Quiet neighborhood in Seattle-area suburbs with one small dog and garden care

About this assignment

We are looking for loving caretakers for our small dog and home. Our dog likes to snuggle and get affection. We need someone who will be home enough that she is not in her kennel longer than 8 hours at a time. We appreciate updates and pictures.

What responsibilities are required of the house sitter

We have a snuggly 9-year-old cheagle (chihuahua/beagle mix) who is about 20 pounds. She goes out in the morning and then for a 1.5-mile walk in the afternoon. Our yard is not completely fenced so she always needs to be on a leash. If you like to hike, she loves to go along. We need a house sitter who does not mind that she jumps on the furniture, sleeps with them at night (under the covers!), and sheds on their clothes. She is a lapdog who will snuggle on you. She loves to be petted. She does bark, but she is not yappy. She goes in a kennel when we are not home but should not be left alone longer than 8 hours maximum. After negative experiences with children, she gets a bit stressed around them. Although she is not nippy, we are looking for adults/older children only. She takes a daily pill but she thinks it is a treat and it's not hard to give it to her. It’s for her joints, not anything serious.

There is a veggie garden that needs to be watered daily if it hasn't rained; roses and raspberry patch to water every few days; houseplants to water once a week; and sugar water for the hummingbird feeders once a week. It would be great if the house sitter would be willing to pick produce (welcome to eat it). The lawn mostly goes dormant during the summer but we have an electric mower if needed.

What are the good features of the property and location

Enjoy a quiet neighborhood and listen to the birds chirping in the morning on the deck. Hummingbirds might buzz by. July is the best month for exploring the beautiful Pacific Northwest. We are north of Seattle, and a new light rail station 10 minutes away gives you easy access to the city. There are hundreds of hiking and walking opportunities within half an hour, and Woodinville’s wineries are 20 minutes away. There are also several breweries nearby.
Our two-story home has a large deck, backyard, and garden with veggies and berries.
There are three bedrooms on the top floor, plus a family room and study downstairs. The master bedroom has a king-sized bed and a small attached bathroom with shower . There is a second bathroom for the other two bedrooms upstairs, and another bathroom downstairs with a bathtub. The bedrooms upstairs have a queen and a single bed, respectively. The family room has a large-screen TV. We also have good wifi and a heat pump that provides air conditioning. There is a gym-quality elliptical machine downstairs. The kitchen has an electric stove and top quality dishwasher.
The deck features a bench, fire table, large umbrella, and gas grill. The grass lawn is circled by rhododendrons and fuchsias, backed by a greenbelt with tall evergreens. Help yourself to fresh raspberries from the patch or herbs from the raised garden bed.
Our street is a quiet deadend cul-de-sac and we can introduce our neighbors. We have lived here 20+ years.
I created a welcome packet with lots of local information.

What does the house sitter need to consider before applying for this assignment

We need a house sitter who does not mind that our dog jumps on the furniture, sleeps with them at night (under the covers!), and sheds on their clothes. She goes in a kennel when we are not home but should not be left alone longer than 8 hours maximum. (We have tried leaving her out of the crate and she gets anxious.) After negative experiences with young children, she gets a bit stressed around them. Although she is not nippy, we are looking for adults/older children only. She gets along with some dogs but not others, so no additional pets.
Our house is in a quiet neighborhood, so if you are looking for a busy urban nightlife, this is not the right place. We have an older Prius available for sitters with a license but no car.

Can I bring my own pets?

No, sorry.

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