To think this was a wee bit cheeky

[paganmolloy]

Friend: what are you doing weekend of xxxxx
Me (thinking there was a possibility of a night out or get together): Don't think we've anything planned but would need to check calendar
Friend: Because we are away and need someone to look after dog
Me (back-pedalling furiously): Oh I know a good pet sitter I can give you her number.
Friend: our last pet sitter let us down
Me (hoping he'll get the hint): But there are loads around, they will come and walk pooch twice a day and feed him
Friend: oh we just want what's best for him, he's so sweet. He just doesn't like other dogs.
Me (remembering the vicious snarling, constant leg humping, chewing everything and constant pestering): I really don't want to commit to and entire weekend just in case we want to get away ourselves with kids.
Friend: Oh, oh well, I can understand that.

I thought it was a bit cheeky not to ask straight out so he could suss out if I was free or not. He is totally blind about his dog, which is a pain in the arse. I wouldn't have minded so much had it been any other dog but I'm not really a doggy person and couldn't have a dog in my house because my poor cat would be traumatised.

Now you know next time to answer "Why?" to the first question .

Very cheeky. If he wants a pet sitter he needs to pay for one like most people do. I don't blame you for saying no.

Cheeky. I agree with asking "why" or I always say "oh, that night/day rings a bell with me for some reason. I'd have to check my diary"

Little bit cheeky yeah i hate folk that fish about for you to offer whatever just ask. I wouldn't look after somebodies dog ever it is to much and i have a dog. My sister does the same about her dog hinthint sadface hint I just make soothing noises and ignore it

My default answer to the first question is always, "not sure, why's that?", then I can decide if I want to be free or not.

Oooh, MY PET HATE.

(Sorry for shouting).

'What are you doing on ?'

Just fuck off you sneaky piss-taker, tell me what you want before you trick me into confirming my availability!

Agree with the above. 'Why?' is the way forward with that one. Cheeky for hinting, but don't blame you for saying 'no'.

In fact my sister was at my Dd yesterday she is away for a hen night or something and my parents are away too heard sister say spoiled dog wouldn't really like kennels i will need to find a sitter who knows him blahblah.

Yes, I'd go with "not sure,,why?" in future. Sounds like what's best for his dog is for him to stay home.

Doesn't sound a great friendship if you cannot be honest with each other.
So many of these threads where people get eggy and upset about 'friends' who treat them like doormats. Enough!

I'd also have said "why" (or some variant of it) but in fairness having discovered that friend actually wants a dog sitter I'm not sure why OP didn't just say "Sorry I can't " followed by what she said in her last line "I'm not a doggy person and the cat gets traumatised by him" rather than hinting herself that she didn't want to do it!

I wouldn't have said 'why?' But I would have directly said, 'no thanks' at the request to dog sit.

Yanbu. It's a social ambush! Hate this. Glad you said no!

'social ambush' is spot-on!

One of the reasons I don't have a dog, and I like them. They are quite tying.

Cats on the other hand, cat flap, timed food plates, once a day check on them and top up food and water. Job done.

My friend asked me outright to look after her dog "since I am such an animal lover and I know he will be spoilt" - my response was "with three cats? one of whom is very elderly, are you insane?"

We are friends but not great friends. Usually socialise about once or twice a year, mostly with other couples and involves going out to dinner. I certainly would never have dreamt of asking them to look after my cat - we are just not that close.
Yes I'll always do the 'not sure, why response' in future. I guess I hinted because I felt cornered and didn't want a full scale strop because life is too short. Had he persisted then I would have point blank just said no, I'm not comfortable with that. Had he then asked why I'd have pointed out the reasons possibly resulting in the end of our friendship because he's so precious about his dog. Apart from the dog, he and his wife are good company.

You're nice. I'd have said, "Absolutely not. There's a reason we don't have one of our own."

Lovong the apt phrase 'social ambush'

Moving on a little, and I'll likely get flamed for this, but why do folk become so precious about dogs when they get them? I like dogs but would never have one because of the commitment involved. But loads of folk around have gotten themselves a pooch in the last 3/4 years which seems to correlate directly with the number of 'doggy walking' vans I see going up and down the street because these families are out at work all day. Said families then bring dog everywhere (can understand that they are social animals), every outing has to take dog into consideration (sometimes limiting options), can't think of any of the dogs that are trained adequately enough not to be a pest to a greater or lesser degree, owners now talk about dogs incessantly to the point where I almost want to scream, what happened to all the other conversations we used to have. I deliberately try not to talk about my cat because it's of no interest to others (unless they are cat lovers and ask) and also I don't want to talk about just my cat .
I feel sorry for the poor mutts as they are left at home all day alone with only the dog walker to look forward to. Why?????? I just don't see the point!!!