I will report that she seems to be coming around bit by bit. Last night she jumped up on the sofa with my husband, and this morning found her sleeping in her favorite chair again. She is definitely eating, drinking and peeing and pooping fine. I think for now we’ll adopt a watch wait and see strategy - though she’s due at the vet soon anyway, so we’ll likely just bump it up a little sooner.
Thank you everyone. Responses were comforting!
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I also thought this
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If it is any help, we had a 6 week holiday earlier this year, having never left our 13 year old JR before with a virtual stranger, previously we’d only left her with close friends for a few days.
However, on our return she was distant with us for about a week, it was like she was sulking, telling us how naughty, we’d been for leaving her.
Our sitter was wonderful & I know for a fact that she was well retreated.
I think some dogs just take s while to adjust.
After about a week she was back to her normal bouncy, loving self.
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Can you reach out to the sitter, explain how your dog is acting now and ask how your dog was acting with her? It seems like you need more information.
I would take your dog to the vet, just to rule out any illness.
That’s so great to hear. Our vet actually recommended giving her a week or two to get back to normal. A couple of neighbors planted some disturbing ideas in my head - like that the sitter didn’t seem to be here very much. I have no proof of that, but it was so heart wrenching to even think it! Meanwhile, I’ve reached out to the sitter to see if she noticed any changes, but she hasn’t gotten back to me. Of course, I wrote her review right away. Now I’m wondering if I should have waited. I am wracked with guilt and have decided no more long trips as long as we have her!
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I tried to reach out to her for that exact reason. She has not responded thus far which is pretty disappointing.
I am not at all discounting the possibility that something happened during your absence… BUT - have you seen the vet? Is it possible that your 18 year old dog’s personality changes have to do with aging? When our dog was in his last months of life, he would go off (we had a big property) and burrow into the earth or sit in the pond to ease his aches and we often had to go in search of where he was, sometimes behind bushes, etc. Your dog may be seeking solitude for that…
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It is very possible that this is normal aging issues. I’m considering all possibilities. I wish the sitter would respond just so I can try to put some puzzle pieces together. We talked to the vet, and she didn’t think we needed to bring her in as long as she was eating, drinking etc (which she is). She suggested giving her a bit of time to readjust to our being back and watching for any other changes, so that’s what we’re doing. This is giving me a taste of things to come however. I am realizing that I’d better get myself ready for the inevitable. So hard. We sure do love our dogs, don’t we - and our other pets!
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Dogs do have a sense of time but not in the way we normally think, they use the smell why say when you work a typical job they are at the door when you come home. as your smell disappates after you leave they use that to sense how long until you come back. I know people travel a lot but for any animal 2 months ia long time
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The only time that my dog seems to be able to tell is meal times and walk times, LOL. But pets do get attached, pine for people, or feel let down or distrustful, depending on circumstances.
If your dog is eating, peeing and pooing fine and isn’t suffering any physical symptoms, I’d suggest giving things time to unfold.
If your sitter saw something off and was a responsible person, they would’ve presumably volunteered such info. If not and they’re irresponsible (or neglected your dog), it’d be odd for them to admit it.
Two months is a long time and a dog doesn’t know whether you’re ever coming back.
If your dog is changing because of age, you’ll also see that if you give things time to unfold. 18 is old.
Yes. All true. One thing we learned is that we will NOT be taking any more major trips as long as our beloved Kiwi is still with us.
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This is interesting. I wonder if, in preparation for a long sit, a HO puts something that has their scent on it into a sealed plastic bag for the sitter to open up to give to the dog during the sit - the longer the sit the more sealed bags. I really have no experience with this but it got me thinking.
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When puppies go home at 8 weeks old, they get a blanket with their mother’s and siblings’ scent to take with them
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@DianeS you do realise the pets are still living in their own house? Like literally everything in the entire house smells like the HO.
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If you read this response above from @PrincessPetProtector you will see that smell dissipates over time. Putting sonething in a sealed bag extends the life of the HOs scent.
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In which case this idea isnt for you. It was just an idea.
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We came home to a different dog on our first try with a TrustedHouseSitter. It was upsetting to say the least. We have always traveled so our pets are accustomed to our occasional absence and someone else taking care of them. Now being empty nesters and retired …we are traveling a bit more frequently. Between that and living in a summer destination … we thought TrustedHousesitters would be a good fit. Turned out our first sitter was not a good fit. Our energetic happy dog was quiet - subdued upon our return. She is back to herself again. (Thank goodness!) If it were me, especially with your pup being an older dog, I would maybe bring her in for a check up for peace of mind. And then just give her a bit of time to come back around… I am not sure what happened while we are away … but I suspect our dog was left on her own/ignored - A LOT - in our yard. And while she loves being outside … she also likes company & someone to interact with her - whether it be inside or outside. Although she was physically fine and and been fed & walked … I just don’t think there was much interaction. If that makes sense?
That makes total sense to me especially since I suspect that there was some of that going on. My husband and I are both retired, so we are home a LOT, and give our pup a lot of attention. I don’t think she was mistreated while we were away, but I think she maybe missed the amount of interaction she was used to - but honestly, who knows. At the end of the day, it sort of doesn’t matter. What’s done is done. All we can do now is love bomb her and give her time.
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Sounds like you are doing all the right things for little Kiwi!
I’ve had cats who were sullen or even quite annoyed with me after I returned from a trip, whereas others were just thrilled to have me home again.
Animals have these whole little complicated worlds in their heads that we have to guess about since they don’t speak English!
Please don’t feel guilty. You’re allowed to have a life outside your home. You did your best to find a great sitter for your pup, and you’re doing your best now. You’re clearly a loving and conscientious caretaker who adores Kiwi.
I hope it all works out very well. 
(We’d love to have Kiwi updates later, if you’re so inclined.)
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@4themoon so you jumped to all the worst conclusions and assumed your pets had been mistreated. Pets have feelings and emotions and when changes in their surroundings are happening they’re bound to be subdued - shouldn’t this be expected? This is normal behaviour in response to changes and after some time of re settling in will likely resolve. The vet will not be able to help you unless there’s a medical problem (not eating/drinking/pooping/peeing)