Family paying £60,000 for live-in dog sitter overwhelmed after ‘thousands’ apply

The family was looking for the ideal candidate to serve as a companion to their cherished dog in an unusual job opportunity. The successful applicant would join the private estate household with the primary purpose of caring for the animal. The unique role of ‘Live-In Dog Companion and Estate Assistant’ offered a salary of £60,000 and included a cottage on the estate. Partners and pets were also welcome, and all bills were covered.

However, since the job advert was posted last month on Achieve Hospitality, the hospitality recruitment agency has been “overwhelmed by the level of interest”, according to an Instagram post from three weeks ago. The unique job opportunity received “thousands of applications” and, according to the social media post, the team are now “carefully reviewing each application”.

The post from April 23 reads: “We’ve been genuinely overwhelmed by the level of interest in our Dog Companion & Estate Assistant role following recent media coverage and widespread sharing.

“With thousands of applications received, we would like to extend our sincere thanks to everyone who has taken the time to apply and express interest in this unique opportunity. Our team is carefully reviewing each application.

“Due to the exceptionally high volume, we will only be contacting shortlisted candidates. We kindly ask for your patience and understanding during this process.”

The sought-after role was full-time, operating Sunday to Thursday from 9am to 6pm, though there was flexibility when the family are in residence at their Surrey estate.

The unique job description read: “We are seeking a dependable and caring Live-In Dog Companion and Estate Assistant to join a private estate household.

“This role is centred around providing a consistent presence on the property, supporting the well-being and daily routine of the family dog, and assisting the household team with light support tasks around the estate.

“The successful candidate will act as a guardian of the home, offering reassurance and attentive oversight of the property when principals are in residence or travelling.

“This is an ideal role for someone who enjoys a calm, structured environment and takes pride in maintaining a welcoming and well-run home.”

The main aspect of the position centred on caring for the family dog, with the successful candidate required to provide day-to-day attention and companionship. Responsibilities included following the dog’s routine, feeding, grooming and the animal’s overall wellbeing. The successful candidate was expected to monitor the dog’s health and behaviour while maintaining a daily diary for the animal. This diary needed to include details around the dog’s routine, meals, walks and visits to the vets, groomers and trainers as required.

Alongside tending to the dog, the appointed individual was to ensure the home “runs smoothly” and is “well cared for”. These duties involved serving as a trusted guardian of the property, accepting deliveries and flagging anything that demands attention.

According to the latest Instagram post about the role, the chosen candidate must have “discretion and respect for a private household environment”, must be comfortable working independently while supporting the household team, have a warm, calm and dependable nature with a genuine passion for animal wellbeing, be comfortable living on-site and acting as a trusted household presence, and be willing to support a variety of tasks across the home and estate.

However, most importantly, the applicants “must have prior experience working in a private household setting. This is a key requirement for the role.”

The job advert, which was listed on Achieve Hospitality but has since been removed, said that while this was not a full-time housekeeping role, the candidate may be called upon to run errands, undertake light organisational tasks and assist with general estate upkeep.

On occasion, duties may extend to reheating chef-prepared meals, preparing simple snacks and tidying the kitchen after use.