Thank you, Masham is just under an hour away but I doubt both dogs would fit in my car to be honest! Dog friendly ice cream sounds like a novel idea! That’s a great idea re: scattering their food in the garden. Hopefully that will buy me 3 minutes of peace! 
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Oh for sure! Not your job to pay for new toys. But there are definitely some free things you can do that might take some of the pressure off. 
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Yes, North Yorkshire’s a very big place 
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Tbh, this sit would have raised a lot of red flags for me…two young dogs acquired within a year of each other. Not sure what breed or if this behaviour is typical but that also would have been something to consider. A sit with no reviews and new to the app. Dogs are already fighting so in truth, quite possibly littermate syndrome and not enough time for one to have an establish pattern/structure. I’m not sure what questions you asked when you vetted this sit but I definitely would have gone in depth about their routine, training structures in place, etc and if I’d received a passive response to that especially given one is a puppy…hard pass.
If the sit is unbearable, contact TH and potentially vacate. But in truth, I really think there’s a lot to be said about vetting sits thoroughly.
Regardless, really sorry you’re going through it rn. I hope you find a solution that works for you.
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For me, I get the impression that the owners might very well know this and they have failed to communicate it for a reason. So there you are… 
I find it a red flag that the owner made a joke instead of adressing it and giving advice/ suggestions. I’m not impressed that they aquired two young dogs in their most demanding period of their doglife either,
I think an experienced dogowner would avoid, and many others too. But the bottom line here is whether their profile gave an accurate description.
It would be perfectly alright to ask again and ask for their suggestions on how they handle things like this. This can’t be because of you, I’m quite sure. I hopethe dogs can be left alone for some time (?) and it might be a good idea in that case that you get away for a period each day to unwind and reload. It can be stressful for you (I’ve had dogs that didn’t get among). It could also be good for them, if they are able to relax more alone (?).
A little brain training each day can be beneficial. If they are not so used to training, a little can be enough. Like ten minutes. Having them sit and lie down or other simple tasks or tricks. I rarely use treats. I use kibble and do training before feeding time when they are hungry and motivated, 
Spread out a handful of kibble on the lawn worked well for mine - they kept searching long after the kibble was gone. As they fight I’m not sure how that would play out, or whether they would need a toy each (?).
Here is some examples of brain games:
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I totally feel your pain. We look after a young dog from time to time who also had a lot of similar unwelcome behaviours. He’s currently with us for 2 weeks (only a few days to go). There is two of us & it’s still be exhausting correcting the behaviours - we’ve made good progress but Ive taken time off to be able to put time in. I can’t imagine doing it alone and with two dogs and trying to work. Don’t be afraid to call it a day - you must be exhausted.
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Brain games can help, but done individually and not with both dogs together. Mental stimulation is as imperative, and as tiring, as physical exercise (and young dogs shouldn’t be over-exercised).
You could try teaching them ‘leave and take’. With just one dog at a time, put a tiny piece of treat (it can be as small as a matchstick head) into your hand and offer it, saying ‘take’. Next, offer but close your hand over the treat (but don’t withdraw your hand) and say ‘leave’ (and don’t give the treat). Open your hand only when the pup moves back. Keep repeating and alternating the instructions. Speak calmly and praise the good behaviour. It teaches them patience, reinforces that you’re in charge, but it’s still a game. A few minutes at a time, repeated often, and they can learn what you want in a day or two. And it tires them, because they have to think and work out what they have to do to get that teeny-tiny treat!
Hiding treats (can be just kibble from their next meal) and making them use their noses to scent it out is another game which ususlly works well, but introduce the game by making the dog wait then make a single piece easy to find. Use lots of praise- games have to be fun! Or, you could try this with a favourite toy. You do need interact with just one at a time, but just a few happy minutes but often.
I’d separate the two dogs now and again, not just for your own sake but for theirs too if they’re scrapping and egging each other on with barking. Getting over-excited can lead to squabbles in young dogs.
Ball games and garden playtime should help, but try to limit competition between the two of them.
The thing to remember is, this is not their fault. They’re not bad dogs, they just haven’t been taught good manners.
Best of luck with it. Sending hugs!
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I agree with you in hindsight. At the time, I didn’t see any of the red flags at all. Now I’m wondering how I could have overlooked them and I realise I was probably distracted.
The owner actually contacted me directly and was struggling to find a sitter. She seemed distressed by this and I wanted to help. I was on a sit nearby so visited her and her husband, and we got on very well. I stayed for 3 hours going over things with her in detail. I’ve been sitting for a long time and she is a newbie, so she had a load of questions, as did I about their daily routine, diet, medication, personalities, history etc. And no, they are not undergoing any training!
At the time, the dogs were fighting but the owner was so jovial that I didn’t realise it was the issue that it clearly is. In fact, I don’t think she really knew what to do with them and made more of a joke about it than I am experiencing. You are right that I didn’t properly vet this sit. I’ve never found myself in this position before so I guess it’s a tough lesson for me. I was so adamant that I wanted to help and give the HO a good first experience, that I didn’t really consider whether it would be a good one for me. I won’t cut the sit short, but I will definitely try to find some coping strategies, including those mentioned above, as well as being more aware of red flags in the future.
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Yes, this was something I thought too, and realise in hindsight, there was much that wasn’t really revealed about this sit and I found out the hard way! One thing to go through all the cutlery drawers, pots and pans etc. but I would have appreciated a more in-depth insight into their behaviour. I don’t think they are experienced dog owners (they mentioned having a dog in the past) as, rather than disciplining them, the impression I got was ‘just let them get on with it’. Obviously that puts any potential sitters in a challenging position.
As you mentioned, I don’t think this is because of me or the fact their owners have gone away, as they don’t seem at all sad or ill at ease with a new person. If anything, they are quite needy and it is difficult to even walk around the place as they stay as close as possible to me, whining and begging for attention. It is necessary for me to spend time alone, because it’s simply too much. In addition, I have found out over the last two days that taking work calls while they are around is just not fun! Thank you for the brain games, and good shout about the brain training around feeding time! I think this is when they are on their very best behaviour!
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Thank you Christine for validating how I’m feeling and sharing your experience, it’s good to know I’m not alone! I have been thinking that this current sit is really only suitable for couples/ families. Even walking them isn’t easy as they jump about and their leads get tangled, all while I’m balancing hefty poo bags (sorry, TMI!) It’s too much for one person and I even question why the HO thought one sole female would be suitable, but she was really struggling to find a sitter (now I know why!) I am pretty exhausted, and I feel my body has been put through a meat grinder with all the exertion and random injuries! I hope you are able to enjoy some of your time off - looking after a puppy is truly a full time job!
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Thank you very much for your suggestions.
I have considered taking the dogs on walks separately, as they are difficult to walk together, but also whine when the other isn’t around. Definitely, separation at times is necessary for the older dog who gets easily irritated with the pup.
They get more exercise than any dogs I’ve encountered. Even without walks, they are running around all day, rolling over each other and making a mess. Lack of exercise is definitely not an issue! I agree, it’s not their fault. I’m not sure how the owners deal with it quite frankly. They both have their own businesses so I imagine they just let them ‘get on with it’ and let them get away with murder. They are barking within minutes of getting out of bed. It’s a lot.
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Don’t beat yourself up. I doubt there is a sitter on this site that hasn’t had a ‘well now I have to add THIS to my list of things to discuss’ moment that came as a result of a lesson learned during a sit. I know that I personally have several.
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So true, thank you. That list keeps getting longer! It’s a new experience for me. I’ve decided to write my review in advance so I communicate precisely how challenging it is while I’m in the throws of it, rather than being impacted by the elation of being away from here and writing a much more positive one
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Sounds like the sit I was on a month ago. I lost a pair of underwear and my daughter lost a sock to the puppy. The owner offered to pay but didn’t bother. Although there were plenty of chew toys, he kept breaking branches off the bushes (there was a doggie door) and chewing them up all over. Constantly sweeping. And walks were a nightmare, pulling, the puppy trying to play with the other dog. So glad it is over. Sweet dogs, but no training. The puppy was 70 lbs. Both dogs could pull. I wrecked my knee.
I’m sorry to hear you hurt your poor knee. I have sustained random injuries with these two.
If this wasn’t their first time on THS, I’d have thought it was the same sit as yours. The puppy is also about 70lbs, if not heavier, and seems to have a sock/ shoe fetish (in fact, he stole one of my shoes when I visited a few months ago). He has been eating the branches outside today and I caught him in the recycling bin eating cardboard. He is a nightmare. Yes, sweet dogs but have been left to rule the roost. I have just been writing a very detailed review and explicitly stated that this is a sit only suitable for those with experience with puppies. I will mark them down for pet behaviour.
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It is so nice to read that you will be writing a honest and factual review.
I have read so many comments on this site from people who are too scared/reluctant to do so.
Thankyou for thinking of the sitters that may follow you. 
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Thank you 
I did mull over it for a while. I have only ever left 5* reviews on all counts. I had one truly awful sit in my early days of house sitting, where I didn’t leave a review for fear of retaliation (before the current system was in place). I subsequently noticed that there are only five star reviews for them, but also many gaps where other sitters have chosen not to leave reviews. Unless you read between the lines, there is no indication that it is a horrible experience and a situation in which I felt unsafe. As a result, I will absolutely leave reviews in situations that are not ideal, and I will communicate exactly why. It feels like the right thing to do.
For this sit, the behaviour of the dogs was not communicated to me properly so I do feel somewhat responsible for letting other sitters know what they are letting themselves in for. I have sat in conference calls where there was barking and whining in the background, so I have said this is a consideration for those working from home. I have made it clear the puppy is boisterous and the fighting can get aggressive, while also being grateful for the hospitality of the hosts. I have said that I would recommend this sit exclusively for those with experience with puppies, as the puppy is demanding and doesn’t respect boundaries. At this stage, I’m not too bothered about the reaction of the home owners. I’m the one who has had to deal with the situation.
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Is the sit already over?
No, I have over a week left. I wrote the review pre-emptively. I won’t be able to post it until the sit ends.
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Will be thinking of you. Think of a nice treat you can give yourself when you finish. Our doggo does home tomorrow. I’m having a lie in & sofa day!
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