The Petsitting Scot

02/08/2026

Islay the Deerhound and her wee bud Cora. Picked up on the same day, they're now three.

The long and short of it. Islay gives the appearance of a tortured poet from 1796.

A dream breed for me, nearly a decade in. Borzoi next...

Show yourselves. Find me. I'll find you.

30/07/2026

What a novelty - dogs in Finland's supermarkets. No need to strap them up outside and have strangers oogling them for a clap. Although I never leave dogs outside supermarkets. That's for the owners. Not worth my stress and a panicked phone call.

You've got some K Market chains allowing dogs with the special trolleys for dogs (koirakärry). Policy varies, so they'll still be barred from sniffing about in some chains. I see this has been rolled out in Tampere for a few years too.

Dogs in supermarkets. Happy to see it or on the side of it being a filthy policy?

28/07/2026

I've looked after a fair few dog reactive dogs. A corner presents an opportunity for a square go if caution is neglected. Best take a corner from the middle of the road. That'll place you with a wide enough angle. Sometimes it's best to cross, hop onto a pavement that keeps you on a straight course, no dips.

Jokes aside, looking after reactive dogs pushes your alertness. No drifting. Slip back into space cadet mode once you're back floating solo.

26/07/2026

28/05/2026

Some of Edinburgh council's libraries are dog friendly on Thursdays - Leith Library, Central Library, Newington Library, Stockbridge Library, Portobello Library.

Literary pursuits and fish suppers that push for heartburn within five bites.

While Rooney's owners are away, it's business as normal - kipping in her own spot, as it should be when petsitters are a good to.

27/05/2026

Switzerland 2023, in the peaks in the Aeschi Bei Spiez area. I've been trying to get back to them since, and they've now moved, away from this peak seen from the garden. Maybe there's a higher one now.

Sit with Trusted House Sitters.

What petsitting location are you eagerly scrambling to return to?

25/05/2026

Sometimes you just know, eh? Two weeks in Copenhagen with Bennet. Hard competition to sit for him again I suspect.

Dogsitting / petsitting in Copenhagen. Travelling petsitter travelling worldwide since 2019. Fear of flying seems to be on the rise with it. Sketch show of death playing out in my mind as I fly towards your homes.

24/05/2026

Miracle Hill Dog Adoption Centre Spain. Every dog obsessive should consider volunteering at a shelter at least once.

See comments for more info.

14/05/2026

I heard about Miracle Hill Dog Adoption Centre through Hope For Podencos - it's a charity organisation that rescues, rehabilitates and rehomes Spanish podencos. I was after a volunteering gig in Spain with this breed at a shelter which didn't need me in my own car to get there. I flew into Malaga, and a little over an hour later by bus, I was with Miracle Hill founder Jane Bussmann. Give her a Google and find out where her comedy writing contributions have gone - Fast Show, Smack The Pony, Brass Eye, Jam and more.

Up here, there's three small houses and an apartment where volunteers live with the dogs while helping with the project. At the moment, there's 15 dogs at the shelter of different breeds, including Podencos. In with me in the Tree House are Buddy, Teddy, Ronnie and Lucy. I'm a petsitter, and this feels pretty similar - that should make leaving less excruciating. It won't. This is an excellent set up. They're in a home environment with a volunteer that'll happily be posing as their owner. Time to adjust, time to heal, time to relish in what they've been robbed of. I'd have all them, even if Teddy isn't quite as keen in his skittishness and Lucy's potentially been bagsied.

You can donate to the charity via partner charity Stitching Rubia (Rubia Foundation). Both pages are on Facebook. Send a message Jane's way to volunteer if you fancy a Spanish holiday like this. Check their socials for the faces up for adoption.

Miracle Hill Dog Adoption Centre Spain

14/05/2026