Your Friendly Housesitter

04/10/2024

Meet Toffee, she's another cavoodle like our Darcy and is staying with us for a few weeks. She's a smoocher and loves to be up in your grill...

12/08/2024

Meet Frankie, he's a sausage and very yummy and loves cuddles. He doesn't sleep in the bed at his place, but with his new favourite Aunties (and with Mum and Dad's permission) Frankie not only sleeps on the bed, but he crawled down under the blankets and slept up again Sofia all night! He didn't even want to get up in the morning.

Must say... he might be small... but he does big-boy poo's!!!

13/07/2024

Over the last month we've been boarding 3 little doggies besides Darcy full-time with several overlapping nights which have been fun and at times hilarious with the antics of who can sleep or sit at my side first.

Yesterday we had a family road trip to Taupo and took these 3.

It made me wonder if this is what it's like to have triplets!? The car was decked out for comfort with soft things to sleep on and bags of items thought needed and just-in-case, not to mention treats, water, and bikkies.

One of these cutie patooties has already booked to stay with us for 3 weeks over Christmas!

We've concluded that we're ALL ABOUT little dog's to offer in-home day care and over night boarding through our partnership with Critter Care in Hamilton.

03/12/2023

As a side note: Did you know I've just launched a children's book that I've illustrated?

It's called 'Gifts At Christmas: The Story of Saint Nicholas'.

This fantastic story is created for children aged 4-8 years old, as a dramatised account of the history of Saint Nicholas of Myra, Turkey (270-343AD), whose life is the origin of our Santa Claus and gift-giving traditions at Christmas.

If you'd like your own copy for $19.95 +pp or would like to learn more, visit www.drawerfullofgiants.com/saintnicholas

I've been filling orders and posting them throughout the last week, it's really exciting.

01/11/2023

Today in my in-home doggy day care, I'm looking after 4 furs, that's 3 more than usual... I always count Darcy into the mix. Thought I'd show you what it's like...

11/09/2023

This made me laugh - but how would it really be?! To be sitting next to a farty dog for 13 hours straight!

As the flight was fully booked, they could only be offered alternate seats in economy.

01/09/2023

I've an exciting September 1st update.

Since I've moved into a home with a fenced back yard, we've hosted a dog or two. One, we had for a week!

We found that Darcy couldn't do doggy day care more than twice a week and not two days in a row. Upon pickup we'd always find her in the arms of one of the staff as she'd had enough.

Having a small friend come visit at our place suited her more and we ended up getting her a Nanny, if you will, for when we need bigger days out and Darcy can pop over to her place and be dotted on. She loves her Nanny and her family. It works because its quiet and shes loved on.

A few weekends ago we met, Sally, the owner of Critter Care here in Hamilton who had a booth at the Women's Lifestyle Expo. We mentioned our experience as house and pet sitters and brought some product from her.

Sally ended up asking if I'd be interested in accepting a couple of furs as a in-house day care and over night boarders at home and perhaps housesitting.

Long story short. After a couple more convos, Sally come out to see our place and we all decided that we'd come on board and partner with Critter Care to be a tiny day care and boarding place for small dogs.

I signed the contract this week!

We've also our landlords blessing, who said, 'What a great idea! The place would be perfect for that!'

From now, any requests of my house and pet services in the Waikato will go through Critter Care.
Yay

19/08/2023

Aug 2023 UPDATE: It's been a fun year reestablishing myself into a new home after so long being nomadic and house-sitting full time.

My daughter asked if I'd like to become flatmates after 13 yrs of adulting separately and we were offered the first home we looked at - was meant to be!

You'll now find me based in Hamilton, New Zealand. I still love to housesit, but now it's occasionally rather. So feel free to ask about my availability, happy to consider travelling if it's a win/win.

I'm also approachable for all your questions if you'd like to know about how to look for a sitter or ease any nerves about having a sitter - and if you'd like to become a sitter as well. I'm often asked if I know anyone, and it's always good to have people to call on whom I can vouch for.

This is me in my office at home - so cool I have a dedicated space now.

Tania 🥰

31/01/2023

Bluebridge has a new ship join the fleet and with it comes the announcement that they're providing a couple of personal dog-friendly cabins and exercise area for the 3hr cross over between the Islands. That's FANTASTIC news!!

26/11/2022

Could this be any more joyous?!

17/11/2022

Meet Gizzy, he and his sister Danny are Labradoodle therapy dogs.

I've been working in Australia for the last couple of weeks and living and working with these guys Mum, who's a behavioral therapist for children on the spectrum.

I was really impressed at how they were trained and obeyed their mum. Such beautiful dogs.

15/11/2022

I'm currently working in Australia for a couple of weeks, and these two floofs are happy distractions to my work day when they bound in to visit me. They're labradoodle therapy dogs... Gizzy and Danny

04/11/2022

I'm Housesitting this weekend, and the two dogs like music being played... what's hilarious is that their mum plays them guttural rock-like traditional Mongolian music at volume 10. I saw them last year sit in front of the speaker and really enjoy it!

May you learn your pooches musical fav tonight, if unknown.

📣 Attention pet owners! 📣⁠
⁠
With Guy Fawkes on this Saturday 5 November, our Animal Control team have come up with some helpful tips to keep your precious pets of all sizes safe.⁠
⁠
🐶 Exercise dogs early in the day to avoid being out when fireworks may be let off.⁠
🐱 Keep pets indoors with the curtains drawn and doors and windows closed.⁠
🐰 If your pet has to stay outside, make sure your fencing is extra secure, or keep them with family or friends.⁠
🐹 Turn on the TV or play music to create familiar noises and reduce the sound impact of fireworks.⁠
🐭 Ensure your pet has a safe hiding spot, like a box, crate or a dark room.⁠
🐷 Be calm and reassuring to your pets if they are anxious or stressed.

27/10/2022

Hot off the press ... these will soon be available at iSITES.
How cool to FINALLY get this important information! Look out for it.

16/10/2022

How true is this for your pups?

😂🤣😅

07/10/2022

The Christmas holidays are fast approaching (I know, wash my mouth out!).

But, you may be thinking of heading away to see family and would like your home and/or pets looked after while you're put of town - I'm available from Dec 13th in the Waikato.

23/09/2022

I've started housesitting again for the odd weekend and occasional 10 days.

Looking after these two for this weekend by the beach close to Hastings.

They're both 9 and happy to lounge around and have frequent loves - I'm very accommodating with those, while their sister the cat, who's elderly wants nothing to do with them... or me... and prefers her own company. I wonder if I can win her over by Sunday?