Air bnb owner ott or do we deserve to be chucked out?

[Pilloh]

We were forced out of our house due to a water leak in the house. The insurance company said we had to move out due to the severity of the work.

A bit of a nightmare for us as we have a large dog. He’s been called a wonderfully mannered dog by a qualified behaviourist outside the house who really doesn’t care about people/other dogs. But he is a breed used for guarding and therefore very barky at home (we have a command that gets him to be quiet but it doesn’t stop the impulse to bark initially). Not to make excuses, we were working on this with the behaviourist pre-pandemic but our progress stalled so we just manage the situation. Ie we have gates all around our house/garden, don’t allow strangers and the dog to meet inside the house (he’s totally fine with people when they are not on “his” property). Our house is basically Fort Knox and only DH and I are here so it’s all pretty easy to manage.

We told the air bnb owner that please tell the cleaner not to enter house or garden without telling us as dog will run up and bark at strangers. He agreed. We explained the situation and he said he understood.

Yesterday pm, cleaner comes into the garden when I was playing footy - she was fetching something from shed. Dog ran towards her and barked. I gave the recall command which worked initially but then my dog ran back to cleaner and barked. It’s no doubt intimidating. After 20 ish secs dog was in the house and I apologised. Recall is not full proof hence why we never rely on it. We would never have found an Airbnb where we were not assured we would be informed of any person entering the property.

Owner has messaged now saying the cleaner won’t return whilst we are here and that means we have to leave as the owner is not ok with the house not being maintenanced.

Cleaner has visited 4 times without incident as the right procedures were followed.

Who is being unreasonable?

@DeedlessIndeed cleaner has not reduced hours. We merely ask for a text before the cleaner comes. 10 mins all I ask.

If you need to stay there then I would ask if it’s possible to move forwards by arranging to be out with the dog whilst the cleaner is there. I’m sure that the cleaner was shaken by the situation and so I would apologise and keep out of the way in the future. You do need to think about training your dog, it will make your life easier all round.

That's brilliant 😁

@Pilloh - oh I know and appreciate that. My comment was responding to a PP who suggested cutting out the cleans as a solution.

@Hippobot please read my posts. I have not said for the cleaner not to come. Just a warning. The cleaner has maintained her normal schedule

Didn't realise you had to be thick to understand that dangerous dogs are, in fact, dangerous. I thought I was pretty intelligent too - I guess not.

@DeedlessIndeed oh apologies!

You are not going to get sensible opinions on reactive dogs here!!!
Until you have had a reactive dog I'm sorry but you just don't get it!

YANBU at all in what you asked of the owner. It's not hard is it to give someone the heads up before coming round. It sounds like the owner didn't relay the information to the cleaner.

The cleaner isn't unreasonable in being scared of the dog. It's the Airbnb owner who is in the wrong here!

And for all those spouting bollocks about the dog being untrained you are wrong.
Reactivity comes from fear and anxiety - training helps but doesn't fix it.
It's a bit like telling an anxious child to get over it because they are well educated! It simply doesn't work like that.

Dogs are animals not robots and they react. We expect far far more of dogs than we do of children - who have twice the cognitive ability and understanding.

Maybe so, but now that there are consequences for them, they have changed their mind.

I was not replying to you OP. It was another poster that suggested asking the cleaner not to come and paying a deposit instead.

The cleaner is an idiot and you are better off out of there.

Lots of dogs guard their owners and property. I have 2 dogs who when out are friendly and love people, children and other dogs. At home though they will bark at people coming to the house if they don't know them. If me or DH introduce the person to the dogs they are fine but anyone just coming into the garden or house would be met by fairly fierce looking barking dogs. I don't think they would bite anyone but they are biggish dogs and can seem a bit scary although they are not a guarding breed.

I'm kind of in the middle on this one but err on the side of the owner. The owner said they'd let you know if the cleaner was coming, but honestly it's not always possible. I have an Airbnb and always asks the window cleaner to let me know when he's coming. Otherwise it's a bit of a shock to see some bloke on a ladder cleaning the window. I'm relying on him telling me. Occasionally he forgets. I can ask the cleaners to let me know, but they have busy schedules and may not be able to text between jobs or know exactly when they are turning up. If the cleaner is uncomfortable, I'd side with the cleaner because they are harder to come by than guests. You need someone who can do multiple changeovers in a week on different days each week and maybe even someone that can do laundry for you.

Owner has no choice, either you leave or he has to sort out another cleaner.

The cleaner (like everyone) should be able to move about without a ‘well behaved dog’ bouncing up and barking at them.

Cleaner is aware. My husband explained why I always leave the house when she comes and why we require a txt

I’m with you on this one. Dogs aren’t robots, you were honest about his issues before you booked the place. People are being very naive to think you can train a dog not to react to strangers on their property, especially if it’s a breed specific trait. I have an ex working terrier and there’s absolutely no way I could train her not to go down a badger or fox hole if she was left to her own devices. I am wondering why you can’t sort this directly with the cleaner though? Can’t she drop you a text when she’s on route?

Like it or not, the breed of the dog makes a difference.

People might feel more comfortable entering a property that has - for example - a small spaniel that’s a bit barky. Conversely, if it’s a Cane Corso that’s bearing down on them with no owner recall they might not want to risk entering.

The point is OP, the cleaner might feel worried about the dog accidentally escaping or you coming back early after your walk. If it’s a big, scary looking dog it’s more likely that its overall appearance is way more intimidating than you’re acknowledging.

The fact you refuse to disclose the breed, and the fact you reckon the vet described it as “the best of its breed” at the surgery makes me think it’s a breed that doesn’t have the best reputation.

I think it's unfortunate that the cleaner likely forgot and just turned up, but for me if when the dog initially recalled you'd grabbed it and not let go I would probably have got over it, but the coming back and having a second go would have stopped me feeling safe in your property even again no matter what your assurances.

So, sorry OP but I'm guessing the cleaner understandably refused to clean until you are gone so the owner decided to make you go.

You have a massive annoying barky dog. Your choice but it will limit your options in life because - newsflash - people don't like massive annoying barky dogs. They are a massive pain in the arse.

YANBU
I don't think that I would like a cleaner coming by unannounced in somewhere I was living, dog or no dog.

Supposing I was in the middle of something - sleeping/entertaining/walking naked around the house etc. a text 10 minutes before arrival would make much more sense.

OP ‘Am I being unreasonable?’

Pretty much everyone ‘Yes’

OP ‘No I’m not’

Well if the cleaner had given warning of their visit the dog would not have been there would it as OP says she takes it for a walk when the cleaner is there.

Dog has proved they are a more of a problem than the owner realised. Owner wants to keep the cleaner as good cleaners are difficult to recruit. Owner wants to keep the cleaner happy more than they want to keep you happy. Owner wants the house maintaining (hence they were sending the cleaner still). Owner can't be arse to inform you that someone is coming, because they are the owner not your personal secretary. Owner thinks you should actually bother to train your dog, rather than make excuses for why you can't properly control your dog. Owner thinks you are an irresponsible dog owner.

When a person, possibly child, is attacked and you produce evidence like this that, quite frankly, I could type up and screenshot myself, I'm sure the victim's family will take great comfort in your high opinion of yourself 🙄

A year ago I'd have probably jumped to defend you. As it is, I was attacked myself by a dog which was actually on a lead. It has left me shaken and very nervous around all dogs, even those of family members. I will actively cross the street away from dogs now and it's had a horrific effect on my life. How the hell do you know yours hasn't had the same effect on the cleaner?

I think you have perhaps not read though the lines of shit sandwich feedback. You have paid a lot of money to dog trainers and so they are going to be reluctant to tell you your dog is a nightmare, but the reports very carefully say that your dog is OK in x circumstances but needs more input in Y situation. That is not the ringing endorsement you seem to think it is.

I'm sorry too that you sound like you have had a tough few years, but as a dog owner you need to step up and sort this. Air B&B isn't like a secured tendency, it's a casual arrangement and the truth is the owner no longer wants your dog or you. I hope you are soon back in your own home - but you really need to get on top of the training.

A dog that is only annoying and barky when a stranger is on or in THEIR territory so not really a pain in the arse.