Affectionate beagle in Lincolnshire Wolds would like your company
Introduction
We are a married couple, both retired teachers, with 3 adult children and 7 grandchildren who live locally. We spend a lot of time looking after our younger grandchildren but we also enjoy being part of a hockey community. Steve plays for Great Grand Masters and this takes him (and sometimes both of us!) all over the UK and occasionally to tournaments abroad. We have a 7 year old beagle, Jasper. We're lucky to have a large, enclosed garden which Jasper enjoys. When we travel for short breaks, we try to ensure Jasper is lodged with one of our 2 sons and their respective partners but they have very young children as well as their own pets. They lead such busy lives and it is not always fair to ask them to manage another dog.
Show more...Home & location
Our home is on the outskirts of the town on the doorstep of an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The house is a spacious, 3 bedroom detached, dormer accessed up a gravel driveway. We have lived here 10 years and have spent much of that time refurbishing and modernising it. In the grounds is a a holiday let, separate from the main house which we also own. This means there is shared access up the driveway at the front of the house but the large, enclosed rear garden is completely for use of residents in our house. If there are guests staying in the holiday let, rest assured that they will be entirely independent and our daughter, who lives nearby, will be their contact while we are away. The quaint market town of Horncastle is set in the Lincolnshire Wolds and is renowned for its antique shops, lovely tea rooms and coffee shops. Views from the house across to the Wolds dispel the myth that Lincolnshire is flat! There are some wonderful countryside walks, including part of the Viking Way. Lincoln, our main city, is just 30 minutes away by car with a good selection of high street shops and many tourist attractions, including castle ruins and a magnificent cathedral. There is a regular bus service from Lincoln to Horncastle and the bus stop is within 100m. RAF Coningsby attracts many enthusiasts who come to see the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. The East coast with its beautiful sandy beaches is just 35 minutes away. As mentioned above, there are some excellent walks with great opportunities for bird watching, taking in some historical sites and visiting some wonderful country pubs! The Edwardian village of Woodhall Spa is 8 miles away and has been designated the inland resort of East Lindsey. Keen golfers will find the National Golf Centre with 2 magnificent courses. The Petwood Hotel, set in beautiful grounds, was once home to the famous Dam Busters.
Show more...Responsibilities
Jasper is fed twice a day - morning around 8am and evening around 8pm. Jasper became quite anxious since the various pandemic lockdowns but has settled well subsequently. He is fine on his own in the house for up to 3 hours. He prefers to sleep not too far away from us e.g. in his bed just outside our room. He may try to sneak into our room around dawn but is easily returned to his own bed. He usually sleeps until 7.30 - 8am and only shows interest in getting up for the day when WE decide it's time to stir! He has breakfast after he's been out to the toilet. He usually just roams the garden first thing but is ready to sleep again almost immediately! This is usually in the lounge or upstairs on a bed if a door is left ajar (not a problem to us if there are throws in place). He is walked at some point during the day. We tend to alternate a walk of around 25 minutes one day to 45 minutes on other days but he's more than happy to go further and longer. He then has a short walk (about 5 minutes) down the drive to the nearest lamppost to do his business before bed. Currently, Jasper does not need any medication. Depending on the time of year, there are a few plants that may need a drink.
Show more...Meet the pets
Jasper
7 years
Sitter Reviews (6)
Homeowner Reviews (0)
None
We had a wonderful week at Chris and Steve’s home. Jasper is the best boy, easy going, chilled and friendly. Everyone fell completely in love with him and he made our stay such fun. Chris and Steve are extremely friendly hosts and their home is in a fantastic location, brilliantly clean and has everything you need. Thank you for everything- we miss Jasper already!
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I had the most wonderful time with Jasper. He is such a wonderful companion. The walks with him were so much fun, so many paths close by. I was able to let him off the leash and every time I called him he came straight away. He sometimes reacts to other dogs, so I was always careful to put him on the leash in good time. I rode the bus with him - a wonderful adventure for both of us. Many a time I laughed at him in tears. And the best part was cuddling with him. He has a permanent place in my heart! Chris and Steve are warm, generous and attentive hosts. Communication was great even before the beginning of the sit and they were always available for me. The house is a dream, everything is so clean, spacious and cozy. The huge garden is a dream and the in-house grapes are a delight. This sit is a must-have!
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We enjoyed our stay with Jasper and would be very happy to return if the opportunity arises. Jasper is a super dog: friendly, easy to look after at home and a pleasure to take on walks. He can be walked from the house, but he also travels happily by car. Chris and Steve are generous hosts; and communication was easy both before and during our sit. The house is perfect - large comfortable rooms and a lovely garden. We recommend this sit to everyone.
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When Libby and I met Chris and Steve prior to the sit, it felt like we were meeting friends as Chris and I had maintained communication since March 2020 when we were to have sat for them in August that year. Two and a half years on, we've completed the sit and it was worth the wait!! Chris and Steve are a delightful couple and we felt immediately welcome in their comfortable, clean and tidy, modern home. They could not have been more hospitable. The stars of the show were Jasper and Crystal, of course! We appreciated Steve including us on a walk with Jasper when we arrived so we would know a couple of different walks we could take him on. We had no need to take Jasper in the car as walks were easily accessible from the home. He can pull on his lead, especially when beginning a walk and can be enthusiastic at times when wanting to greet other dogs. We had no issues with him off lead in the woodlands and fields and he would always respond to our commands, especially if there was a treat to be had! Jasper loves human company and he wasn't very far away from us in the house. He has several beds in different parts of the house but decided sharing my bed was the best option overnight! Definitely a good snorer! When we wanted to go grocery shopping or visit our elderly relative in town, we would walk Jasper beforehand so that he would sleep whilst we were away for 2 -3 hours. Crystal is an elderly puss who lets you know when she'd like to be fed ... and fed! She enjoyed time on our laps which gave us the opportunity to brush her where she is now having some difficulty grooming herself. She's such a sweetie. We have no hesitation in highly recommending this sit and look forward to keeping in touch with Chris and Steve, such a lovely, friendly couple.
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We recently had the pleasure to house sit for Chris and Steve in their lovely home in the Lincolnshire wolds. Chris and Steve made us feel very welcome and cooked us a delicious meal. The house is a dormer bungalow set in a large garden with views of the wolds. It is a very comfortable house, with all mod cons. The pets, Jasper and Crystal were a pleasure to care for. Jasper, a beagle, is probably the sweetest natured dog we have ever met, so gentle, calm and loving. Crystal is an elderly cat, a bit shy at first but happy to join us in the lounge each evening. We were able to go out and explore the area, with and without Jasper. The only complaint we have is that this sit wasn't long enough, we would have happily stayed a lot longer.
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Chris
