Steyning, South East England

About this house sitting position in Steyning

Hello!
I am looking for someone (female preferred, please, or possibly a couple) who would like to come and look after my dog, Lucky, a 13-year old beagle, in Steyning (West Sussex, South Downs National Park) when I go away for a week in November.

This house/dog sit starts in practice on 19 November (as I depart early on 20 November) and finishes on 28 November (as I do not get back till late on 27 November). However, I'd appreciate it if you could arrive no later than 18 November to have a minimum of one full day to get to know Lucky and his daily routines, before I leave. He's a slightly wilful and idiosyncratic dog (despite having the sweetest nature in the world!) and it will help 'oil the wheels' a great deal if you can learn his ways - and he can get to know you - before I disappear!

Please note that to travel I am obliged to produce a negative covid test result within 72 hours of departure, so you can arrive here secure in the knowledge that you are entering a covid-safe environment on 18 November! I'd appreciate it if you can show a negative test on arrival too (I have the kit for doing lateral flow tests here if that's easiest..) Thank you.

Lucky loves going out for walks, both slow (sniffy) explorations around the village but also - at least once daily - a proper off-lead walk in the countryside around Steyning of typically around 1.5 hours. He has two walks a day, normally one of each sort, so in total he gets at least 2-3 hours of exercise daily, much of which is off-lead. He needs to maintain that level of exercise to counterbalance his greedy beagle nature and keep his weight in check. He has an impressive old man's pot belly, notwithstanding!!

Since he isn't interested in running around with other dogs in the field or chasing balls it's vital for this reason that you are someone who enjoys a good countryside walk every day, whatever the weather, mud or no mud.. :-)

Being a beagle, Lucky is both gentle and sociable, and he doesn't like being left on his own much at all. I aim never to leave him 'home alone' for more than 2-3 hours on any given day (though if it's unavoidable he will sleep in front of the TV for that long if it's soon after a walk..)

He's not much trouble at all when you're at home - in fact when he's not carefully monitoring any human activity in the kitchen (food headquarters) and generally getting under your feet, he mainly enjoys sleeping - at which he is pretty expert..

Steyning itself is a picturesque and historic village with good shops and facilities, surrounded by lovely countryside. The nearest train station is Shoreham-by-Sea (5 miles) from which there are direct trains to Brighton and to London. Buses run hourly from Steyning to Shoreham and to Brighton.

My house is a cosy, terraced cottage, built around 1850, situated directly on the main street of the village, with shops and facilities only minutes on foot from the front door. My sunny spare room (yours) has a very comfortable double bed and is at the top of the house, with views to the South Downs.

Steyning being situated at the foot of the South Downs, a popular staging-post on the scenic long-distance hiking trail called the South Downs Way, you have a wide range of lovely and varied walks to choose from: farmland, woodland, riverside and hills. All these walks are easily accessible from the house on foot.

There are no other 'duties' - just live as if in your own home; run the vacuum cleaner around occasionally - but there's no need to be fanatical, as it is a 'lived-in' house, which isn't by any means pristine, especially as I've recently had a lot of building work going on this year and the dust has unfortunately got Everywhere.

Most importantly, just look after the dog lovingly, carefully respecting his calorie-controlled diet and daily exercise regime (ideally give him back to me a little slimmer than I give him to you!) and enjoy a lovely week in Steyning..

I look forward very much to hearing from you. Thank you :-)
Sarah Read more...

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