Looking after a friends dog but it's EATING MY HOUSE

[CrystalDeCanter]

We're looking after a friends dog (2 yr old lab) for a week. She is lovely really affectionate, adorable, gets on well with our older dog. Kids and dh love her.

However. She has also peed over the carpets 4 times - they needed cleaning anyway but now are pretty gross. She had eaten dd's new leather boots, chewed other childs jumper, eaten the cover to the bbq, scoffed a jigsaw puzzle and I've just caught her chewing on my beautiful table.

I have just sent the dogs outside and she's now looking at me with her big brown eyes like I'm some kind of cruel monster.

We have the opportunity to pass her on to other friends tomorrow which tbh I'm pretty keen on taking up.

DH and kids are keen to keep her.

I think this week has cost us about $150 in carpet cleaning (needed doing anyway but not essential), $50 in new boots, $30 for new jumper, $50 bbq cover (actually no idea), impossible to replace table.

I am careful to remove shoes etc from the floor now but it's bringing back bad puppy memories.

Anyway, after all that would you mention this to the owners? I obv wouldn't ask for any $$$s but when they come back would you say something. I'm pretty fucked off about it - they didn't warn us that she was a chewer. They are were v good friends . . .

Yep too right I'd mention it to the owners. Could she be a bit nervous about the different environment?

If she has always been a chewer though and didn't tell you I'd be fuming.

Mention it to the owners.
She might not be a chewer, some dogs get very nervous in new environments. Is it the first time the dog has stayed somewhere away from them? If so, then it could be that they don't know about the dogs anxiety when staying in new places. If they do know that it gets nervous or that it's a chewer and they didn't tell you then id be temped to ask them for money to make up for the damage their dog caused.

Thank you passmethewineplease

I think the weeing was nerves, it hasn't happened for the past few days. Also she is used to having a doggy door and we don't have one. We'd regularly let her out for a wee and she just look like this .

DH thinks I'm being precious but he and his whole family are very doggy.

She is quite an anxious dog. So I guess the chewing could be anxiety too making her revert to more puppyish behaviour.

I'm not sure if she has stayed away from them before or not. Will let them know as it has an impact for anyone else that looks after her.

Any ideas how I can get her to stop eating stuff?

We could let her move on to another set of chums- but the kids are all pleading with me to let her stay. . .

Our friends are back next Sunday, so if we keep her it will be for another week.

I'd say this dog has cost you enough - I'd pass it on! Your kids already have a dog - encourage them to enjoy that one.

And yes, I would tell the owners about the behaviour - they need to know so they can address this. TBH I think people who have pets, but won't pay for them to go into boarding kennels when they go away are a pain. If you can't afford to board your pet perhaps you shouldn't have one or you should choose dog-friendly holidays.

So far as stopping chewing goes (if you decide to keep her) try and keep everything small and chewable out of her way and give her something she can chew like a cardboard box (will make a big mess but may save your table) or one of those huge kong toys stuffed with treats and peanut butter, or even better hide one of those in the cardboard box. Oh and lots of long walks! Good luck x

I'd definitely mention it. Whether you ask for the money or not they should offer to pay/replace items their dog destroyed. I'd fully expect to have to pay if it were my dog.

Thank you all, I will let our friends know about her behaviour.

Juneau I totally get what you're saying about being too cheap to put her into kennels. Our dear friends are enjoying 2 weeks exotic hols, which we could only dream of, and it's costing us $$$s to have their dog . . . I hate to be a bitter old cahhhh but if I think too much about it I get quite .

Salhal, great idea about giving her toys. I don't mind a mess if it saves our table (great sentimental value). She does already get lots of walks as we are big walkers, but obv not enough..

MildDrPepperAddiction, thank you, i would too be mortified if our dog had caused a nuisance and I'm sure our friends would be too (they are a really nice family) I just feel awkward about the whole thing.

I need to be less of a wuss, pass the dog on, face up to teary children and talk to my friends.

Thank you.

I think you are doing the right thing OP. My DP is also from a very doggy family, God forbid you may prefer cats! which I do I feel like the doggie hater sometimes, it's mad.