About us
Hi, we are Nicky and John. We are away regularly and need reliable and loving care for our 2 dogs, Sierra and Layla, our home and, depending on the season, some of our plants.
About the area
We live in a semi rural area in the heart of the beautiful South Downs National Park. We are within walking distance of historic Midhurst, West Sussex and its Tudor buildings, castles, shops, restaurants and pubs. We have wonderful walking and hiking, including the South Downs Way, Cowdray Park and National Trust land from our doorstep. The Cowdray golf course is a few minutes walk from our door.
Goodwood (horse racing, motorsport, golf and events) is just over 10 miles away.
Chichester, with its theatre, cathedral and excellent shopping is a 20 minutes drive.
About our house
We have a comfortable, relatively modern three bedroom detached house with a sitting room with wood burning fire, large kitchen/diner, a study and a bootroom as well as a spacious, south facing and dog-proof garden that backs onto woodland. We live on a quiet, private, unmade road with no through traffic.
About our dogs
Our dogs, Sierra and Layla are generally well behaved and good natured lurchers. When they aren't playing or walking they will be snoozing! Dates are approximate as we can flex to suit our sitter and we won't confirm our travel arrangements until our sitter is confirmed!
We would like you to care for our friendly, loving and generally well behaved dogs Sierra (white and tan, nearly 5 years old) and Layla (tan, cream and black, about 2 years old): feeding morning and evening and ideally walking them for an hour a day, although we can arrange for a dog walker if needed during week days. Their GPS trackers need charging each night, and reattaching to the dogs in the morning. The dogs are not used to being left for more than 2 hours.
Both dogs are sighthounds (lurchers) and are typical of the type - they have very gentle and playful natures but also a strong prey drive therefore great care needs to be taken when letting them off the lead - quiet areas with no distractions, abundant wildlife or grazing livestock. Luckily we have plenty of wide open spaces just down the road at Cowdray Park where you are unlikely to be ambushed by a deer!
However, the dogs are equally happy on lead walks. The dogs are let into the garden in the morning for comfort and they are used to a quick turn around the block at bedtime - although a comfort break in the garden would suffice. "Poo patrols" in the garden would be appreciated.
Both dogs are healthy, house trained and well behaved in the car if you want to walk them further afield. Layla can be a little reactive to other dogs when on the lead, but is easily distracted with treats (which we will provide).
If the weather is very hot house plant watering (weekly) and outdoor pot/greenhouse watering would be appreciated (vegetables are on an irrigation system). Other than that, taking care of the house (we can arrange for a fortnightly cleaner) and using the facilities as if it was the sitter's own.