Dogsitter complaining about normal dog behaviour

[Floofydawg]

We've just picked our dog up from a dogsitter we've used in the past. We've always thought she was a bit eccentric but today has left us feeling like the dog was just an inconvenience to her, for a number of reasons.

She's told us on past visits not to bring his bed as he sleeps on her bed with her, something she instigated on a previous stay. She then proceeded to complain about the lack of dog bed both on drop off and pick up (we offered to go back and get it when we dropped off but she said it didn't matter).

He was sick in her bedroom a couple of times which she complained about (he's been on meds for an ear infection which could have been the cause).

She tried to get grass out of his mouth and he snapped at her. She referred to him as being 'like a rottweiler' - he's a poodle cross! And what dog likes having things taken out of his mouth?!

She then went on and on about how she'd never have a poodle cross because they're all mad and she'll stick to pure breeds.

The final straw was her not telling us about a rate increase until we arranged a pick up time.

I've just been left with a bad feeling from someone I've just paid a reasonable amount of money to for a service. We've got a booking with her later in the year and I'm now feeling like I need to make other arrangements. Would it be unreasonable to cancel based on all of the above?

This is ours with the block then gravel on honeycomb grid. It's very neat.

Sorry wrong thread!

No, I don't think she is. Another reason to cancel. We went with original gut feel, which was good. But she's showing her true colours now.

How strange to take the grass, did she say why? Poodles and poodleXs are notorious resource guarders.

Overall, i wouldnt send my dog back there, you'll only worry.

Most dogs don't go for people.

Had you made her aware prior that your dog goes for people?

Most dogs need something taken from their mouths at some point - from a safety point of view. It doesn't matter that it was grass on this occasion - it could have easily been something dangerous and important that your dog shouldn't have. It shouldn't be going for people!

The rest of the stuff - just sack it in. She does sound a pain in the backside. 100% disagree with the lax attitude to your dog going for people though, it's not normal, and it's not OK.

I just find her very unprofessional given she's running a business.

There's a lot of it about. I carried on going to a terrible hairdresser for a lot longer than I should have, simply because she used to rant & rave about all the other clients who suddenly stopped going to her, without ever letting her know. I feared being another person who she would rant about if I stopped going 😆

Just because someone has a business doesn't mean they're professional. Chalk it up to her not being able to meet your needs, and recognising that plenty of other people must find her OK, and that the problem is with you, not her. It works for me @ any rate.

Most dogs are not sick often . You sound sound as if this happens quite often which yours ?

This 100%.

Sorry but you say ‘work on the snapping’ like it’s happened before. That’s absolutely not normal. Are you minimising the behaviour perhaps?

Unpopular opinion but most of the badly behaved dogs I work with are the moment are poodle crosses. Vast majority are snappy resource guarding crazy messes, if this is your dog then I’m not surprised she mentioned it.

I would find someone else regardless as she clearly doesn’t like him.

@Floofydawg if she's operating illegally then you can't really be surprised that she's acting unprofessionally imo.

No, he's not sick often. He was on steroids and I think that's what made him sick.

She sounds unreasonable in many aspects except the snapping. You should be able to remove something from your dogs mouth without getting bitten.
The vet may need to look in your dogs mouth to check his teeth etc and should be able to do this without a risk of being bitten. You need to train your dog

In fairness, if a dog isn't used to having someone shove their hand in its' mouth to retrieve an item, it's not unnatural for them to panic and snap.

It's also very different to having their teeth examined by a vet.

I wouldn't even think to remove grass from my dog like that - if a so-called "professional" decided to do it then I'd wonder what the bloody hell they were thinking.

I wouldn’t leave my lovely old dog with her. Sounds like a real weirdo.

I use a couple of girls through Rover & they house sit too.

If she's willing to dog sit, she should be willing to put up with all sorts of dog behaviour and sickness without it being an inconvenience to her. She is doing a job, and I know these sitters are not cheap. I guess just ask yourself if you would feel comfortable and happy leaving your dog there again. If no then find someone else.

Try Rover. We have a lovely sitter for our dog, great service and never any issues.

Just a note on Rover, if your dog is going to stay with someone else in their home, please make sure they're licensed and insured by the local council.

Rover doesn't run any checks of their own and their "guarantee" only covers people operating legally.

I guess she wanted to remove the grass because the dig had already been sick twice and grass can make them sick again, especially if they are already a bit sensitive.

The snapping isn’t OK or expected dog behaviour even though it does happen so definitely work on that. The other issues seems to be on her and not the dog.

Cleaning up a bit of sick is far more preferable than cleaning up after a dog bite, which is what she was risking by shoving her hand in its’ mouth.

But as OP says this person isn’t even operating legally, it’s not really surprising that she doesn’t know what she’s doing.

A valuable lesson in doing your research properly and making sure your boarder is appropriately licensed and qualified.

She came highly recommended by others in our area - I did do my research. And two previous stays last year weren't a problem.

I didn't know about Rover - thanks, will take a look.

What research told you it would be a good idea to leave your dog with someone who was operating illegally and without insurance?

Your approach to it all, from the beginning, sounds a bit lax. Why did you send him to her in the first place when you know she's not licensed? If she's not registered, she's not insured and you have absolutely no protection should anything awful happen. That should have been your priority. Find a list of "proper" dog sitters, then find one you like. The dog world seems to have more than its fare share of nutters, unfortunately. The proliferation of dog walkers, dog sitters and (god help us) "trainers" after lockdown was staggering. Liking dogs is not enough of a reason to do any of these jobs.

She wanted the dog not eating grass because the dog keeps being sick. There’s plenty of reason that someone may need to take something out of a dogs mouth. The snapping is a big issue l, but specially when leaving the dog in other people’s care.

I think her having a dog sleep on her bed is daft, especially when it’s not her dog.

I have a rescue poodle cross. I appreciate you feel her ‘like a Rottweiler’ was dramatic. But plenty of poodle crosses can be very aggressive. And they are notorious for behavioural issues. I wouldn’t have another.

I think she isn’t the right dog sitter for you. But I suspect this is a bit of both sides.

But whatever the reason, she isn’t the dog sitter for you and your dog so cancel and find someone else.

She sounds crap at her job.
She shouldn’t really be sleeping with your dog (😂) it could come back and expect to be getting in your bed!
I would cancel the future booking and find another person that other people have spoken highly of. She sounds slightly nuts and your dog probably picks up on the sense that she doesn’t like it.

She wanted the dog not eating grass because the dog keeps being sick.

So use a "drop" command, or a "leave it" command, or ask the owner if the dog eating grass is any kind of a problem - don't just shove your hand in the dogs' mouth and expect it not to react

Eating grass is hardly a life or death situation and if the dog has always been allowed to eat it before, it's hardly surprising it snapped.

Cleaning up a bit of sick or regurgitated grass is much more pleasant than dealing with the aftermath of a dog bite.