Do I tell friend about her devil dog?

[Nomore45]

I am currently dog sitting for a very good friend. Since they dropped him at my home four days ago he has been an absolute nightmare! As a one year old intact male he has been relentlessly trying to hump my four year old female dog. When I remove my dog he barks relentlessly in a high pitch. The only peace I get is when I exercise him separately, but I can’t walk 24 hours a day!

I’ve had plenty of dogs to stay in my home and never had an issue. This dog is just unbiddable! I’ve had to apologise to my neighbours because his bark is so loud!

Question is, do I tell my friend how awful it has been when she gets back from holiday? And how do I tell her? I don’t want to lose a good friend and this seems like a potentially sensitive issue.

It won't be in anger, he's young and dogs don't generalise well hence why have to repeat any training in different environments. He'll be feeling bit unsettled and anxious without his owner around to reassure him.

Personally I tend to expect a bit of refresher housetraining when staying in a new place or having a new dog stay over rather rely on them to know where to go and how to ask in this new set up.

Having the door open so can go outside themselves doesn't mean he understands the boundary of indoor/outdoor toilet like at home. Preferring inside or only in the garden at home rather than on walk can also be as it feels safer to a dog as it's it's scent leaving behind and they may not be confident to announce their presence publicly in a new location.

Humping isn't just a sexual behaviour, it provides a stress release when they are overstimulated/overexcited so both sexes will hump and the recipient can be either. It sounds like his bucket is quickly overfilling as he is feeling stressed not just the teenage horny hormones.

Id contact friend more with attitude to work out some solutions to benefit the dog as he is stressed. Perhaps if finding a dog boarder to take him for the rest of the holiday isn't possible it maybe that the adult kids are local they weren't suitable option if out at work in the day but could be wiling to take him for the overnights or leave him at own home with you visiting ( if used to that). It may help to tire him out a bit with exercise and provide licky mat/Kong/chews, sniffy games like finding kibble in the cardboard recycling as calming activities and hope will lead to more rest than pest.

I would probably tell her on return that you kept her dog happy in her absence, but it was "hard work" being as he took a liking to your dog and barked a lot if your dog was removed. I would be honest and say: "He is a lovely dog, but he'd have to be 'done' to come again because he has a liking for enter your dog's name here." All the best!

Kennel. In the garden. Then just tell your mate he can’t be around your dog while he has his balls.

You need to tell her everything, and you especially need to make it clear that it was so stressful you will never watch her dog again. She needs to know the truth and get help for the dog.

This is outdated advice now. Neutering doesn't calm all dogs down. It can actually make already anxious dogs worse.

With female dogs the benefits outweigh the risks as there are far more cancers spaying prevents, but not the same with male dogs.

His behaviour is more than likely to do with the fact he's unsettled than because he's entire.

This is really unfair on your dog. I would be messaging the friend and asking if one of her family can have him for a couple of days

She’s not the nice person you think she is because she would not have inflicted her dog on you otherwise. I would arrange for this animal to now be put into kennels, it’s the only way you’re going to get any peace. The friendship is damaged anyway because she has not been honest with you and she could
find a way to blame you.

I wouldn’t stand for that. He’d be outside or in a crate. Why hasn’t she had him neutered?

Honestly why can you not just message her, explain how stressed BOTH dogs are and ask if someone else can step in? Say you’re really afraid they’ll fight and you’d be devastated if he got hurt in your care. Why would that affect the friendship? Surely she would be pleased you’re making sure all is ok. Even him going to her kids for a night or two would help.

Perhaps the dog is acting totally out of character though and the friend wouldn't have left him with OP had she realised what he'd be like? Only OP knows if she's the type of person to take advantage or not. The fact she states her friend will be embarrassed when she hears what's been going on says to me that the dog isn't usually like this.

This. Totally irresponsible not to get him spayed.

Yes, I honestly don’t think she’s a CF. That’s why I wanted recommendations on the best way to broach it with her. I have had some great suggestions here on what to say and I’ll let you know how I get on. She’s picking him up on Wednesday. Only four more sleeps 😩

You are going to be a nervous wreck by Wednesday what with this animal doing angry peeing. Who is going to pay for the additional cleaning?. I would at the very least involve her own adult children, one of them needs to take care of their mothers dog now.

It might be too early to neuter. If he's a larger breed you are often advised to wait until eighteen months. And he's not humping because he's randy, he's humping because he's anxious and wound up, so neutering wouldn't make any difference. I've got a bitch who humps when she's overstimulated.

He's only young, his 'person' has dumped him and vanished (he doesn't know she's on holiday and coming back) and he's somewhere he doesn't understand, which is full of another dog's smells. Try to ride it out (no pun intended) OP, but don't have him again if you can't cope. Kennels might be better for him anyway. Poor chap.

Like a lot of young dogs, he needs neutering- but I wouldn’t look after him again.🤷‍♀️

If I was in this situation, I’d carry on looking after him as agreed & when friend asks how it went, I’d say “apart from being a horny harry, he’s been great!” Then say, he might calm down if he gets castrated!

I don't understand why this is so difficult. She comes back and says how was it, and you laugh and say "no more horny boys around my dog for sleepovers, let's put it that way! She says omg what happened? You say he's spent all week trying to jump everything and loudly complaining when he can't . You laugh, say never mind he'll be better once he's less hormonal, how was your holiday? And she says oh gosh I'm so sorry, yes it was lovely thank you.

It doesn't need to be this hard op.