Suitable dog minder??

[assumpta]

Our rescue dog goes to a dog minder up the road, for overnight stays, holidays or daycare, when needed. He can be a bit funny with other dogs, as in he seems to be afraid of them, but covers up by making a racket and lunging. She has told me he is as good as gold with her dogs and any others she may be looking after at the same time. So far, so good. The down side is, he comes back every time stinking of smoke, was very fat after our two week holiday last summer, usually a bit of a funny tummy if more than two days away and she now has got a new puppy herself. He is adorable, as are all puppies, but when I left him off this morning the puppy was chewing and nipping at my dogs ears, not really a problem, but mine was just there kind of cowering. She lifted mine up out of the action as another one joined in too. Now that I am thinking about things it don't know if it is ok to just leave him and think he will be fine, or if as the pup gets bigger, mine will feel intimidated and stressed. The pup is an English Bull Terrier, mine is a shin height, shaggy mongrel.

A friend said that English bull terriers tend to be food protective and don't tend to like dogs of their own gender, both are male. What do you think?

[TakingTheStairs]

I think you need a new dog minder.
Sorry to be flippant but your priority is your own dog's welfare, and it doesn't sound like it's the best environment for him.

[assumpta]

Writing it down makes me think the same. I don't want to be precious about my dog, but he is the one I love. I suppose I don't like putting him somewhere that although he seems happy when we pick him up, he might not be happy all the time that he is there.

[Floralnomad]

Perhaps he's happy when you pick him up because he knows he's going home ! Is she an actual registered pet sitter ?

[SpicyPear]

I also think you should find a new minder. He has very clearly shown he is uncomfortable with the pup and it won't help his general fear of dogs to be forced to share space with a bouncy puppy, regardless of breed.

[assumpta]

Floral - you know, I stupidly don't know if she is registered. I just found her through word of mouth. How would I find out?

Spicy - good point. I would hate him to be unhappy.

[1MitchellMum]

I agree, get a new dog minder. Smoke isn't good for dogs. Being fed extras isn't either. But if you don't think he's happy then time to look for a new one. What about someone to come and look after him in your home whilst you're away? That's what I do.

[assumpta]

Not sure I fancy someone being in our house when we are away. I have looked up some others in the area, so I think we will try there next time. I didn't think I would be as worried about the dog as I am about the children. I suppose we never know what exactly goes on when they are being cared for by others. He always settles back into home life immediately when he comes back. Would he do this even if he was unsettled there. I just don't want him to come back with bad habits, or fears, would he? Will he mind going somewhere different?

[SpicyPear]

I try to use someone where it is as like home as possible i.e. they will stick to our routine, rules and food etc. We have a childless couple, no resident dogs, where the man works p/t from home and that works brilliantly. Have also placed SpicyDog with a family with dog when she needed her confidence boosting, but she had to fit around them much more and wouldn't go upstairs when she first came home as she wasn't allowed to there!

If it was just the pup I wouldn't worry so much as he's pretty bombproof but for a nervous rescue I think it's good to put as much thought into it as you have as a bad experience could genuinely set them back.

[pepsiesmammy]

You can tell an awful lot by a dog's body language. Sounds like you need a new dog sitter. www.petcare.org.uk/ Does the pet minder you currently use have any insurance? If she is looking after other dogs as well as having her own dogs a fight could happen and I just wonder if she has the insurance to cover potential costs. Are all the dogs she looks after fully vaccinated and wormed/deflead? I find this > "He can be a bit funny with other dogs, as in he seems to be afraid of them, but covers up by making a racket and lunging. She has told me he is as good as gold with her dogs and any others she may be looking after at the same time." You know your dog better than her and if she says something a bit contradictory like this alarm bells would be ringing in my head. This > "The down side is, he comes back every time stinking of smoke, was very fat after our two week holiday last summer, usually a bit of a funny tummy if more than two days away" is a bit concerning too. Is she sticking to the diet and exercise you expect? Is she giving him extra titbits? cheese/treats? A funny tummy could be a sign that he is stressed being there.

[pepsiesmammy]

www.petcare.org.uk/

[assumpta]

Pepsi - I always give his own food for him to have while he is there, so maybe he is given lots more little bits, but I really need to sort out everything else. I never even thought of insurance. I just presumed everything is in place as I know she looks after a number of dogs. I will check out the recommended website. Thank you.