I would like to ask for tips re. tricky young dog behavior.
I am currently looking after a 8-month-old Rhodesian Ridgeback who is Very strong, expert counter surfer, takes anything and everything she can get her teeth on and finishes off her enthusiasm by jumping up.
I have completed a number of sits where there has been up to 3-dogs, horses etc. but this is by far the most exhausting one.
The hosts are new to the site therefore no previous reviews.
I would be most grateful for any tips / guidance you may have to help over the next few days.
Oh yes… this sounds very familiar. A young Rhodesian Ridgeback at 8 months is basically a powerful toddler with Olympic-level reach and zero impulse control… so what you’re experiencing isn’t unusual, just full-on.
We’ve had a couple of sits with counter-surfing Airedale Terriers, and the pattern was almost identical - clever, fast, and always “on the lookout” for opportunity.
A few practical things that helped us get through those shorter, high-energy sits:
Management over training (short-term mindset)
With only a few days, it’s less about fixing behaviour and more about preventing rehearsals. We treated the kitchen like a “no free rewards zone” - nothing left out, ever… even for a second.
Create boring counters
If there’s nothing to win, the game loses appeal. We went a bit overboard wiping surfaces and moving everything out of reach, but it reduced the constant scanning/jumping cycle.
Interrupt early, not late
Once they’re up, you’ve lost the moment. We found watching for the approach (that telltale “hmm… what’s up there?” look) gave us a chance to redirect before launch.
Give them a job
These working breeds often just need an outlet. Even short bursts of structured activity - basic commands, scatter feeding, or a sniff game - took the edge off the chaos.
Jumping up = zero reward
We stayed very neutral - turning away, no eye contact, no talking. The second all four paws were on the ground, calm acknowledgement. It felt repetitive… because it is… but it does start to land.
Lower your expectations (just for this sit)
Honestly, sometimes success is simply getting through safely and leaving the dog, and home, in good shape. You’re not there to fully train an adolescent Ridgeback in a few days.
Also worth saying… first-time hosts + young, untrained large breed can be a tough combo, so feeling exhausted is a completely reasonable response.
If it helps, our Airedale sits didn’t magically transform the dogs… but by day 2–3 things did feel more manageable once we focused on prevention and consistency rather than “fixing.”
You’ve clearly handled more complex sits before, so this is likely just a particularly intense phase + breed combo rather than anything you’re doing wrong.
Vast majority of our sits have been simpler. But we’ve sometimes looked after powerful dogs - housesitting is a trade and there was a commensurate aspect. We find that distraction, exhaustion, and sometimes owner tricks to be useful short-term tactics.
One dog had super strong jaws. Simply remarkable. Mercifully owners gave the dog an exceptionally robust chew toy with internal treats. We could not squeeze toy with hands (very stiff) - but dog mouth could chew it a whole lot. Toy proved hugely beneficial tactic.
A few dogs have had strong physical strength. Not Rhodesian Ridgeback. In such cases, where appropriate, we walk/hike the dogs to the point where excess energy is clearly depleted. Given that some pet parents leave dogs with excess energy (quite common in our experience) then this can take a few days.
Otherwise we’d support fab advice from @WeRPAWsome - especially ideas around risk management. If counters are a problem then remove all temptations from counters. If seek diligent then take photos and replace ‘stuff’ before you leave property.
Perhaps there’s some learning here. Accepting a housesit with a newbie pet parent with three dogs, including a ‘very strong’ puppy is very brave of you.
I’m just wondering how much you were told by the owners about the dog’s behaviour. Personally I’ve made it a rule not to take on a dog less than 12 months old and would question the owners about its training. I would probably not take on a RR no matter what age although they are beautiful dogs
Thank you taking the time to leave such a comprehensive response- I really appreciate this.
Like you said, having a mindset that “I’m here for a few days and although will do my best, I am not responsible for trying to change behavior/ train”.
Yes, this experience has made me wonder about future sits with very young / adolescent (which can last a while with some!) dogs. Definitely a learning point, especially with a large bread. I am now also more weary of owners who crate their dog a lot.
I have been a THS member for a few years and this was the first time that I posted a question- felt a bit lost.
Anyway… She’s a beautiful dog and in time will make a great pet and hopefully her owners will get into some active / nose work / hobbies with her
My Golden would think that was the best game ever, jump on counter, get food, and get squirt with a water gun. Jackpot.
So, doesn’t work for water lovers. And really not the best training method. Just keep counters clear. If the jump and consistently find nothing - the behavior extinguishes eventually but if they jumping for years and getting food it will take more time, as there is a history of rewards.
Unfortunately if trying to prepare food and dogs are constantly putting paws on counter, as owners have not trained them better, what alternative is there?
Kitchen is not a display room, needs used.
Owners create problem, but sitter has to find a solution.
I would put a leash on the dog and (preferably) tether it to something very stable nearby (a heavy piece of furniture, yourself, or just step on the leash), have them lay on the floor near you. If they can have some treats, periodically reward when they are calmly on the ground watching you, but put the reward on the floor in front of them, don’t just hand it to them. This creates value for the dog staying on the ground. If they jump, your foot in the leash should stop them, just say ‘No’ until the lay back down, then reward.
Or even better, if there some baby gates or even chairs you can move temporarily to create a barrier, that’s even better as you don’t have to try to retrain the dog and can prepare your meal in peace.
