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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

Nervous dog not getting on at dog sitters.

59 replies

Ithinktomyself · 27/08/2022 15:17

Currently on holiday. Dog sitter has told me that dog is getting increasingly aggressive and unpredictable. It's definitely nerves; he is highly strung which is why I did practice runs beforehand and told her he was nervous. Clearly it wasn't enough. I can't get back early (no flights), there's no-one available to take him. What do I do? Dogsitter wants rid, dog is clearly utterly traumatised. Are there emergency kennels? Do such things exist? How can I get him there if he's in such a state of anxiety already? Do I have any options?

NB: clearly I have cocked up, I thought he was prepared and relaxed. I was wrong. Hindsight is massively unhelpful now. Any practical ideas will be taken gratefully. x

OP posts:
Goldieshock · 27/08/2022 15:20

What a predicament!

Is there any friends / family that can collect for you?

Is there a kennels with availability that would take him if the sitter took them there?

Can the sitter offer any suggestions- ie a different sitter?

Badfootkk · 27/08/2022 15:21

How long until you return?

Original poster
Ithinktomyself · 27/08/2022 15:23

I get back in the early hours of Wednesday. There's no one I would trust with him now he's in a state (grandparents have had him before for short periods but this is different). Would a kennel take him now he's growly and snappy?

OP posts:
Floralnomad · 27/08/2022 15:27

I’m sure a kennel would take him , it’s whether you can find one . I’d actually see what the dog sitter suggests as she / he has been contracted to look after him . Hope it works out .

GetOffTheRoof · 27/08/2022 15:30

Any friends or family who know him who could help calm him down and take him to your house to be looked after? I assume he's at the sitters house and that they can't move into your place for a few days obv.

Dobbysgotthesocks · 27/08/2022 15:31

Where abouts are you? Is there really no way of getting home? I wouldn't send them on somewhere else it will likely make things worse.

How far away from your home is the dog sitter? Can they get in? Could they take the dog back there and let him have some time to decompress at home?
Perhaps a walk first thing, home for a few hours before another walk and then back to the dog sitters overnight each night? Keep the time with the other dogs to a minimum.

BrownOwlknowsbest · 27/08/2022 16:08

Can the dog sitter contact your vet for a sedative of some kind? Or try rescue remedy which does seem to work wonders for some dogs?

Original poster
Ithinktomyself · 27/08/2022 16:20

I wish I'd thought of all this before. No-one else has keys to our house otherwise that would be a fantastic idea. But also she has lots of dogs right now so probably can't go anywhere. I'm out of the country and flew from a small UK airport (which has my car) so I can't get back until my scheduled flight. I've emailed a couple of local kennels to see if they'll consider him.

We've always lived a very quite sort of existence but he's always enjoyed the company of other dogs. Clearly it's all too much for him. I feel awful, he must be having a crappy time but also I'm quite worried that he's going to snap at someone/another dog and she'll... I don't know, hand him over to the dog warden? Get him put down? What DOES happen in these situations?

OP posts:
perimenofertility · 27/08/2022 16:24

I think the grandparents would be the best bet, if they are willing? You say they've had him before but not in this state, but he's likely to calm down when away from the sitter/other dogs. Would they try it? It's only a few days if you are back on Wednesday.

Original poster
Ithinktomyself · 27/08/2022 16:31

Some good suggestions here; unfortunately no one has any keys otherwise that would have been great (although I suspect the dogsitter wouldn't be willing to traipse over to my house anyway). Will suggest a sedative; have emailed lots of kennels in desperation. I clearly can never go on holiday again.

OP posts:
Original poster
Ithinktomyself · 27/08/2022 16:32

And yeah, honestly no way to get home early; the next flight IS my flight and its the only flight each week. Looking around for possible alternatives but they would probably end up taking as long as waiting for the original flight.

OP posts:
GetOffTheRoof · 27/08/2022 16:38

No you can absolutely go away again, just with different dog care in place. Maybe a home sitter for your house would work - we do that now with our idiot mutt and petrified Romanian.

We are paying a neighbour's teenager next week for a few nights - sensible lass, I'm giving her the run of the joint with her boyfriend but she'd banned from my bedroom 😂 There's then other neighbours who know the dogs well who can support her plus her parents if she needs anything else. They'll move into my spare room, eat all the junk food in the house and Netflix binge for three days. Agreements made on dog walking and exercise etc they'll have to fit in. The dogs will love it.

GetOffTheRoof · 27/08/2022 16:40

Would also expect current sitter to step up a bit and get on with helping him - this is always a possibility with any dog they bring into their him.

They need to ensure your dog is on his own and away from others - crated, in a spare room, in the garden, whatever works so he's safe and not going to bite people or dogs. She's also going to have to walk him separately. Basic stuff I. I for their line of work.

SirChenjins · 27/08/2022 16:42

Could you phone your vet and get some emergency meds prescribed? Alternatively get some sort of anti anxiety thing at one of the pet shops?

It’ll be ok - you can just look at an alternative next time. Deep breath, I hope it all works out 😊

Original poster
Ithinktomyself · 27/08/2022 17:05

GetOffTheRoof · 27/08/2022 16:40

Would also expect current sitter to step up a bit and get on with helping him - this is always a possibility with any dog they bring into their him.

They need to ensure your dog is on his own and away from others - crated, in a spare room, in the garden, whatever works so he's safe and not going to bite people or dogs. She's also going to have to walk him separately. Basic stuff I. I for their line of work.

I'm feeling really bad because she's lovely but also, I DID SAY he was nervous and deliberately did a couple of practice runs and repeatedly asked if she was ok. She is managing it I think but she would like to get rid of him if at all possible. I'd consider the housesitter in the future if he's not completely traumatised by the whole thing. I have told her to ask the vet for a sedative or simply give him pirition if necessary.

I feel HORRIBLE for him and for them.

OP posts:
LBF2020 · 27/08/2022 18:47

I'm so sorry, you must be in an horrible panic. I think anti anxiety meds as mentioned above would be worth trying. Perhaps your dog sitter would then be prepared to look after him until you are back.
I hope you manage to get it sorted.

Leafy3 · 27/08/2022 18:57

Fwiw op, I don't think you've done anything wrong.

We're none of us fortune tellers and the precautions you took and prep you did surely felt right at the time. What continues to make you a good dog owner is that you're continuing to act in the right way by endeavouring to find a solution to reduce your dogs anxiety quickly.

So please don't beat yourself up anymore.

If you have a trusted friend or grandparents can do, can you arrange for the locks to be changed so that the sitter can get dog home quickly? You'll be able get a new key from whomever you put in charge and dog will be home again.

Admin nightmare, but it might work.

RandomMess · 27/08/2022 19:01

Sounds like the dog sitter has other dogs there and that is what your DDog is struggling with.

Flowers
forumsempronii · 27/08/2022 19:36

This is the dog sitters issue OP. If they have a licence they have to have a plan as to what happens if the dogs do not get on or need extra care.

Your dog should have its own area to be in without contact with the other dogs. The dog sitter should be a professional who can deal with situations like this in the short term.

Saying they have to get rid of your dog is unacceptable tbh.

I am really sorry you are having to deal with this.

Original poster
Ithinktomyself · 27/08/2022 19:38

Thanks for the reassurance everyone. It is appreciated. Just had a photo sent through saying he's nice and calm in the garden and it shows him laying next to another dog...

OP posts:
lightisnotwhite · 27/08/2022 19:45

GetOffTheRoof · 27/08/2022 16:38

No you can absolutely go away again, just with different dog care in place. Maybe a home sitter for your house would work - we do that now with our idiot mutt and petrified Romanian.

We are paying a neighbour's teenager next week for a few nights - sensible lass, I'm giving her the run of the joint with her boyfriend but she'd banned from my bedroom 😂 There's then other neighbours who know the dogs well who can support her plus her parents if she needs anything else. They'll move into my spare room, eat all the junk food in the house and Netflix binge for three days. Agreements made on dog walking and exercise etc they'll have to fit in. The dogs will love it.

I agree. I’ve just had a problematic friends dog for a week.
Pretty sure a proper dog sitter would have needed to charge a fortune as she’s not an easy creature but I like dogs and I like my friend and I wanted both to have a good time. I’m not in it for the money.

Pumpkintopf · 27/08/2022 19:51

Agree with pp comments that this is the sitters responsibility.

She needs to have a plan in place to give your dog a calm space away from other dogs if needed. Stressing you out on your holiday about it and saying she wants rid isn't really on IMO.

Wonder if she's exaggerating rather as if he's lying calmly in the garden next to another dog it really doesn't sound like he's that bad!

Original poster
Ithinktomyself · 27/08/2022 19:54

Don't think she's exaggerated, but am bemused as she had said she would keep him separate from other dogs. He IS highly strung but this is not normal behaviour so he's massively stressed. As am I!!!

OP posts:
RedHelenB · 27/08/2022 19:56

Ithinktomyself · 27/08/2022 16:31

Some good suggestions here; unfortunately no one has any keys otherwise that would have been great (although I suspect the dogsitter wouldn't be willing to traipse over to my house anyway). Will suggest a sedative; have emailed lots of kennels in desperation. I clearly can never go on holiday again.

You can, just put him in kennels.

ShedHead7 · 27/08/2022 19:56

Also agreeing that the dog sitter is the one who needs to work around this. You did the trials etc, and she assured you it would be ok, so you went away thinking your dog was in expert, safe hands.