Responsibilities

Primarily being a companion and carer of Ziggy. Ziggy is a loveable, good natured, funny, black working cocker spaniel/working labrador cross. He might look like a small labrador but he's a spaniel at heart! A real softie who loves attention and cuddles. And playing. He loves his walks off lead, has good recall and is food driven (unless there is a ball involved in which case he's not interested in food). He is happy to just walk locally or go off on adventures. He's on a lead until we get to a footpath or a field where he can go off lead. He's playful and friendly with other dogs and is generally the submissive one. At minimum a walk of 45 mins once a day will suffice although very often he does get two walks a day. And he'd be very happy with a 2 hour walk on some days. He loves the beach and the towans at Gwithian and Hayle although we are careful not to walk along the cliff edge as he's bouncy and fast and sadly every year we hear of dogs plunging off the cliffs. We can explain where the good walks are. He's not on any medication and doesn't need any special grooming. If he's been in seawater or muddy water then he will submit to a gentle hose down (and even, reluctantly, lift each leg in turn to help you). He's fed twice a day. If we walk him early then he has breakfast after his walk which could be anytime between 8am-10am depending on how early we get out and how long we stay out. If he doesn't have an early walk then he has breakfast at 8am and then waits up to 2 hours before anything too energetic. His evening meal is about 6pm. Can be a bit later, we are not to the minute and he's flexible. He's used to us being up in the evenings until 10.30pm-midnight before we say goodnight to him and he never wakes us in the morning before 8am. That might be different if you like to go to bed at 9pm, we've never tried that but he's an adaptable little thing. He can be left at home alone for periods of up to 3-4 hours. This is helpful if you wish to go shopping or out for a meal one evening without taking him but he's quite good at settling down in a pub. He sleeps in the conservatory and has free run of the house downstairs. Since we had a new oak staircase installed (and light cream carpets upstairs) he does not go upstairs at all. We don't have to remind him he simply doesn't try to go up. Secondly, we would like the fish to be fed once a day. There are over 60 goldfish and three large koi carp in a raised pond which is at least 1 metre deep (hence the house sit not being suitable for young children). Their hungry mouths gaping at the surface will remind you. Thirdly, we would really appreciate the plants being watered - this would be daily when there's been no rain and the weather is hot but depending on season and weather conditions might be less.