You'll find extra news, reviews and snippets throughout the magazine!
It Isn't Just About The House Sitting Ian Usher
How We Find Our Perfect House Sitters Louise Vachon
How to get your first House Sitting References Vanessa Anderson
The Art of Downsizing Philippe Lalonde
Understanding Dog Breeds - The Shiba Inu Thomas Carney
House Sitting Options in Exotic Asia Glenn Lamb
HouseSitMatch Celebrates - 5 Year Anniversary Lamia Walker
Saving on Flight Costs with Round The World Tickets Deborah Clohesy
Treating the Top 10 Travel Ailments Lisa Chavis
Free Mapahub Membership for TrustedHousesitters Members 7 Tips to Help Maintain Your Cold Weather Fitness Routine Zyana Morris
Exercise of the Month - The Plank Elly McGuinness
Twenty One Different Beds - Solo Female House Sitting Ann Parrott
Is House Sitting a Good Fit if You Don't Love Pets? Allen Trottier
In the next issue...
IT ISN'T JUST ABOUT THE HOUSE SITTING by Ian Usher (with thanks to Alex Mueller for all sailing images)
How often do you examine your reasons for doing something? Have you ever asked yourself why you became a house sitter... or perhaps more importantly, if you're just at the beginning of your house sitting journey, why do you want to become a house sitter? Maybe you love animals? Perhaps your passion is travel? Or is it about the people, places and cultures? It may just be a financial decision. Or a way to enjoy a different type of holiday. Perhaps you want to escape the rat-race, or live a lifestyle of relative freedom.
Or maybe you just enjoy change and challenge. Vanessa and I try to make a habit of regularly examining the way we live, and checking in with each other, to confirm that we still feel we are both on the right path through life.
When we discuss our lifestyle choices, all the reasons listed above come up as part of our motivation for making house sitting a big part of our lives. But there's always another aspect that's part of our decision-making process. Because it isn't just about the house sitting! That's why we named this publication: House Sitting - The ultimate lifestyle magazine For us, lifestyle is the keyword here, and house sitting is just one part of a much bigger picture. House sitting is the basic glue that holds it all together... one of the key ingredients that allows us to live an amazing lifestyle.
We both love new challenges and adventures, so scheduling time in-between sits is very important for us. In fact, Vanessa often uses the hashtag #BetweenSits on social media. Last year we took time off from house sitting to spend a week with friends in the US Virgin Islands. We spent a full month traveling around Cuba. And between sits in Mexico we rented a beautiful off-grid house high in the mountains above San Miguel de Allende, where we spent every day hiking among the deserted peaks. This year, between sits in Western Australia, we bought an old car and took an extended road trip around the south-western part of the state, camping out by quiet beaches and in peaceful forests. And just last month, after leaving Australia, we scheduled another month "off", spending time in Thailand. We did a little bit of island-hopping, but the main goal of this interlude was to learn how to sail. We've both done a little bit of sailing in the past, but are by no means experts. For quite some time we have dreamed of hiring a yacht, maybe in the Mediterranean, maybe in the Caribbean.
But we don't just want to be passengers... we want to do the sailing. Of course, this means we actually have to be able to sail, and be qualified at a level that will convince bareboat charter companies to entrust us with one of their yachts.
After much online research we figured out that the International Yacht Training (IYT) "International Bareboat Skipper" qualification would suit our needs. IYT is recognised internationally, and has accredited schools all over the world. Further research narrowed down our choices, based on courses offered, prices quoted, and our own travel plans, to either South Africa or Thailand. While one school in South Africa offered slightly cheaper courses, Thailand was directly on our route from Australia back to the UK. We already had our tickets booked out of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, so it was easy and cheap to schedule some time on the island of Phuket, where "Sail in Asia" offers several course options.
We picked the aptly named "Zero to Hero" package, which combines three separate modules to take you from zero knowledge up to "International Bareboat Skipper" level. The course also offers that option to include qualification for the International Certificate of Competence (ICC), which is required by many European charter companies. If paid for in full a couple of months in advance there is a significant discount off the full price. We rented a small apartment on Airbnb just up the hill from the sailing school training base, so we could simply stroll down to the beach each morning for our lessons, or to go out sailing. We received a great discount here too of 40%, as we took the room for a full three weeks. The course was an intensive 14 day program, and blended classroom theory sessions with lots of on-the-water practical experience. Two other sailing beginners, Richard and Alex, joined us for the two weeks. The European and British instructors were calm and patient, but pushed us on at a decent pace, so we learned new skills every day. The last day of the course set the four of us free on one of the school's larger yachts, and we sailed to a neighbouring island where we had lunch and a swim... and a beer or two to celebrate our new-found sailing freedom!
It really was an amazing feeling of achievement to be able to get such a large boat from A to B, navigating all hazards on the way. The whole course was a challenge, but such fun too.
If this is something that may be of interest to you, then Sail in Asia is a good place to begin your research. Find out more about Sail in Asia and their sailing courses here: Sail in Asia More details on IYT and international sailing qualifications here: International Yacht Training Worldwide We'll be house sitting later this year in the Caribbean, in St. Vincent and The Grenadines. Again we have scheduled some time "off" from house sitting, and have confidently (!!) chartered a boat for two weeks from the end of July. Again, we have managed to get a great discount, as it's low season in the islands. We have rented "Bonjour Matelot", a Bavaria 36 built in 2006, from Horizon Yacht Charters:
https://horizonyachtcharters.com/bareboat/bavaria-36/ We're looking forward to putting our newly-learned skills to some good use.
I'm sure you'll hear how it all goes in the August edition of House Sitting - The ultimate lifestyle magazine. Because it isn't just about house sitting. It's about being able to live a life filled with fun, adventure, and amazing experiences. We hope you enjoy this issue of the magazine, and we hope house sitting is helping you on the journey towards a truly fulfilling lifestyle, whatever that is for you. Ian and Vanessa (currently house sitting in Frome, Somerset, UK)
HOW WE FIND OUR PERFECT HOUSE SITTERS by Louise Vachon
Getting started My husband and I retired back in 2009, and since we live in Victoria, Canada we spent most of our winters traveling while our son and his wife took care of our home. Then it happened. In 2013, just as we were scheduled to leave for six months to Southeast Asia, our son and his family relocated to Alberta, and suddenly we had no one to look after our home. Not willing to give up our semi-nomadic existence, we searched for an alternative.
We checked with friends to see if they knew of anyone - they didn't. Next, we asked neighbours who traveled, who said they left their homes empty and paid someone to check them, but they had no pets or plants. Finally, we checked the internet and discovered the house sitting network. We signed up with Trusted House Sitters and have been inviting sitters in to look after our home ever since.
Why not sit too? During our research, we were amazed at all the house sitting opportunities around the world and since we had a long backpacking trip ahead of us, we thought perhaps we should check them out. By the time we boarded our flight to Thailand, we had our own sitter arranged as well three separate short sits lined up for ourselves in Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Chiang Mai.
Our house sitter selection process As we sit on both sides of the fence, we have an appreciation not only for the homeowners’ needs but the sitters’ as well, and we know that experienced sitters can be booked quite far in advance, so we try to get our sits up as early as possible. Once we know our dates, we update our profile with current photos of our home and a description of the area and its amenities. We include exactly what we are offering, what the sitters’ responsibilities will be and what our expectations are. After numerous sits, we have now anticipated many queries and answer them right in our profile. We then post our sit dates and since we live in a fairly desirable city and have few responsibilities for our home, we tend to get 25 to 40 applicants, although most of our sits are three to six months long, so that does thin things out a bit. As we receive applications, our inbox fills up in the order people apply and we usually allow two days before changing our status to "reviewing applicants".
Meanwhile, we read all the intro letters and prioritize them with the tags available on our house sitting platform. We don’t worry too much about the order applications come in since we don't get hundreds, but if we did, we would set a cut-off number, so if you’re interested and willing to commit, don't delay in applying. The intro letter carries a fair bit of weight with us - we want to know enough about you, what you have to offer and why you’re interested in sitting, to carry on and look at your profile. This doesn't have to be lengthy, a few paragraphs is perfect, but just putting “see my profile” is a big negative for us. Another negative is to ask a lot of questions in your letter. Unless we have left out some key information in our listing, save your questions until you make it a little further along in the selection process. If the intro letter seems like we may be a good match, we will follow the link to your profile.
The quality of your profile is important To be seriously considered as a house sitting candidate, you should put some effort into building your profile. There should be no blanks here - your photos section should be full, you should have a video, references and a good description of your skills and experience. Though it may sound like we only choose experienced sitters, we consider anyone who has a full profile right from the start. Taking time to write a good profile and choose a few photos really shows you are committed. Profiles will fill out over time and references will grow, but always start with as much as you can pull together. For example, in the beginning, references can come from friends or employers.
Communication is important We send updates, via group emails, to everyone throughout the process. Once we have prioritized our candidates, we send out two separate emails, one to our top two or three applicants letting them know they are being considered and that we would like to interview them further, and another to everyone letting them know we are reviewing applications.
It doesn’t take much to have those two or three top applicants disappear - some may withdraw, some won't answer, or some may not suit - then we have to go back to our original list. We have learned to move this process along quickly, taking only a day or so to contact our short list, ask and answer any questions, set up a Skype interview, then check references and make the final commitment. At this point, we let all the applicants know we have selected a sitter and thank them for applying. A good Skype interview with our top candidates is important for asking and answering questions, doing a quick tour of our home and requesting references. We know from experience that many sitters are juggling multiple applications, so if you take an extra day to choose, you may lose your top sitter to someone else!
After the selection Once we have selected a sitter, we send them our house manual and maintain periodic communications until the sit, as we want the sitters to be comfortable with us before they arrive and feel free to ask any questions. The most important things for us when you sit at our home is that you keep us informed of any developments, let us know if you would like guests to stay over, when there is a delivery, if there is a problem, etc. We also want to receive our house in the same condition we turned it over - we don't want it redecorated, or rearranged (both have been done!). We like it the way it is, so feel free to take photos that will help you remember in six months how it looked. House sitters should know that homeowners are going through the same process they are. Offering, vetting, prioritizing and ultimately deciding on a sitter can be stressful; we too have to trust our instincts and go forward with optimism!
Listen to your heart House sitting has given us some fabulous experiences, a true taste of life in whatever community we are visiting, along with some great attachments formed–both furry and human!
Having a home base has given us the best of both worlds - travel and a stable community. A good balance for us so far, but we always knew that if we ever came home and didn't feel excited, then it was time for a change. That feeling happened after two great sits in the Caribbean this summer. So this year we will downsize, letting go of our home base so we are free to house sit and travel full-time.
Louise Vachon and her husband Martin are from Victoria, Canada. They retired young to spend more time traveling after full careers in the Canadian Military. They love the sense of community, and the delight of animal companions that house sitting offers. Having now enjoyed a travel and part time house sitting lifestyle for over nine years, they are currently working on letting go of their home base, and becoming full time travelers and house sitters. To share their adventures they are working on building a new website: WeSitAround.com You can also find them on Facebook
LEARN HOW TO GET THOSE ALL IMPORTANT FIRST HOUSE SITTING REFERENCES by Vanessa Anderson
So, you want to become a professional house sitter and you're all geared up and ready to get started. But... all you keep hearing is how you need references, experience and credibility. Don't let this put you off! With a little bit of effort, you'll be able to raise your house sitting credibility to a level that will get you started. It's like most jobs (and let's be clear, house sitting is a job, albeit a very nice job), you need to show that you can do what's being asked of you.
With international house sitting, it's even more difficult because there's an exchange of trust that doesn't involve (in most cases) any remuneration. You'll be looking after someone's most prized possessions, their homes and their pets, and home owners will want reassurance that you are trustworthy, honest, love animals and won't trash their house or leave them in the lurch at the last minute. And this is all totally understandable. So how do you get over this initial hurdle and raise the bar as far as credibility is concerned?
Remember, we all started out the same way! When we first got into house sitting four years ago, we didn't have any house sitting cred either! WE knew we could be trusted house sitters, but we knew too that we had to find a way to convince the home owners that we were credible applicants. To be honest, we looked at the problem in the same way we'd marketed products in our prior businesses. The main difference being that we were now the product! So how could we sell ourselves, our relevant skill-sets, our personas, and how that would provide a service and benefit to the home owner and their pets? Our life experiences had shown us that to be genuine and honest was far better than the bullshit approach! We figured that if we focused on this with full transparency, while providing an easy way to answer all the doubts a home-owner might have, someone would be open to giving us a try. After all, we knew others that had been in the same boat and succeeded. We knew with some confidence, that getting started would require input and effort. Simply sitting back with the hope that eventually our ideal house sit would fall in our laps wasn't the way forward to achieve any measurable success. We treated the whole process like a change of career (which it was), and acted accordingly. It was a lovely discovery to find that home owners warmed to our openness and it wasn't long before we were on our way. It did help some that we'd also been home owners who had used house sitters ourselves, and this is a very relevant point to make if it applies to your situation.
Advance preparation to help us get started We knew that a strong profile and good references would help us to get started as house sitters, so before registering on any platforms, we took a few pro-active measures: 1. We suggested to friends with pets that they might like a weekend away. We'd be happy to house and pet sit for them, in return for a reference. Two of our friends took us up on this almost immediately. We enjoyed two long weekends away, and were able to request two genuine house sitting references on completion. This process had the added benefit of us making sure that we were happy living in someone else's house, following their routines. 2. We'd used Airbnb a lot and set about compiling a word document documenting all our great reviews from hosts we'd stayed with. Ian had done a lot of couch surfing too during his "100 Goals in a 100 Weeks" challenge, and we collated these reviews too. This all helped demonstrate that we were clean, tidy, respectful of other people's space, and often featured character appraisals too. We don't use these any longer, as they aren't necessary, but they were a great way to add to our credibility initially. 3. We also asked a couple of long standing friends with pets, if they would give us a character reference. A couple is enough - we think it could be seen as overkill to start out by bombarding a home owner with too many references that aren't about actual house sits. We did however make sure that 2 of our references would happily talk on the phone or by email to provide more information if necessary. 4. Finally we turned our attention to creating both our own personal house sitting website, and our house sitting profile, which we duplicated on four different house sitting platforms TrustedHousesitters, HouseCarers, HouseSitMatch and HouseSittersUK.
How can my skill sets help generate references? You know, the great thing is that most of us already have skills that are relevant to house sitting. We've all lived in homes, cleaned up after ourselves, rented, owned or perhaps even managed rental properties, watered house plants, looked after the garden, done some basic DIY, or fed the neighbour's cat while they were away. Many of us grew up with pets and already have the common sense animal care knowledge that can be applied to a high percentage of straight forward house sits.
If you think back over your life, you'll possibly be able to identify quite a few skills that can be incorporated into your profile. But some of these might also enable you to ask for a relevant reference. If you helped out at the local dog rescue centre, for instance, this could be a good place to ask someone to vouch for your temperament around animals.
References Checklist - who to ask? Family and friends who you've unofficially house sat for in the past - many of us have actually already house or pet sat for family and friends, and what better place to start than here for relevant references! Family, friends, neighbours - maybe you've baby sat, watered plants, checked the property during vacations, helped with neigbourhood watch schemes, volunteered in the community, walked a friend's dog… Landlords, Holiday Rental Agencies, Airbnb or Couchsurfing Hosts - If you've rented a property in any of these situations, you could ask for a reference. Make sure the landlord or host talks about your reliability, how well you cared for the property, and whether you were able to deal with simple DIY issues yourself.
Employers and colleagues - useful for character references that demonstrate trustworthiness. If you are a professional, or had a past professional career such as doctor, lawyer, teacher, vet etc., remember to feature this in your profile and get a colleague to mention this too in their reference. Or if you've worked in law enforcement, security, military, or a service industry, this could be very relevant as well. Your colleagues or boss might also be good people to offer your house sitting services in return for references! Teachers and professors - For younger house sitters, your tutors might be a good source of a character references. They can talk about your ability to learn new skills, or verify any outstanding accomplishments. Vets, Animal Rescue Centres, Pet Trainers - if you've owned a pet the chances are you have built a relationship with your local vet - this is another good source of pet related references.
Is a personal house sitting website really necessary? No, in all honesty it isn't, but something I've learned after 15 years owning a business, is that a little bit of extra effort really does go a long way. A bit of a cliché I know, but one I totally believe in. But, we wanted to maximize our chances of success. After all, house sitting was to become our full-time way of life. We'd sold both our houses, and this was now the new focus in our lives. So taking the time to create a website, and a Facebook Page was an important part of our overall process. And it's paid off time and time again. We've been told on numerous occasions that we were picked because of the professionalism of our website. So no, it's not a requirement, and if you don't have the skills or ability to create a stand-out website, it's probably best not to worry about this at the outset. Concentrate instead on making your house sitter profile the best it can be. But, if creating a website is something you'd like to learn more about, take a look at: https://courses.housesittingmagazine.com/courses/secure-the-best-house-sits-with-yourown-personal-house-sitter-website/ One of the biggest benefits for us now of having a separate website, is that we can put ALL our references from each of the different platforms we use, in one place. We can format this page however we want with individual images relating to that sit.
You can take a look at our references page here: https://longtermhousesitters.com/references/
How do I get people to see all my references on a house sitting platform? Well, this will depend on the house sitting website you use. Some allow you to attach a document which can contain cut and pasted copies of your references. Others only allow references to be requested from home owners after a completed house sit. You might need to be a bit creative. When we started out with TrustedHousesitters as our first website, this is what we did:
We included a number of our best references at the end of our profile. We've since seen people but a quote from a reference at the top of their profile, which is an equally good idea.
In our application message, we told the home owner that we were new to this particular house sitting platform, and so not all our references would be shown. Instead we provided a link to the "references" page of our personal website.
We reassured home owners that there were a couple of people we could put them in touch with by email or phone to verify the credibility of our profile.
We created a video to "show" better our personalities.
If we were in the same country and close enough, we offered to visit, and if not we always offered to talk via Skype.
We were honest about our situation and our "newness" to house sitting.
If the platform allows (which TrustedHousesitters does now), you can request additional character references or reviews via the dashboard options, but as I said earlier, it's probably best not to go overboard with character refs - try instead to get some genuine pet sitting references.
Take the time to really understand how each platform works Find out:
What are the maximum number of pictures I can load (put as many as possible)
Can I load an external PDF or word document (which can contain all your reviews)
Can I link to an external website or put a link to my Facebook Page?
Is it possible to request references from home owners I've used on other platforms (this is possible on TrustedHousesitters for sure)
What happens to my references if I let my subscription slide? On Nomador for instance, you'll always have access to your references.
What about security & ID checks? How important are they?
I've noticed over the last couple of years that most of the best international house sitting websites, have begun to offer either ID, or police checks, or both. Sometimes these are chargeable, sometimes not. The latest website to offer this service is HouseSitMatch who have introduced FREE ID checks for all registered members, including home owners, through HOOYU. If it's easy for you to obtain, it won't do any harm to at the very least go through a simple ID check, or to get a police check carried out in your home country. If like us you are fully nomadic, this can be a more difficult process, and so we have never gone down this particular route, and to date it hasn't affected our ability to get sits. Would I do this now if starting out again? Probably yes! Criminal record checks aren’t mandatory for house sitting, but for some home owners it adds another level of reassurance, especially if they are new to house sitting too. Hopefully this guide will have given you plenty to think about and a number of ways to get some good references or reviews under your belt.
Vanessa Anderson is a full-time international house sitter, blogger and co-publisher of House Sitting - The ultimate lifestyle magazine. She has been traveling the world continuously since 2013 with her partner Ian Usher. They also work part-time as online English teachers, while looking after other peoples properties and pets. Having sold their homes, Ian and Vanessa prefer the freedom to explore the world, following their passions and living as locals for extended periods in different countries. You'll find Vanessa on Facebook and Instagram and in the House Sitting Magazine Group where she advises and answers questions about house sitting and nomadic living.
THE ART OF DOWNSIZING by Philippe Lalonde
You must be rich! "You both retired in your 40's, you're constantly traveling all over the world, how the hell can you afford such a lifestyle?!?" My wife and I have been asked this many times in the past few years and here's the answer: Downsizing. The old adage is true - you might not be able to control how much you earn, but you can control how much you spend.
We had unfulfilled dreams and aspirations that would have remained as such had we not created some financial leeway to open up a world of possibilities. There comes a point when one's belongings become drag in your financial sail, even robbing you of all your precious time. You're left drowning in debt, drifting through life, following a path of compromise and automation. Your possessions end up owning you, not you owning them.
The Concept The idea behind downsizing is to declutter your life. Declutter your belongings, your finances and your head-space. Now for those of you whose eyes I can see are already wide with apprehension, we are NOT talking about become a monk or getting rid of everything you own. What you need to do is take a long hard look at where your money's going. Look at what you own, and assess if it's truly aligned with what you need in order to be happy, then purge the excess. Make room for what really matters to you.
Once you've accomplished that, only your imagination can hold you back.
Less is More Downsizing requires you to put everything under the microscope and ask yourself:
Do I really need this?
Does this make me happy?
Do I need three vehicles?
Do I need such a big house?
Can I even afford this?
Just to give you an idea, our most impactful downsizing choices were to sell our house in the suburbs, sell our car and move to the city where everything is within walking distance. The trade off of reducing our square footage and transportation costs resulted in ten of thousands dollars in yearly savings. The extra couple of hundreds of dollars we spend each month in rent for downtown city living is easily offset by the cost of having to pay and maintain a vehicle. We don't miss the extra square footage we lost with our move. It was just there to store possessions that we're able to live without.
Go Digital Going digital was another game changer. Reducing one's square footage requirement becomes easier if your pictures, books, music and movies aren't taking up space. We look up recipes online, we stream our music and entertainment, our books are borrowed from the library, our pictures are stored in the cloud. It might seem like nothing, but we're talking dozens of boxes worth of belongings taking up room that can easily be eliminated. As you can see, downsizing requires you to rewire your perception of owning as an achievement. It sounds pretty simple, but is probably as difficult to pull off as quitting smoking.
The Challenge We've been conditioned since childhood to reward ourselves with stuff, to believe that buying things brings happiness. How many times have we used purchases as a coping mechanism? We've had a bad day, we go clothes shopping. We've had a good day, we go buy a new gadget. We get a promotion, we buy a new car. Eventually, the instant gratification wears off and you're left with more clutter and more debts, forced to work harder and longer to pay everything off. Even worse is the emotional attachment that we develop with our belongings. We enjoy the social status of being seen driving a certain type of car or wearing a certain brand of clothing. We hang on to useless items because our now deceased mother gifted it to us. In the end, it's often just perceived value. The downsizing process is a mourning process and cannot be done in one shot. Underneath it all, it really is an ongoing psychological battle.
Start Small Tackle it in small chunks, one kitchen or junk drawer at a time. One box, one shelf at a time. I'm not talking about those t-shirts you wear regularly, but the ones at the bottom of the pile, the ones that never see light of day. Give, re-purpose or sell. Repeat.
Meanwhile, resist any urges to acquire more. Whatever is left in your belongings needs to bring joy and usefulness.
The Perks of Downsizing The rewards of downsizing are endless. Once physical and financial room has been created, you are now rewarded with options. You're now free to put serious thought into what you really want out of life and how you can go about to make it a reality:
Maybe you can work part-time now?
Or take extra leave without pay from work to travel more?
Maybe you can invest time in a sideline business that could eventually become your main line of work?
Golf more often; sleep more often; whatever makes you happy!
Ultimately our most valuable possession is our time We chose to trade in certain luxuries in order to have more time. Time that we use toward hobbies, learning new skills, travelling and more quality time with our loved ones.
The art of downsizing Our downsizing process took us four years to perfect. Even today we're still tweaking the formula every now and then. The goal in all of this is to find the right balance. The swedes have a saying for this: Lagom, which is like Goldilocks; not too much, not too little, but just right.
Resources If you're interested in giving downsizing a try but don't know how to go about it, look up these resources for guidance: http://becomingminimalist.com https://bemorewithless.com http://godownsize.com http://mrmoneymustache.com
Philippe Lalonde, alongside his wife Sophie, split their time between house sitting internationally and staying at home back in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. They rent a furnished apartment downtown for economical and walk-ability reasons, are part of a car sharing program, and everything they own can be stored away in only a few boxes! You can follow their adventures abroad at https://theamazingstroll.com and on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter
UNDERSTANDING DOG BREEDS THE SHIBA INU by Thomas Carney The Shiba Inu is an ancient breed that hails from Japan. Shibas are part of the Spitz type of dog originating from Siberia and the Arctic, and bred as dogs designed to thrive in the close brushwood, hunting small game in the mountainous regions of Japan. The Spitz is more a "type" of dog that describes several breeds that loosely share common ancestry and traits. Spitz dogs typically have thick dense fur, pointed ears and muzzles, and fluffy tails that curl upward. Some better-known types include the Samoyed, Siberian Husky, Alaskan Malamute, and Chow Chow. In Japanese, Shiba means "small", and they are indeed the smallest of Japan’s six native breeds.
These days, the classic Shiba Inu look has earned it adoring fans around the world, who fall for its fox-like image. On Instagram, you’ll find Shiba Inu celebrity pets that garner hundreds of thousands of followers. But the Shiba has much more to offer than just cute memes and Instagram fame.
An Independently Spirited Dog
Photo credit: likeaduck licensed under CC BY 2.0
A Shiba is a very playful dog who will have its own very unique personality. Being a member of the Spitz family of dog, it’s a more primitive dog than some domesticated breeds. This means they can be more challenging to control. As a consequence, many Shiba owners never allow their Shiba to be off-leash in a public space. Shibas are also quite “mouthy” and, unless trained properly, might have a tendency to behave aggressively towards other dogs.
Care & Grooming of a Shiba It's quite common for owners to say that Shibas are a very “cat-like” dog. While they seek attention, they are often not as keen on being touched as other breeds. On the plus side, they spend quite a bit of time self-grooming and are meticulous about keeping themselves clean. This drive to keep themselves clean can also mean that toilet training a Shiba is slightly easier than with other dogs. One big issue you’ll notice is the bi-annual Shiba coat blow out! Shibas have a thick undercoat that they shed twice a year, resulting in fur everywhere for several weeks. On the other hand, this dense undercoat means that Shibas don’t need as much bathing, as this barrier protects them from water and dirt. In fact, over-bathing a Shiba may result in medical issues, as they can be prone to skin allergies.
Photo credit: MajaDumat licensed under CC BY 2.0
Exercise Needs of a Shiba Inu Shibas are not a high-energy breed, so they don’t have the exercise demands of breeds such as a Husky or a Border Collie. In fact, some owners report that Shibas can get quite sedentary as they age. As a result, they can suffer from weight issues if food intake isn’t controlled. Their moderate exercise needs combined with their smaller size means that the breed is quite popular as an apartment pet.
Hereditary Health Issues Shibas are generally a very healthy breed. You can expect a typical lifespan of 12 to 15 years. Examples of the genetic diseases that can occur are hip dysplasia, patellar luxation and eye problems. One aspect of Shiba care that results in numerous YouTube videos is clipping their nails, because Shibas famously dislike having their nails clipped. Ways to avoid negative reactions to activities such as bathing and having nails clipped include slowly introducing them to it, combined with positive reinforcement in the form of treats.
Training a Shiba Shibas are among the more difficult breeds to train, thanks to their independent spirit. Similar to Huskies, they have a mind of their own. You’ll find that typical aversive techniques won't work well on Shibas, because they are relentless in getting what they want. A better method is to remove the one thing they’ll always want, and that’s your attention. Removing attention when they aren’t willing to comply and focusing on something else for a while is a much more effective way of training them. They can also have a tendency to focus on a specific activity and obsess over it to the exclusion of all others. Finally, Shibas are generally not to be trusted off-leash, unless you are very confident in their recall training. Numerous Shiba owners testify to having to chase down their pets if they dare to let them off-leash while hiking.
What to Consider as a Shiba-Sitter
Photo credit: Kuujinbo licensed under CC BY 2.0
A Shiba Inu is certainly a more challenging dog to house sit, especially if it’s your first time looking after this breed. In Japanese, Shiba means "small", and they are indeed the smallest of Japan’s six native breeds. This does make them excellent apartment pets. But, at the same time, Shibas are incredibly playful companions with big personalities and although generally quiet, if they get excited they are known to emit their trademark, highpitched “Shiba scream". Shiba-sitters should plan for providing a good amount of exercise every day!
Thomas Carney writes about his favorite breed, the Shiba Inu on his blog. He grew up with a Border Collie, but city life makes a Shiba Inu his next pet. https://shibainuhq.com/
HOUSE SITTING OPTIONS IN EXOTIC ASIA by Glenn Lamb (with intro by Vanessa Anderson)
Have you ever wondered how easy it would be to secure a house sit in Thailand, or perhaps Malaysia? Many of us love Asia as a place to visit for a relaxing vacation, but more recently it's also grown in popularity as a house sitting destination - often sought out by digital nomads combining their remote work with the house sitter lifestyle, complimented by a low cost of living and amazing cultural experiences. Cities like Chiang Mai in Thailand are becoming more accustomed to the concept of house sitting, and with a growing number of westerners living in expat communities, we've seen a rise
in advertised sits. Consequently it's becoming easier to make house sitting a reality in these exotic areas. This month Glenn Lamb talks about his and wife Jacqueline's experiences house sitting in Asia, where they've successfully sat at a number of different locations.
We've experienced house sitting in some great locations that are appearing with more and more frequency in Asia. China, Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Singapore - these are just some of the places you can now visit as a sitter. There's even the odd sit that pops up for Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia! Our house sitting journey started two years ago when we secured our first house sit in Hua Hin, Thailand. Since then we have also been lucky enough to "live" in Spain, France, England, Scotland, Australia, Hong Kong and Singapore. House sitting in Asia has been great fun. All the sits have been great experiences and unique in their own way. We've stayed in beautiful stand alone homes, modern high rise apartment complexes and even an extremely small four room apartment! All of the house sits we have secured (except one) were advertised on Trusted House Sitters. The other one was for friends that live in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Another way to source sits in this region is via a number of Facebook groups that have been setup. A couple we know of are “Official Chiang Mai Pet Sitting” and “Housesitting in East & Southeast Asia”. You can also look for ex-pat groups in your preferred region and get involved in their discussions.
Thailand ur very first house sit was in the Thai Royal Resort town of Hua Hin in December 2015. Located about 3 hours drive south of Bangkok on the Gulf of Thailand, Hua Hin is an ex-pat haven. We couldn't have asked for a better first sit experience. The homeowner's were very kind and invited us to stay for a few days both before and after the house sit. They also took us along to a few of their ex-pat Christmas parties and functions. We met some extremely interesting people who had retired or were working in Thailand.
Their home was a beautiful, luxurious two story house on a double block. It had a pool, outdoor entertaining area and guest house, all within a gated community. Our hosts were a lovely retired couple from the UK and our pets were 6 very different cats (read about it here - Six cats in Hua Hin). The home owners also provided a scooter for our use which enabled us to take the 10 minute ride into town and the beach. Caring for cats provides a lot more free time than dogs so we were able to have a few adventures on the scooter and explore further afield. We also spend a few months a year in Chiang Mai in Northern Thailand. We've done two house sits here - one for a friend and the other through TrustedHousesitters. Amazingly, it turned out that the TrustedHousesitter home owners were friends of our friends! Chiang Mai too has a substantial ex-pat community and most of the sits available are for these residents. Chiang Mai is Thailand's second largest city and a major Thai tourist destination. As such, the city has undergone massive condo development around the old town, and many ex-pats with pets settle in the outer areas where a large house can be rented or bought very economically. A large percentage of the sits are in these outer areas, so you either need to be located close to the local bus service or rent a scooter (or have one provided).
One of our sits was in the San Sai area, about 8km north of Chiang Mai, where we looked after Poko (see image above), a Golden Retriever. The home was in a local "Moo Baan" (gated community) which meant we could safely walk him within the residential area, without any problems from stray street (or "soi") dogs. Soi dogs are generally friendly with people, but can act aggressively towards other dogs when protecting their "turf". Due to our experience, confidence and understanding of how soi dogs react, we had no issues when walking the home owner's dogs. However, this is something you do need to be aware of and discuss with the home owner at or before handover.
One of the great things about house sitting in Thailand is access to local wet markets. You'll usually find one not far from where you are staying and they are generally open every day. There is usually a specific "market day", where there are many more stalls. Visiting is a great experience and the sights, sounds and smells are so different to what we are used to.
Many exotic fruits and vegetables, meats (and various body parts!!), fish, clothing, food stalls and smiling stall holders await you. For us, this is what travel is all about and we love going to these places and interacting with the locals. Our other sit (for friends) was very close to the old town, in a large Thai style house caring for two cats. This was ideal as it was in a very local Thai part of Chiang Mai, but not too far from old town or the "action" of the popular Nimman area. The home owners provided a car for our use on this sit so we were able to explore even further afield. Chiang Mai is in the proximity of a number of National Parks so we took the opportunity to visit some of these during our time there. Be warned that driving in Thailand is not for the faint-hearted. As in many countries, road rules are only a guideline and not generally observed! As a result Thailand has an extremely high death toll with more than 22,000 road fatalities each year. During this sit we noticed our feline friends playing with something in the garden. Upon closer inspection we discovered it was a green snake!! We quickly removed them from the situation and it slithered off. Not knowing if it was potentially poisonous or not we rang the neighbours and they thankfully advised us that it was a harmless tree snake. Just another day house sitting in the tropics! We did a repeat sit here a few months later and unfortunately one of our cats passed away in mysterious circumstances. Scooby was only one year old and in good health but we found her body a few days after she went missing. There were no signs of any physical injury or wound so we assume she was possibly bitten by a snake or spider. It was a very sad day.
Hong Kong Our week long house in Hong Kong couldn't have been more different than our Thai sits. We hadn't been to Hong Kong for over 30 years and it's fair to say that it had progressed a lot during that time. Land and accommodation is at a premium here and it has hotel prices to match. As usual, we arrived the day before the sit, but as the home owners didn't have a spare room we stayed in a nearby Best Western hotel. You may have heard the saying “not big enough to swing a cat”. Well this hotel room was probably the smallest we'd ever stayed in. There was a double bed with about 30 cms space on either side and at the foot of the bed. There was nowhere to put our luggage so it was stacked in front of the door and the miniature shower room. The next day we moved to our new home for the next week. It was in a fantastic location on Hong Kong island in an older four level low rise apartment block, but it too was extremely small. There was a bedroom, bathroom, kitchen and very small living area. As we were on the top floor we also had access to the roof terrace which provided an extra "room" to enjoy. We were caring for a beautiful rescue dog named Tang. We enjoyed walking Tang down to the Hong Kong harbor, taking in the views of the high rises across the bay to Kowloon as we went. Given that the majority of the population live in high rise apartments it was surprising to see how many dogs were at the dog park where Tang could run and socialise with his furry friends. Dogs are not allowed on trains or buses in Hong Kong, but you can take them in taxis or on the ferries. One day we took advantage of this and took Tang on the ferry to Discovery Bay on Lantau Island. One of the unique things about walking a dog in Hong Kong is that besides carrying doggy poo bags, for the inevitable deposit, you also need to carry a water bottle. Any time Tang cocked his leg we would need to squirt his urine with water to dilute the acidity and smell. Whilst odd at first, we quickly became used to seeing fellow dog owners walking through the crowded and bustling streets with a water filled dishwashing liquid bottle. Even though Tang required three walks a day we were able to get out and about and explore many interesting places. Hong Kong has an excellent and cheap public transport system that makes getting around very easy. We visited many interesting places including Victoria Peak, The Big Buddha on Lantau Island, Temple Street Night Market, Kowloon Park and the lively dining and nightlife area at Lan Kwai Fong.
Singapore Our most recent sit in Asia was just a month ago and took us to the thriving metropolis of Singapore. Accommodation costs in Singapore are very expensive so when we had the chance to apply for a sit here we jumped at the chance. Singapore was on our way home from Thailand to Australia and the added bonus was that our only pet responsibility was for one Siamese Fighting fish!! We stayed in a modern high rise apartment complex with pool and gym in the residential area of Holland Village. This is about half an hour by bus from the downtown area. With minimal pet responsibilities we were able to get out and about every day and enjoy many of the attractions on offer. One evening we strolled along the Singapore River to the riverside bar and restaurant area of Clarke Quay, and then on to Marina Bay to view the twice nightly water and light show. On other days we explored Little India, Singapore Botanic Gardens, Gardens by the Bay and the tree top walk (including monkeys) at MacRitchie Reservoir.
The highlight was catching up with new friends and fellow sitters Sue and Dave, and spending the afternoon taking in the vista from the bar on the top floor of the Marina Bay Sands Hotel.
One advantage of house sitting in Asia is that so many countries are in such a small geographic area. You can easily combine house sitting with independent travel through South East Asia. There are many budget airlines, such as Air Asia, that operate throughout this region, making travel affordable to and from these neighbouring countries. If you are considering sitting in South East Asia we would highly recommend it. It's an interesting and very different experience to sitting in Western countries. We have thoroughly enjoyed the various house sitting experiences we've had in South East Asia and will definitely return for more.
Glenn Lamb and his wife Jacqueline, are an Australian couple that have always enjoyed travel and the experiences and people it exposes them to. They took a "gap" year in 2015 to explore possible retirement destinations in South East Asia and stumbled across house sitting. After 6 months of back-to-back sits in Asia and Europe they decided this was their future. In April 2017, having sold all their possessions, they embarked on their roving retirement and now travel the world as full time house sitters and travelers. You can follow their adventures on their travel blog https://www.lambiestravels.com/ or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/lambiestravels/
HOUSESITMATCH CELEBRATES! NOW WE ARE 5 !! by Lamia Walker - Founder of HouseSitMatch.com
This weekend HouseSitMatch celebrates it's 5th year anniversary as a house sitting and pet sitting network. Woo hoo! So what, you might say. What's to celebrate? Well, if you haven't looked at our site in a while here are some reasons to take a second look:
Why choose HouseSitMatch.com Video Case Study We now have two video feature slots on our homepage. Here is a UK case study video in case you haven't watched it yet:
And we are always looking for more house sitting and pet sitting stories to feature on the homepage slot. This will become a new regular competition.
HouseSitMatch VIDEO Competition You could win £200 for your video submission if we decide to feature it on our homepage. Here are the details for entry in our HouseSitMatch COMPETITION BLOG https://blog.housesitmatch.com/new-2018-housesitmatch-video-competition/
But hurry - Your first deadline is 25 May 2018 !!
**NEW** WEBSITE FEATURES: PART 1 We recently launched our latest iteration of the website with some great new features. Today I'd like to tell you about one of our newest features on the HouseSitMatch website. Security & ID checks - We have developed a secure managed network with ID checks for every registered member – home owners as well as house sitters. Our Philosophy - We believe you can build good trust in a network by encouraging transparency and measured sharing of information. The ID checking for all members ensures that we are fair and equal in our handling of all types of members. Good behaviour will be encouraged through fair dealing. This is particularly important for new joiners and nervous homeowners. We want to encourage an open approach in a safe environment. How will this appear onsite - On joining, each member will be asked to complete their verification processes - each profile has a page dedicated with buttons to start the ball rolling.
Once completed you can see verification symbols on checked members profiles. Some of our members are still getting checked and of course we always have new members joining who will be waiting for their symbols to post. We work with a company called HOOYU who will ask you for a number of ID points of reference online to verify your identity. We offer this free to active members. TOP TIP - We recognize that some of you now travel full time no longer have a fixed home address. We are here to help if you are struggling with one form of ID or another. There are ways to qualify everyone!
What do you need for a HOOYU check?
Take a selfie (Just like when you register on Airbnb)
A passport photo (better than a flat bed scanner which can be grainy - they are looking for watermarks and stuff - soon we'll introduce European ID cards for flexibility
Plus 1 x digital footprint reference (Facebook, Linkedin, Paypal etc)
I hope you found this useful. We are keen to receive feedback on this new feature and I am happy to take any emails from members and non-members at: Lamia@HouseSitMatch.com We have many other new features which we'd like to share with you.
And, if you join HouseSitMatch through House Sitting Magazine throughout the month of April you can get 50% Off Please use discount code SUPERB50
HOUSE SIT YOUR WAY AROUND THE WORLD FOR LESS... With round-the-world tickets! by Deborah Clohesy
In June of 2017 I was working as a Teacher Librarian at an international school in Kuala Lumpur. I knew I'd be retiring at the end of the year and so joined two house sitting platforms, Trusted House Sitters and Housecarers. My husband Trevor and I wanted to fulfill our dream of house and pet sitting our way around the world. We called this our "Adventure Before Dementia" Our adventure began with some short local sits in Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Thailand.
This was the recommended advice of all the house sitting sites and forums we'd consulted, as it helps build a credible profile showing experience and references. This all went well and we were asked to sit again for all our home owners, which was a great boost to our confidence. And much to our surprise, we were also chosen through HouseCarers to look after two cats in Midwest USA, for two months beginning in late February 2018. This was quite early in our plans, so it became the central sit around which we planned all our other assignments. At its completion, my work contract included a one way ticket to Brisbane, my city of origin, so we secured some sits there over Christmas and New Year. Before we knew it we were booked up until November 2018, with two sits in British Columbia, our original sit in Missouri and three in the UK. We had some small gaps in between to either visit friends, travel, or acquire more short sits.
The Galloping Goose Trail which was literally at our back door in Sooke, BC
Time to plan the flights Trevor spent some time online looking for the best "round the world tickets" that met our particular needs. We'd decided we wanted to take care of some business in Malaysia before setting out in earnest, so we needed airline tickets that covered the route, Brisbane-KL, KLVancouver, New York-Heathrow and Heathrow-Brisbane. None of the searches matched our criteria, so in January 2018, while enjoying summer in leafy Corinda, Brisbane, we approached our local travel agent. She had been in the travel industry for 40 years and our thinking was that we'd get a more personalised service by dealing with a small company. Our contact certainly knew her stuff and had become a friend at the end of the many hours she spent searching on our behalf! Finally though she told us she couldn't give us what we wanted for under AUD $4000 each and surprised us by suggesting that one of the bigger chains could possibly help us find fares for a cheaper price. So we then went to Flight Centre (an Australian company which now has outlets in almost every Australian shopping mall) where we were introduced to the antithesis of our local travel agent. He barely looked old enough to shave, but did exude plenty of youthful enthusiasm. There was no doubt he was encouraged to meet our challenge by the commission that awaited him if he succeeded! He told us to return in a couple of hours, which we did with much trepidation, remembering our earlier local experience. But we were surprised by the outcome and left with smiles all round. We paid approximately AUD$3000 each for exactly what we requested, including a three day stopover to visit friends in Dubai, thrown in for an extra $60. A saving of almost AUD$2000.
And the moral is... The moral of our tale is that "round the world fares" are much, much cheaper than booking individual flights for trips that require multiple stops. And, as long as your trip is reasonably straight forward, i.e. proceeds in the same direction and doesn't take longer than 12 months, you may be able to book it online. If not give Flight Centre a go if you're in Australia, or check out similar travel companies in other countries that might be able to help you too. Internal flights and overland journeys can also be included in your fare, although we decided to book our flights within the US ourselves, as they are relatively cheap and this allowed us a bit of flexibility.
The links below are a few companies we've found online at House Sitting Magazine - a search of "round the world tickets" will provide many other options too. https://www.flightcentre.co.uk/ https://www.roundtheworldflights.com/ https://www.roundtheworldexperts.co.uk https://www.travelnation.co.uk/
Fast forward to March 2018 I am writing from the cosy house of our home owners in Louisiana, Missouri, while chilly rain falls outside. We have been traveling since mid January and apart from a freak snowstorm that threatened to ground flights in Vancouver, everything has gone smoothly. We have already learned so much, met people and pets we will never forget, and been to places we would never have gone otherwise.
Already we are seeking to put what we have learned into practice by planning our next "round the world" trip. No doubt we will be paying our young friend at Flight Centre another visit! We continue to be surprised that so few know about the gentle art of house and pet sitting, and we would like to think that we have inspired a few people to take the plunge and do what we have done rather than just talking about doing it "one day".
If we can do it, anyone can! Admittedly, we were well traveled before we started house sitting, and have learned to be tolerant, flexible and able to expect the unexpected. Not five minutes ago I received a phone call from a member of the Hannibal Rotary chapter, asking us to speak at one of their meetings about what we are doing... I just hope they can understand our Aussie accents!
Happy sitting to you all!
Deborah Clohesy is a recently retired Australian Teacher/Librarian, Japanese and English teacher who has lived and worked in Japan, Dubai, Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur. She loves animals, travel and writing, so house and pet sitting is the perfect way to combine these loves. You can follow her adventures and musings on her Facebook page: Adventures in Retirement
TREATING THE TOP 10 TRAVEL AILMENTS by Lisa Chavis
As long-term travelers, we quickly learn to treat our conditions on the run – sometimes in areas where we're unfamiliar with local medications or even where some medicines are scarce. Do you know the Top 10 Ailments that vacationers and travelers dread most when away from home? 1. Sunburn 2. Insect Bites 3. Headaches/Body Aches 4. Upset Stomach/GI issues
5. Urinary Tract Infections 6. Jet Lag 7. Toothache 8. Coughs 9. Motion Sickness 10. Blisters Even more importantly, do you know how to treat these common travel illnesses when they occur? When traveling, you leave the familiar surroundings of home and go out to explore new and exciting venues. Unfortunately, these changes in environment can result in problems such as increased sun exposure, unfamiliar insects/allergic reactions, and drastic changes in climate that weaken our defenses. Vacationers are more prone to suffer from "vacation-itis" when their systems are hit hard by exotic or rich foods, irregular meal times, increased alcohol consumption and increased sexual activity. Here are a few tips for taking care of these vacation illnesses before they ruin your good time away from home. We are based in the USA and so some of these products may not be available in your home country - talk to a pharmacist or doctor who will be able to recommend an alternative brand name. Note: Remember to always check before taking drugs and medications through immigration in countries outside the USA.
Sunburn There's nothing more annoying than ruining your vacation by getting badly sunburned on the first day. It's important to bring along familiar sun protection if visiting a place where you'll be spending lots of time in the sun. Use UVB and UVA sun protection for the lips, face and body when outside and don't forget a hat or cool, long sleeves as extra protection. If you do get too much sun, packing a bottle of Aloe Vera Gel with Lidocaine will help reduce the pain. Put the bottle in the refrigerator or under cool water for especially quick relief. If you can find the natural plant, event better - the gel-like sap can be applied directly for quick results!
Insect Bites If you have a known serious allergy to insect bites, please don't forget an extra prescription EpiPen just in case of emergencies. For minor insect bites or stings, taking along an over-the-counter antihistamine like Benadryl (diphenhydramine) will help reduce swelling and inflammation. But beware… it will make you VERY sleepy. Hydrocortisone Cream is readily available in most vacation spots and can bring fast relief for itching from bites or rashes.
Headaches/Body Aches Whether your body is hurting from an overindulgence of alcohol or overdoing it on the slopes, bringing along a pain reliever when traveling is a good idea. One of my favorites for headaches is the fast acting BC Powder that contains a pain-punching combination of aspirin and caffeine. For muscle and body aches, an anti-inflammatory product like Ibuprofen or Naproxen Sodium will work to stop swelling commonly associated with tendon, muscle, and joint pain.
Upset Stomach/Gastro Intestinal (GI) Issues Nothing ruins a trip faster than an attack of traveler's diarrhea or other intestinal upset. Foreign foods and water can wreck havoc on the body's digestive system, so it's always good to be prepared. One of the standards in our travel medicine kit is the fast-acting anti-diarrhea medicine Imodium (Loperamide). If GI issues are common when you vacation, consider the use of a probiotic like Florastor to help prevent and shorten the duration of travel-related stomach upset. It's recommended that you take it twice a day, starting four days before, during and for four days after the trip.
Urinary Tract Infections For women who are prone to UTIs, it's a good idea to carry a product called Cystex. I recommend it highly because it not only dulls the pain of the UTI with an analgesic, but also has an antibacterial agent to slow the progression of the infection until you can see the doctor. It's also considered an excellent preventative medication should you engage in behaviors that make some women more prone to UTIs (i.e. not staying hydrated, increased sexual activity, etc.)
Jet Lag When the hotel pool has a lovely swim-up bar, but you'd rather curl up in your room and sleep, jet lag may be the problem. Jet lag can steal precious time, so it's important to take steps beforehand. If possible, schedule your flight so you're sleeping when your body feels like it should be sleeping. Overnight flights allow more time for the body's circadian rhythms to adapt. When jet lag hits, try bringing along Melatonin tablets. The suggested dose is 3 milligrams of melatonin an hour or two before bedtime at your destination. Then give yourself at least 9-10 hours to rest completely. You may wake earlier, but your body will have gotten the rest it needs. Editor's Note: Melatonin is not freely available in the UK and some European countries, but can be prescribed by a doctor in certain situations. In the US it's considered a dietary supplement I believe, while in the UK a drug, that's not available over the counter. I've personally used Melatonin in the past with great success, but had to buy it while in the US, and then later online.
Toothache Suffering with the pain of a sore tooth during your holiday isn't fun. Before you leave, be sure to have a dental check-up – especially if you've noticed a twinge of pain anywhere in your mouth.
Pain relievers, like Ibuprofen or Naproxen Sodium, do well to bring down inflammation for most minor issues. If the pain persists, or if accompanied by a fever, it's time to see a local dentist. A course of antibiotics may be required if there's an infection brewing.
Coughs Whether it's from an allergy tickle in the throat or from a full-blown cold, coughs can quickly sap your energy and take you away from vacation fun. The most important thing to do with a cough is to stop it at the source. If it's allergy-related, taking an over-the-counter antihistamine, like Loratadine, will dry-up the annoying drip. Colds typically resolve in their own time, but if you're prone to them, bringing along a multisymptom product, like Nyquil Cold and Flu, for night-time relief might be a good idea.
Motion Sickness Fear of feeling queasy on a boat, plane or car can drastically cut down on your holiday fun. Motion sickness occurs when there is a disconnect between what the eyes see and the brain perceives. The brain signals the body to produce nausea-inducing toxins because it doesn't "see" motion. Keeping your eyes on the curves of the road or the waves helps the brain react better. If that doesn't work, over-the-counter Meclizine and Dramamine are tried and true helpers. For those who don't want to take any chances, your doctor can prescribe Transdermal Scopolamine patches to wear during your trip - use at least 4 hours before the event.
Blisters When we're jaunting around taking in all the sights of a new and wonderful place, we sometimes forget about our feet - until we realize we have blisters the size of quarters and it hurts terribly to walk. Preventing blisters can be as easy as wearing broken-in shoes – no matter how pretty those brand new shoes may be! But if blisters do pop up, another staple in our travel kit is a package of Dr. Scholl's Blister Treatment Cushions. They both heal and protect the tender skin and conform well to the foot to stay put.
BONUS TRAVEL TIP! Avoiding Embarrassing "Jet Bloat" If you're flying to your vacation destination, be prepared for the "jet bloat" that always occurs at the most inopportune time. This happens when the body is forced to deal with increased gas volume due to elevation gains (the higher the altitude you fly, the more the gas in the body expands). Activated charcoal capsules, like CharcoCaps, do double duty to help absorb some of the gas volume as well as the odor. Disclaimer - As with all medical conditions discussed on the Internet, check first with your doctor before using any alternative treatments. Happy, Healthy Travels!
Lisa Chavis, RPh and Cheryl MacDonald, CPhT – travelers and trusted medical professionals who want to share travel health and wellness information with you. From travel health tips and medical tourism to wellness spa retreats, our goal is to be your best resource for travel health and wellness information! Their background is in the medical field. Lisa has been a Registered Pharmacist for over 20 years and Cheryl's experience in the pharmacy healthcare industry spans 20 years as well on the corporate level. The Travel Pharmacist
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7 TIPS TO HELP MAINTAIN YOUR COLD WEATHER FITNESS PROGRAM by Zyana Morris
For many people, working out when it’s cold outside isn't easily accomplished. It's not high on their list of priorities! In fact, most of us lose touch with our fitness goals during the harsh colder months because it becomes just so much more difficult to get our bodies moving. In the chilly weather of the northern hemisphere, we just want to snuggle in our onesies by the fireside, or indulge in hearty, comforting meals. The thought of going to the gym or taking a run isn't nearly as appealing!
Well, the good news is that we can still enjoy relaxing by the fireplace while staying true to our fitness regime, if we give consideration to the following fitness tips. They'll help pull you through your much needed workouts, even when the mercury drops.
1. Fact! A cold weather workout may be your most effective workout of the year. University of Maastricht research suggests that working out in the cold actually burns fat quicker than exercising in warmer temperatures. The reason being that our "brown fat" deposits are activated more quickly as our bodies learn to get warmer much faster. This means winter runs may be helping you more with your weight management program than those jogs in milder temperatures. And... winter workouts may also help with mood. If you experience depression, anxiety or SAD (seasonal associative disorder) during the cold months, then you might be able to beat it with exercise. Studies have linked physical activity to an improvement in the mood for people with this condition. So, let’s translate this knowledge into action.
2. Plan your exercise and set a goal We've agreed that working out in the winter months can be really hard, but by planning well and identifying what stops us in our regime, can help us execute our exercise more effectively. Write down the exercises you want to do, for how long and in what order. If you are exercising before work, then make the transition out of bed more comfortable, so that you don’t have any excuses.
Arrange your workout clothes, shoes, and other gear the night before. Then you won’t need to organize or even think about this when you get up. Plan your post-workout breakfast in advance too, so you have the motivation to get your energy levels raised. We know that without goals, we can’t attain much at all, so it’s important to follow this rule with your exercise as well. Try to set SMART and achievable fitness goals because, in the end, the point is to make sure you get going. Don't freak out at the thought of exercise and end up staying in bed!
3. Wear the right gear For cold outdoor workouts, the right gear will make all the difference. You have to put on the proper layers to retain your body heat. Make sure too that you're wearing moisture wicking fabrics that will dry quickly. Keep your head and hands protected by wearing a beanie and gloves. You'll enjoy your workout much more when your clothes hampering or annoying you.
4. Try different Exercises I'm sure everyone will agree that monotony is boring. So it's good to know that you don’t always have to go to a busy gym or run outside to be fit. Try other forms of indoor activities like dance, yoga, sports, cycling, swimming or circuit training. At the end of the day, you just need to get your body moving and this can be achieved in so many different "healthy" ways. Really it can be anything to stop you scrolling through Facebook or devouring your favorite snacks in bed. After all, sitting is the new smoking, and we need to invest our energy in tasks that help improve our health.
5. Do something you love If running and jogging don’t appeal to you at all, then why not utilize the winter months to discover other fun activities that get you moving, such as ice skating or skiing. Whereas skiing might not be accessible to everyone, skating is a better option as most major cities have a skating rink and there are also many pop-up arenas in smaller towns. Or, if you love exploring, there's nothing better than enjoying the beautiful sights while strolling or hiking around the countryside. Take a train or bus out of the city and walk around the villages, before heading back to a local cafe for a warming cup of coffee.
6. Take a companion When the days are short and cold, it’s easy to feel lonely. When it's tough to work up the motivation to break a sweat, bringing a friend along to accompany you in your workouts can be a great way to make exercise more fun. Your companion will help keep you motivated during the days when you feel like opting out, because they will need you as much as you need them! Of course for house sitters, that companion might be in animal form! Dog walking is a great way to keep up your exercise regime, and maintain the motivation to succeed with your daily goals. After all, the pups need their exercise too, so you can't fail them just because of inclement weather!
7. Reward yourself A post-workout reward is an excellent way to keep you motivated after a workout in the cold. However, steer clear of too many sugary treats! Not only will that be counter-productive, but it may also leave you feeling guilty and more anxious about your health.
Try instead being creative about your rewards. For instance, promise yourself a day at a spa or book a back massage, IF you complete 10 consecutive days of exercise. Remember, good planning and an achievable goal will get you started, and a reward will keep you motivated to continue over time. And... before you know it the sun will be shining, the weather will be warm and your exercise routines will be so much easier!
Zyana Morris is a passionate blogger who loves to write about prevailing Health and Lifestyle trends. She is a featured author at various blogs. Follow Zyana on Twitter for more updates
THE PLANK by Elly McGuinness
What Are The Benefits? The plank is a great core strengthening exercise that can be done anytime, anywhere, with no equipment. This means it's going to help strengthen the mid-section of the body. Core strength is super important for most other exercises and fitness based activities. A strong core unit provides crucial body stability and assists with protection from injury.
Muscles Worked The plank mostly works the "core" muscles of the body. These include the abdominals, lower back, and surrounding muscles.
Technique
Unlike the exercises we have featured in recent months, the plank is a stationary exercise. This means you get into position and then hold it without moving. In saying that, there are one or two variations that do involve a little movement.
Clasp your hands together with forearms on the floor.
Your elbows should be underneath the shoulders, and shoulder distance apart. Extend legs out and tuck your toes underneath.
Draw your belly button in and activate your pelvic floor muscles.
Lift up into the plank position with your body straight, as pictured. If you need an easier option, place your knees on the ground from here and keep your body straight.
Keep your core muscles strong and breathe!
Hold it as long as you can, whilst maintaining good technique.
If you feel your back starting to dip, then regress to an easier version, or rest. If you can hold the plank with good technique for more than one minute, try the next progression.
Progressions & Other Variations Level 1: On knees Level 2: Full plank on feet Level 3a: Full plank with 1 leg lifted slightly off the ground Level 3b: Full plank but step one foot out, then the other, one foot in, then the other. Repeat for the duration of the plank hold and maintain core stability Alternative: try the plank on your hands instead of forearms (so both arms are fully extended). This will likely be a bit harder than the forearm version.
Other Considerations
Always warm up before and cool down after your workouts
Build up to holding the plank between 30 seconds and 1 minute with good technique
You can repeat a second set after a short rest if you're feeling energetic
Breathe continuously and never hold your breath
Stop the exercise if you feel pain in your lower back. Although your lower back muscles with be activated, the abdominals should be doing the majority of the work and you shouldn't feel "pain" in your back. If you do, it's an indication to step it back a notch or choose a different exercise
If you have injuries or a medical condition and are not sure whether the plank is right for you, please seek professional advice.
Elly McGuinness has been inspiring people to make sustainable changes to their health, fitness and lifestyle for the past 15 years. She offers online solutions for people who are looking to get started on, or improve their health and fitness. She blogs regularly, writes for a number of health and well-being publications and is the published author of a holistic weight loss book. Elly is mum to a spirited three year old girl, and along with her partner Colin they embrace a digital nomad, world schooling lifestyle. Find out more at: https://ellymcguinness.com/ https://www.facebook.com/ellymcguinnessfitness/ https://www.instagram.com/ellymcguinness/
TWENTY ONE DIFFERENT BEDS! HOUSE SITTING AS A SOLO WOMAN by Ann Parrott
Over the past year I've slept in 21 different beds. I've looked after 18 dogs, 28 cats, 54 chooks (chickens), 2 quails, a lovebird, a cockatiel, a thoroughbred, a Shetland pony, a pony, a miniature horse, 6 fish tanks/ponds, 7 blue tongue lizards, a snake, a guinea pig and 4 goats. That sums up my past 12 months house sitting as a solo female! My continual nomadic lifestyle has been an exciting mix of new homes, pets and adventures and what a learning curve it's been!
There are certainly some differences between sitting as a solo female compared to sitting as a couple or family. Allen Trottier pointed out some of these differences, common to both females and male solo sitters, in his recent article. But as a female, I'd like to share my thoughts, especially for solo lady travelers considering house sitting, to reassure those of you who are still unsure how safe it is, how at ease you will feel, and whether it ever gets lonely. Keeping in mind we all have different comfort zones where things affect us, and as a solo female there are certainly some quirks and challenges that may (or may not) affect the house sit. It does take a little courage to accept that first sit when you don't know what to expect. There's no-one to back us up. Nobody to help us know if we've made the right decision, chosen the right home, selected the right pet mix, or to tell us we really can DO it on our own. Oh, the endless questioning of ourselves. But then it's seriously crazy how at ease you feel once you start. I've had sits where I've met the owners, and travel sits where we've just chatted via phone or texts, which have turned out to be the best sits of all. Always trust your gut feelings when meeting or chatting with the home owners of a potential sit. If you feel something isn't right, just don't do it. Move on to the next application. But, in the majority of cases you will have made the absolute best decision. And, it will be as safe as any guarantee life gives us.
Coping techniques for the first few nights For many of us on our own, the first night or two in a home can tend to be a bit eerie, especially in bigger homes. We don't have anyone else to rely on in the way couples or family groups do. If we hear an odd crash or bang in the middle of the night, there's no one to prod and say "Check it out!". But once you get used to the creaks and groans that are individual to each sit and home, and settle in with the pets, you learn to relax very quickly. I must say, with each sit I get better at settling faster.
Given that I'm more a cat person (think old maid with a gazillion cats around her and I am the perfect caricature), I feel safer, more quickly, with dogs around. If there are sounds that aren't privy to the home, they will bark! Well actually that's not quite true. Some will, but some snore louder and sounder than any male counterpart and won't hear a thing! Leaving a light on the first night or two to create some soft light can help. I am yet to have a horrid guest room to sleep in, most are simply beautiful, but I also carry a couple of personal items. I place these to create the sleeping arrangements that represent "me" - this makes the space my own. It's easier to relax and not feel as displaced in the middle of the night. Then it seriously only takes the first night or two to feel like you've been there forever. In larger homes I tend to live in the lounge, kitchen and bedroom and close everything else off to feel more secure. This saves cleaning too! Then it's just a quick vacuum of those closed up rooms just to freshen them up before the owners return. Lastly, it can help to remind ourselves that the owners have lived in their homes for five, ten, twenty years, with no incidents. Surely it would be very unlucky for something to happen simply because we have come along. In my past twelve months, absolutely nothing has happened!
Do I have the physical strength? The second part is the physical side of house sitting as a solo female. I train daily so consider myself quite strong, but, I have had two sits where I possibly took on more than I realised, both with the amount of pets, and the size of the homes and yards, plus the upkeep required. As a couple - day to day tasks can be much easier and shared, but on your own, the same tasks can become a lot of work. If you're a female not used to some hefty outdoor work, consider the sorts of sits you take on.
There's nothing wrong with being choosy I've personally loved the challenge of these sits and got great endorsements from the owners, but as I get a little older, the workload involved may be something that becomes more important to consider before applying for, or accepting a sit. So really look at what is involved in terms of physical work, before you say YES.
The real key for managing the workload though is organisation. The positive? Well, we females, are great at that, right?! I find creating a checklist, (I'm a tick the box person) helps it all work smoothly. Specially if there are certain days where one-off tasks or rare things need to be done. If it's ticked - then done, forget about it, move on.
What makes it so worthwhile? The fun part that IS a side effect of house sitting, is the getting out and about - exploring new areas as a solo female. So far I have only sat in Australia with overseas trips planned early 2019, but photography played a big part in why I originally decided to travel to different areas. I cannot begin to express the adventures I have created for myself that would never have happened if I hadn't decided to start house sitting. I love being out on trails, climbing mountains, walking waterfalls - long lone tracks. Discovering new areas is important and as a solo female, it's something we have to realise we SHOULD do. I find you simply need to make yourself get outside and get involved, regardless.
Is it lonely house sitting solo? Not surrounded by an ever changing pet cycle, learning new routines (you really are living someone else's life), and the exploration of new locations. There is usually no time for lonely. Plus I have found house sitting has created a more talkative me. I have to be. And from that, opportunities come about - with the neighbours, with the township, and new friendships are formed. Opportunities that would not come about if we allow ourselves to become fearful of "what might happen". It's SO wonderful to meet new people and mingle wherever you find yourself! And also, embrace the really interesting different pets and lifestyles you are taking over for a period. It certainly keeps you busy - and definitely not lonely.
Plan your approach You hear how many sitters have back-to-back sits. Traveling as a couple can provide some overlap room. One stays behind while the other moves on before they meet back-up. For a solo, female or male, this option is not viable, so it definitely takes extra planning to get dates lining up with back-to-backs. But it IS possible if you are with a good site, and really utilise your calendar and your approach to getting sits.
I'm now at the point where previous sits have actually organised their time away around the dates I am available. But I'm also knocking too many back that I would LOVE to do again, because I am already booked. When you get to that point you have definitely absorbed yourself into the lifestyle and joy that house sitting can give.
Consider creating a blog Your own blog gives further observation into who you are and the lifestyle you live. It allows the homeowner to get an insight into your character, which can lead to a yes. Plus it keeps you even busier. I'm currently in the process of fully setting mine up. And… as a graphic designer, I'm setting up to work more online so I can sit anywhere in the world, and not be location dependent anymore. So are you sitting there wondering if you are suited, or if it's harder to get a sit as a solo female? Stop wondering. We are capable of small or large housesits. We are organised, patient and strong. Independent and disciplined. We don't need more adjectives. We know all the qualities we offer.
Just go for it! Surround yourself with the joy of different pets, homes, routines. Explore the world we live in! Having mini adventures on a regular basis, is definitely HEAPS better than sitting at home alone, watching TV re-runs and viewing life passing by!
Based in Australia, Ann Parrot is well seasoned in pet and home care. She hopes, as a full-time solo house sitter, to travel and photograph what's at the end of the many long empty roads of Oz. With such a huge range of brilliantly diverse destinations to explore, here and worldwide, tag along with her at: http://www.twentyonebeds.com
IS HOUSE SITTING STILL A GOOD FIT IF YOU DON'T LOVE PETS? by Allen Trottier
"So...I guess you must really like pets?" I get asked this question a lot. And the answer is, "Yes, I love pets!" Living with pets most of my life, it's hard to think of a time when we didn't have a dog or cat in the house. That must be what really drew me to house sitting. As much I love being location independent (aka homeless) I have missed having pets around. House sitting certainly filled that gap.
The House Sitting Exchange At its core, house sitting is an exchange of accommodation for home and pet care. Sometimes, when we hype the house sitting lifestyle, it feels as if we get a little too fixated on the free houses and global adventure travel. It's true, as house sitters we get to explore and live in some amazing places around the world. But let's not forget that this is an exchange. To have a successful career as a house sitter we need to make sure we have the right mindset. Nat and Jodie from the House Sitting Academy make a great point about "being of service" and that we should be service minded. I love this idea because if we truly care and want to do whatever we can to help the homeowners, it will be a much more pleasant experience when things don't go exactly as planned. It basically boils down to putting the home and pets first as your main priority.
House Sitting May Not Be For You If You Don't Love Pets If your only drive for being a house sitter is the free accommodation, you may find that house sitting isn't for you. I'd guess that at least 90% of the house sits out there involve some type of pet care. Cats, dogs, birds, reptiles and more. Unlike Airbnb rentals, you'll have to plan around the schedule of the animals. Feedings and walks normally need to be done at certain times of the day and that could limit the amount of time you can be away from the house to explore. If the worst happens and the animals become sick or injured, that will also cut into your time. You'll need to bring them to the vet and possibly provide medications and ongoing care. Then there is the NOT SO glamorous side of house sitting:
Pets sleeping in the bed
Picking up poop
Cleaning the litter box
Barking, meowing, scratching, licking, snoring, biting
Dog walks in the rain and snow
Eating, chewing, peeing on, stealing personal items
And more
Even with all of that, I'm OK with all of it. I don't mind it at all. BUT... if any of these things bother you, you may want to reconsider whether or not house sitting is for you.
Why Love for Pets Is So Important If you have a true love for pets, you won't mind any of the things that come up with pet care. You won't even see them as negatives. Pet owners can tell when you arrive to the house. They can sense how much love and care you'll give their animals by the way you interact with them.
This helps build trust. Trust gives them peace of mind. The last thing you want is the homeowner having an uneasy feeling about how you will treat their animal family. When the homeowner leaves, they should be thinking, "Wow, my babies are going to have so much fun and attention!"
It's OK To Have Limits Are you a dog person, cat person or both? If you have allergies to cats, of course you won't be applying for the gigs with cats. Maybe you love cats but aren't comfortable around dogs. That's totally fine.
The point here is that you need to know your limits and only apply for house sits that you are 100% comfortable with. I've personally had to turn down house sits with horses because I didn't feel comfortable and didn't have the knowledge to properly care for horses. Even if it was the most beautiful house on the beach, I have no problem turning it down if I feel I couldn't give the house or pets the best care.
It's Totally Worth It At the end of the day, I wanted to say all of this because I'm a huge advocate of house sitting. I realize it may not be for everyone and a genuine love for pets is a key component of that. Take a deep look into why you want to get into house sitting and make sure you're fine with all of the responsibilities that come with it. In the end, just make sure both you and the homeowner will be happy and the pets feel the love. Happy House Sitting!
For the last 6 years, Allen Trottier has been traveling the world as a digital nomad running a printing and eCommerce company in Vancouver, Canada. Since discovering the house sitting community in early 2016 he has been house sitting full-time through seven counties and four continents. His current passion projects include a house sitting blog and podcast which can be found at: http://www.reliablehousesitters.com You can also follow him on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reliablehousesitters https://www.instagram.com/allentrottier
The next issue of House Sitting Magazine will be available from 15th June 2018
The small print Reproduction - Reproduction in whole or part without written permission of the publishers is prohibited. Disclaimer - Information provided in this publication is intended for educational and entertainment purposes only. It should not be used as travel, lifestyle, financial or legal advice. You should always consult with your qualified and licensed professional practitioner. The publisher accepts no responsibility for the accuracy of any of the opinions, advice, representations or information contained within this publication. The publisher expressly disclaims responsibility for any adverse effect that may result from the use and application of the information contained in this magazine. Readers should rely on their own advice and enquiries when making decisions affecting their interests. Publishers - The opinions expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publishers. House Sitting The ultimate lifestyle magazine is published by Ian Usher and Vanessa Anderson. Email: contact@HouseSittingMagazine.com. The publishers assume no responsibility for unsolicited materials. Copyright 2018 by Ian Usher. All rights reserved. Affiliate disclaimer - Our website and apps do contain links to affiliates via advertisements and these are financial relationships. If you choose to apply for any service or product through an affiliate link we may be compensated by way of a small commission. This should never negatively affect the price that you pay for the product or service. House Sitting Magazine offers a FREE subscription service, and we use affiliate sales to ensure that our subscriptions remains free. They help us to fund the production of this magazine to the house sitting community. We will always try to link only to information we have tried or used ourselves, and that we think you will find beneficial and good value. It is your choice, as with any advertisement, whether to obtain further information or make a purchase.