To tell my friend looking after her dog has been a nightmare?

[Acunningruse]

We've been dog sitting for my friend for a week. My friend is lovely and needs a much needed holiday so we were happy to do it. We know the dog well as she's had her for about 5 years. Things didn't get off to the best of starts as my friend didn't provide any dog snacks, balls or poo bags so I had to take both kids and dog to the shop on the first night!

The dog is lovely and great with the kids, I feel 1000% certain of that. But omg with other dogs it's an absolute nightmare! She just goes for them constantly, really vicious, bared teeth etc. We are keeping her on a lead but she's fighting and pulling to get to other dogs and it's so stressful. Understandably my neighbors and residents of our village aren't too pleased! I am doing everything I can, keeping calm, giving treats etc but it's always the same and just puts me off having her to stay again otherwise we happily would but it's just so stressful around other dogs.

Should I tell my friend or not?

Yes definitely. If she hasn't mentioned this it could be a change of behaviour, anxiety, pain or something.

Ooh that sounds tough OP. If you know the dog well, did you know that it was dog reactive, or is this just since staying with you?. What kind of dog is it, could you just let it have a run in the garden, or go out early when less people around?.
Leaving you with no poo bags or supplies for the dog is out of order.....I would tell your friend whats happened.

Sorry, I didn't mean to drop feed. I ought to have said that my friend has in the past referred to the dog not getting on with other dogs but as I don't normally take her for walks and friend lives v v rurally where you could walk for miles without seeing anyone else, I didn't appreciate how bad it would be 'in surburbia' where there's a dog every 100 yards!

She's a large dog and an active breed so running around the small garden of our semi isn't really cutting it 🙈 though kids have been playing with her non-stop. I've been going out as early as we can but there's always other dogs as we live in a built up area. As I say she's a lovely natured dog with people in the house and garden, I'm just starting to dread taking her out for walks!

You definitely need to tell her. She’s a danger to others and could have placed you and your DC in danger. She needs to make other arrangements in the future.

I suspect your friend isn't used to picking up after her pet. Every dog owner I know doesn't leave the house without poo bags. In our case they are attached to the dogs harness.
Of course you need to tell her about the aggression and she needs to look at addressing this with a behaviourist and the use of a muzzle.

Really poor of your friend not to provide you with all of the dogs supplies for a start.
In terms of the dog being reactive on the lead, my dog is the same so I would guess your friend is already aware.
I'd tell her you found it stressful looking after her dog and why and don't feel that you could do it again.

I would tell the friend, yes. It's just like you say, it's more difficult in a busier area.
Can you put the dog in the car and drive to a more rural location for a walk?

Dogs don't need snacks they aren't children, if she didn't provide you with food that's not on, I wouldn't be happy with no poo bags though.

Definitely tell her the dogs been a nightmare to walk.

Definitely tell her, she can see a dog behaviourist. Also, if you have the dog again suggest a muzzle for walks, it will cut the stress for you and you can help with socialisation training.

If you agree next time your friend has to book a secure field for you to take the dog to so she can have a blast round that.

personally I’d have tried to get away with not walking her especially if your kids have been keeping her busy playing she shouldn’t need exercising.

Best to tell her so she doesn't go booking any more holidays and assuming you'll take the dog again

Of course you should tell her. And refuse again. To not give all the basics : dog Pooh bags etc is irresponsible anyway. And to not mention the aggression to other dogs. All this was very badly planned by her.

This is why boarding kennels were invented. I disagree with those suggesting the dog doesn't need walking - that's the way to get a frustrated, irritable dog.

Not providing poo bags suggests she doesn't normally pick up after the dog which is poor owner behaviour.

We're in a similar boat here and pondering our way through the same quandary with an adorable dog that isn't safe to be around one of my frail elderly dogs, and he also can't be left on his own so our lives are upside down. V glad to have helped a friend, but won't do this again.

Stop walking her. If you can't manage her then it's not safe - she'll be fine staying at home in the garden for a few days. It's not like it's a permanent arrangement.

And yes, tell your friend but tbh it sounds like she knows anyway. She said her dog wasn't good with other dogs but maybe didn't explain what that meant for you in reality.

Actually, if a dog is highly stressed (and a highly reactive dog is going to be stressed) then stopping walks is an excellent idea.

Read up on the bucket theory.

I really confused as to why on Earth you might NOT tell your friend ?

i expect after 5 years she knows how her dog reacts and responds accordingly, ie walks her in fields and remote places

Why wouldn't you tell you friend???

Someone one might mind the dog next time and it bites another dog or child etc! Of course you need to tell her!

No snacks fine- as long as enough dog food was provided but no poo bags is not on!

Yes, tell your friend.

The dog may not be as reactive with your friend, or it could be a sign the dog is in pain.

If it is not their usual way of behaving it should be investigated.

There is a chance the dog is just more anxious with you. I'd start throwing treats on the ground whenever other dogs turn up to distract the dog you're looking after.

Yes, tell your friend. I would want to know if it was my dog.

Boarding kennels would be a nightmare for a reactive dog.

but yes, your friend should have told you. My dog hates puppies, unneutered males, staffys, bulldogs and toddlers. For this reason I am the only one who walks him as I am the only one who knows him well enough to know which dog he will react to on sight.

your friend is a moron, I don’t know anyone with a reactive dog who lets others dogsit and walk their dogs. Most of us have resigned to never having a holiday while our dogs are alive.

Not providing poo bags, a couple of toys and snacks isn’t on! Especially for a 5 day stay!

We often look after my Mum’s dog overnight. You should see what she brings! Poo bags with a wet wipe in each one 😆, his bed (full of toys), snacks, frozen fish and instructions on his dried raw food, how many scoops, when to have etc! I realise this might be a little ott but at least we don’t have anything to buy.

Maybe your friend just isn’t organised and didn’t think, fare enough but you should definitely tell her that you’ve struggled to control her dog whilst walking him and didn’t realise just how difficult he was to manage. Put the seeds in place that you won’t be happy to look after him again.

Yes, I think you need to tell her. I’d frame it as the dog didn’t seem to enjoy it/didn’t settle so well, rather than you found it a nightmare just to make it a bit gentler.