French Country Dream

About this assignment

Responsible person (or couple) who LOVES dogs and will care for our sweet family of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels like they are your own kids and help us with the house and garden. Requires a minimum 3-month commitment.
However, this arrangement could last longer for the right person(s).

What responsibilities are required of the house sitter

We'll be home most of the time and you'll enjoy your privacy and independence living next door in your own spacious residence with all the luxuries of home, including an equipped kitchen, bathroom, livingroom, TV room and large covered terrace overlooking bucolic countryside. The sitter will have use of a beautiful 100 sqm guesthouse and licensed drivers may use our second car for local errands.
When we are away our sitter's job is living in the main house with the dogs and enjoying their company,feeding, grooming and cocooning and taking care of the house and gardens. These Cavalier King Charles Spaniel show dogs, whom the owner breeds are fur children. They are as affectionate as they are beautiful.
We have two fenced gardens, so they don't require walks on leads. But they do require 24/7 companionship and daily grooming (combing) and the house requires regular cleaning and garden chores.

The home sitter(s) wil livei in a large, private one-bedroom Gite (guesthouse) with a full kitchen, tv room with satellite TV, a huge sitting room with wood burning fireplace, central heating, private bathroom and scenic covered patio. The guesthouse has high speed internet suitable for working remotely
You'll be responsible for your own food while here.
When we're at home, we require24 hours a week help with the house, gardens and dogs (16 hours a week inside work and 8 hours garden work). The other time and weekends are yours to enjoy
When we're away, you move into the main house with the dogs. Normally, we are away no more than two weeks three times a year and a day here and there.

Our travel is scheduled well in advance
If our sitter commits to a year stay, she or they may be away two weeks at a time twice a year, also scheduled in advance.
Food for the dogs will be prepared and frozen. When you are alone with the dogs, you may leave the house for short outings 1 -2 hours a week.
The dogs are used to sleeping in a king-size bed with their human mother, so when we are away they'll expect to do the same with their sitter.

What are the good features of the property and location

We have a large Gascon Farmhouse with attached guesthouse (Gite) 7 minutes by car to the market town of Plaisance du Gers (32210) in Southwest France, known for its bastioned villages and chateaus, gourmet foods and wines and proximity to the Pyrennes Mountains, Basque Country and Atlantic Seacoast. San Sebastian, Spain, the #1 gourmet town in the world is just 2 hours away as is Toulouse and Bordeaux, France.
Our home and acreage are located on a picturesque ridge overlooking the Pyrennes near the village of Pouydraguin, postal code 32290.This is one of the most beautiful regions of France near mountains and the ocean among the amazingly verdant, rolling hills of the Gers (also known as Gascony) and picturesque villages. It isa lively, welcoming region known for its colorful festivals and markets.
This is the gourmet capital of France where duck, Armagnac, beef, vegetables, Basque cuisine and great wines abound. There is a weekly market in Plaisance and most nearby villages. Plaisance is a full-service town with doctors, pharmacy, dentists, restaurants, a bank, post office, supermarket and stores. The French people in the Gers are very friendly toward outsiders and most speak some English. There is also a large "expat" community of creative people from all over the world living here due to the mild climate, wonderful scenery and French lifestyle. Our home is spacious and comfortable. We are ja dual-citizen (US/Canadian) retired couple in our seventies"and speak English, French and a little Spanish.

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

You need to be able to stay in France legally and be healthy and energetic The dogs are the sitter's priority and require you to be with them all of the time when we are away, If we are here, then 16 hours a week of help with the dogs, garden and house is expected. A couple would expend a bit more time. We have a large organic vegetable garden that we share with our sitters. The furbabies are wonderful, loving companions but require responsible supervision. The dogs will stay around you all the time when we are away. So bottom line: this sitting opportunity is specifically for experienced dog lovers.
Their "Mom" Mary has written 4 books on Cavaliers, which gives you an idea of how precious these dogs are to us. They are a young, healthy pack ranging in age from 1 to 8 years old.

Can I bring my own pets?

No, sorry.

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