Academic housesitter

More information about this house sitter

I am a quiet, mature and responsible academic (university lecturer in languages), non-smoker, very clean and tidy and with a great love of animals. I have grown-up children and lived abroad extensively for many years prior to returning to UK for work purposes some years ago. For years, I looked after my brother's rural Sussex home, with two West Highland terriers and two cats, to enable him to take annual family holidays. I had my own golden labrador for 13 years before her passing and have had a horse too in the past. Sittings arranged through this site include 4-week care (two summers in a row, 2012 + 2022) of a 16-acre property with dogs, cat, chickens and other animals; a week in North Devon looking after a very active chocolate labrador; a fortnight in September 2022 caring for a 17th-century listed property complete with one dog and three cats in Buckinghamshire. In July 2023, my partner (also a teacher) and I looked after a 17-month labradoodle (and his lovely home with gardens!) for two weeks in Hertfordshire. More recently, in April 2025 we cared for a lively 2-year-old red fox labrador and 6 chickens in Bedfordshire. In May 2025, we looked after a Portuguese water dog and his inseparable smaller companion, plus two cats and six chickens in a very old farmhouse in Wales.
Reviews received for several sits can be found on this site. A location with good walking possibilities is preferred. In addition to my university work, I am a magistrate (presiding justice) for England and Wales, sitting in courts in Greater Manchester, and am in possession of an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). Due to teaching commitments we can normally only do out-of-term sits but anything can be considered with sufficient advance notice. Read more...