Dogsitting for my parents - dog won't settle, mithering me/crying

[levithecat]

Any advice please? I'm dog sitting for my parents, I see the dogs regularly/walk them most weekends so am well known to them, but one of them isn't settling with me. I'm trying to get work done and she is crying a lot, jumping up the moment I get up to go to the loo/make a cuppa, coming to nudge me. She is a tad neurotic anyway (and a gun dog, if that makes any difference) and I think she's used to my parents doing a lot more than sitting in the study most of the day... I have lots of work to do so can't entertain her much more than I am!
I walk them for a good hour plus in the morning and they have access to a big garden all day. Is there anything I should do? Split the walk so they has two a day?
Thanks in advance

[levithecat]

Just in case anyone is wondering, I do give her cuddles too! But she is incessant..

[bettycoast]

Might be worth getting a DAP collar if you are there for a while. They take a couple of days to work, but in our experience brilliant for an unsettled dog. Other than that is she interested in serious chews - the sort that could take an hour or so to work on?

[shufflebum]

A Kong treat toy? You can stuff them with all sorts and will keep her occupied for a bit. Splitting the walk might help, try it tomorrow and see. Also 5 minutes in the garden playing fetch/obedience might exercise her brain a bit too!

[levithecat]

Thank you bettycoast - I'm only here for 7 days, so maybe not the DAP collar (though that looks great) but some heavy duty chews might be fantastic. She gets through the usual hide bones in minutes... any recommendations for long lasting options?!

[levithecat]

Oh yes, a kong! I remember them--realy difficult to get biscuits out of if I recall. That's a good plan, thank you shufflebum.

[Lilcamper]

You can put allsorts in a kong, yoghurt, pâté, banana, peanut butter etc, and freeze it so it lasts ages.

[levithecat]

Lilcamper, thanks so much for those ideas--genius! I think she could take hours with some peanut butter.

[Lilcamper]

No problem, my greedy boy gets a frozen stuffed kong every evening so he doesn't 'help' me load the dishwasher