Dog coming to stay - what are the potential issues?

[ThePants999]

Hi folks,

Bit of a stupid question I imagine, but hey... We've got a relative wanting to stay with us for a couple of weeks - including their dog. We've never had a dog and we're clueless as to the practicalities of a dog in the house. What are the potential issues we should be worrying about? Will it leave hair everywhere? Will the place smell of dog after a fortnight? Should we be hiding anything breakable? Trying to figure out if it's worth the hassle :-)

Thanks!

Depends on the dog. Is it house trained? Where does it normally sleep? Does it chew things in the owners house? How well trained is it?

Ask the owners what they need to help make their stay relaxing in terms of their dog. Are they bringing a crate?
-You need to find out whether doggo sleeps happily in the kitchen, or on his owners bed in which case are you happy with that? ( maybe they can bring their own bedding so yours doesn't smell doggy after, also will be familiar smell for dog)

-What sort of dog is it, will it need long walks, is there a local park? Is your garden secure ?
Some visitors are very good at making sure their dog is well behaved & a pleasure to have around, but some can be a nightmare if they spoil their dog to the point it's a badly behaved nuisance!
Have a good natter to your friends first!

The 3 'P's :
Poo
Paws
Pong

Absolutely depends. It may shed a little, it may shed a lot. If you would prefer it doesn't hop on your furniture that's cool, it is your house, but if he/she is allowed to at home then you and/or their owner may spend their whole visit asking it to get off. So I would ask them to bring the dogs bed, a comfy mat/cushion for the floor and if it's really an issue consider allowing one small furniture space for the dog if they bring a suitable throw. If it means a more settled and relaxed dog in your home, it may be worth considering this compromire. Expect (depending on age and personality) some possible excitability on arrival, new places to explore are very fun! Ultimately wherever the dog is, it is the owners responsibility so all their care, needs amd management are up to them. There shouldn't be any expectations on you to have any hassle. But I would have a discussion first as per BiteySharks points. If you would rather the dog was not in some rooms/areas of the house during their stay then it'd let them know before dog arrives, likewise where you would like them to eat and sleep. You never know, you might even like having him/her to stay.

A lot depends on the dog, but consider

• Asking them to give it a bath before coming to minimise the doggy smell
• If the dog is accustomed to being on sofas, covering them with a sheet may be easiest / most realistic option for all concerned
• check the dog is fully house trained
• You shouldn't need to put delicate objects away, but if it's a tall dog with a very waggy tail that could sweep something off a coffee table, or if you have something delicate at ground level that could be knocked over by accident, consider putting it out of harm's way (Ming vases, for instance). Do check if the dog has a tendency to chew things.

You may enjoy it! My DGM no longer asks when I'm coming - it's when I'm next bringing PestDog to see her! He's even a welcome house guest with my DM, who isn't even slightly an animal person.