I work them on a local shoot during the winter so they are very fit and good both on the recall and when told to wait.
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September 2018 | Adrian