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Original poster

What am I to do about this - dog?

173 replies

XmasStag · 08/12/2023 19:17

I'm babysitting for the weekend within a friend's home. I am minding her children They have a pet dog. I know the dog well and I see the dog nearly most days and the dog is friendly and we get on well too. The dog knows me and we both love each other.

However the dog didn't eat his breakfast this morning. It would be too soon for him to notice that his owners are gone for the weekend because they go to work during the week and he's used to them being away. So I don't think the refusing of food is anything to do with his owners being away.

He went out to toilet at about 3.30. I stood at the door a while ago and called his name but he never came. I called him a few times.

It should be his dinner time now too. He does have a hiding place at the end of the garden but it's too cold, wet, windy and dark to go out there for me right now.

Am I to supposed to keep shouting his name at the door or am I supposed to wait for the kids to go to sleep then go outside for him. I don't fancy going out side to him later on when the kids are asleep either because it will be much later too.

What am I supposed to do?
Will I continue shouting his name at the door or go out for him later on or just leave him out for the night?

OP posts:
PralinesandCream · 08/12/2023 20:18

I’m glad the dog is in now, but really how can you claim to love the dog, but just leave him outside in the cold, wet and windy weather for hours, especially as hes old and has artritis. I’m baffled that you needed people to tell you to get him in.

ActDottie · 08/12/2023 20:20

I don’t understand the issue? Of course you go out with a torch and find him. Sometimes we have to go outside to round our dogs up as they’ve found something in the garden and are too busy sniffing it to come in.

muddyford · 08/12/2023 20:23

Go out with a torch and put a coat on and find the poor dog.

Interested in this thread?

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Dogs
MrsDanversGlidesAgain · 08/12/2023 20:23

It's too cold and windy for you? Where are you, Svalbard?

Sorry, this made me laugh more than it should have.

Charlize43 · 08/12/2023 20:35

Obviously this is a wind up.

StarDolphins · 08/12/2023 20:36

I would be frantic. Surely this can’t be real, if he wasn’t in by 3.45 I’d have been out there getting him

dawngreen · 08/12/2023 20:43

How old are you?? fgs get a coat on and a torch, and go find the dog.

DonnaDonna0 · 08/12/2023 20:48

I would not be happy if I was the dog owner, out from 15:30 for four hours in the cold and wet; plus he is old and has arthritis. - shocking 😮

catmothertes1 · 08/12/2023 20:52

SkyFullofStars1975 · 08/12/2023 19:22

Is this a wind up?

I really hope so.

RoseInBloome7 · 08/12/2023 20:53
Xmas Biscuit
weirdoboelady · 08/12/2023 20:53

Please could you either have the dog in/on bed with you tonight or give it a hot water bottle, well wrapped up so it doesn't burn. I am worried about the dog and arthritis, after having been in the cold for so long.

No accusations, no guilt, just wanting to keep the dog warm and cuddled.

Xmasblues · 08/12/2023 20:54

XmasStag · 08/12/2023 20:14

No, I was asked to babysit and look after kids. The dog comes with it too. My priority was the children during the afternoon but they are settling now and now I have time for the dog.

Show quote history

It would have taken literally about 30 seconds to go outside and check the dog was ok.

I’m glad that you got it back in on the end but an elderly dog being left out in conditions which even you wouldn’t go out in for 30 seconds, could have resulted in him becoming seriously ill or even dying.

If it happens again, leave him out there to go to the toilet etc but keep an eye on him.
If it’s been 10mins and he’s not come back in then go out and see what’s happening.

wjpa · 08/12/2023 20:59

Friend need to drive back if child has D&V

Any try toileting the dog on lead

Nchanged89 · 08/12/2023 20:59

What type of Broth ?

LittleGreenDragons · 08/12/2023 21:01

RoseInBloome7 · 08/12/2023 20:53

Xmas Biscuit

It comes with a santa hat??? How cute!

OP, you are coming across as unfit to look after children so I really hope this is a wind up.

ellebelli · 08/12/2023 21:05

No one can be this stupid!

Messyhair321 · 08/12/2023 21:12

XmasStag · 08/12/2023 20:14

No, I was asked to babysit and look after kids. The dog comes with it too. My priority was the children during the afternoon but they are settling now and now I have time for the dog.

Show quote history

Just don't leave any dog unattended & outside, you are looking after the pet & children. If you can't do it well I would not take it on

TheonlywayIcould · 08/12/2023 21:14

ellebelli · 08/12/2023 21:05

No one can be this stupid!

Definitely, got to be a wind up.

Properjob · 08/12/2023 21:16

I have every sympathy with your confusion OP, NO WAY would I have left a vomiting ill child to look for a dog who lets face it is wearing a fur coat. Perhaps you were a bit wimpy about going out in the cold but hey, he's back now. He's a dog not a baby, able to cope in his own garden obviously!
I can't believe most of the response on here. A dog would have put the child first, thats their job.

Vettrianofan · 08/12/2023 21:19

Toss the dog an umbrella, he will be fine 😀

ChateauDuMont · 08/12/2023 21:19

'He does have a hiding place at the end of the garden but it's too cold, wet, windy and dark to go out there for me right now. '

Utterly sickening that you can't put a coat in and grab a hitch and go and look for the poor dog.

Pixiedust49 · 08/12/2023 21:22

Broth 😂

TheonlywayIcould · 08/12/2023 21:22

Properjob · 08/12/2023 21:16

I have every sympathy with your confusion OP, NO WAY would I have left a vomiting ill child to look for a dog who lets face it is wearing a fur coat. Perhaps you were a bit wimpy about going out in the cold but hey, he's back now. He's a dog not a baby, able to cope in his own garden obviously!
I can't believe most of the response on here. A dog would have put the child first, thats their job.

I don’t think people are criticising that, I think they’re balking at the fact the OP’s original reason for not simply going outside (before she started drip feeding) was because it was too cold, dark, windy and rainy for her to go out. So the dog can be outside in that weather, an old arthritic dog no less, but not the OP who can pop on a coat and pair of shoes and then come and and get warm and dry again.

That and some of her later posts were barmy. The broth lie for example.

Vettrianofan · 08/12/2023 21:30

butterpuffed · 08/12/2023 20:03

I don't think any dog would be sitting outside for hours when it's cold , dark , wet and windy .

My dog wouldn't bat an eyelid about it 🤣

OlderGlaswegianLivingInDevon · 08/12/2023 21:43

I hope the parents are on the way home, and use responsible babysitters in the future !

Furthermore I hope this is just a wind up post.

Poor dog, and poor sick child.

Mind you this post reads as if it were written by a child...