My First Sit
By Haylee & Shane
A Special Christmas Sit in Sydney
While it's always a special moment when FurPetVo members first connect with one another, for many, it’s their first sit experience that truly stands out. Beginning as a way to explore new places while making wonderful memories with pets they’ll never forget, many members go on to build lasting friendships—both human and furry—while enabling a lifestyle they never thought possible.
Today, we’re hearing from sitter members Haylee and Shane, who began their FurPetVo journey with a special Christmas sit in Sydney.
“Our first house sit was with little Tino, a Maltese/Shih Tzu mix, in Sydney, Australia. He was the perfect pup, and his mom was a wonderful host! Throughout our time with Tino, we got to discover one of our favorite cities, enjoy our first warm holiday season, and learn the dangers of leaving the window open past dark in Australia!”
Finding Our First Sit
We traveled through Southeast Asia for a few months before flying to Australia. Throughout this time, we were looking for house sits in Sydney. We had joined FurPetVo before we left home and crafted our profile throughout our travels.
Our first video call with a potential house sit did not go very well. We treated it like a professional interview and probably came off much too intense. We weren’t familiar with the process and had no idea what to say.
For FurPetVo members just starting out, it can be hard to know where to begin—or what kinds of questions to ask! Here are a few practical tips to help you communicate confidently and build trust:
- Ask thoughtful, open-ended questions about the pet’s routine, preferences, and quirks
- Share a bit about your own experience—and your genuine enthusiasm for caring
- Be relaxed but respectful: remember, it’s a mutual fit, not just an interview
- Follow up promptly and warmly after your call to reaffirm interest and availability
“Tino was a little prince!”
We had a Skype call with Tino’s mom via a shaky Wi-Fi connection on Cat Ba Island. Her warmth and personality put our minds at ease, and we had a wonderful conversation—the kind of genuine “click” you hope for when interviewing for a sit. She offered us the sit on the condition of meeting us in Sydney beforehand. We quickly agreed and were scheduled to be on a ferry an hour later. I can still remember that feeling of complete joy on the ferry through Ha Long Bay after just securing our first sit!
The Home Visit and Meeting Tino
We arrived in Sydney about a month after the interview. We’d kept in touch regularly to reassure the host that our travels were going smoothly—and arranged a home visit.
Our Airbnb was on the complete opposite side of the city. It took us hours to figure out public transport, but we managed to arrive on time for the home visit. It wasn’t convenient—but it was absolutely worth it. I still believe that consistent, thoughtful communication with the owner (and even early photos or videos of the pet!) can be the deciding factor in whether or not you’re chosen.
Meeting Tino was everything we imagined—and his mom was a dream host: welcoming, kind, and deeply understanding of our nerves. And Tino? A little prince! He loved to play but wasn’t a fan of walking. His meals were handmade—his owner had lovingly prepared and frozen them for us in advance. We adored him.
We left the home visit feeling great. We knew we’d formed a real connection with Tino—and we were confident we’d have a wonderful first house sit.
A Different Kind of Christmas
After two weeks of caring for Tino, it was time for Christmas! I was thrilled to trade a snowy Massachusetts winter for a gorgeous 26°C day in Sydney. We skipped turkey for a year and fired up the BBQ. After an amazing lunch, we headed to the beach—I never thought we’d be swimming in December. It was magical. We’re so happy we got to share the experience with such a perfect little pup!
I remember panicking one afternoon—I couldn’t find Tino anywhere! There weren’t many places in the apartment he could hide. I checked the balcony, communal hallway, and bathtub—then decided to scour the bedroom one more time. Surely he was under the bed… I walked in just in time to catch a pillow moving. Tino was nestled so deep into the decorative bed pillows that I could hardly see him! He was always making me laugh.
Before Tino, Shane hadn’t spent much time with small dogs. He grew up with Labradors and thought the bigger, the better. But after a few days, I’d find him lying on the floor playing with Tino—or cuddled up with Tino on his chest. He loves little pups now!
A Lesson in Australian Windows
I’m from Massachusetts—where nearly every window has a screen. So I didn’t even notice when I opened the bedroom window (Tino loved sitting on the bed with his ears blowing in the breeze) that it had no screen at all.
Traveling sure does teach you things—and that night, I learned why you shouldn’t leave windows open past sundown in Australia. It wasn’t very late when I saw something move out of the corner of my eye. I turned—and watched the biggest spider I’ve ever seen crawl into the bedroom window. It was the size of my hand. I am not exaggerating. It haunts me to this day.
