Came across this very unfortunate tale. Not a pet sitting story as such. The Home owner came home to her brood and an exuberant Dobi caused some damage in her “welcome home routine cuddle”!
Have you a similar story to share where accidents happened on your watch with pets?
I’ve nearly had broken glasses! ( could have been a game changer!) and I protect my vulnerable hearing aids from being chewed or licked out of my ears!
This is a very sad tail but sharing it is to make us extra careful.
I avoid large dogs, because they don’t know their own force and I can’t control them if they take off or pick them up if they get injured or fall ill and need to be rushed to emergency care. And I hate to think what would happen if they got into a fight and I couldn’t protect other pets, children or bystanders.
I went to dinner at a friend’s home and their 85-pound sheepdog greeted me with such force, I almost fell over. He kept jumping on me out of enthusiasm.
Separately, another friend’s wife was walking their large dog, stopped to chat with someone and their dog suddenly shot off, probably because of a squirrel or such. She was caught unawares and fell face first onto rocks, knocking out all of her front teeth.
Whenever I see someone small walking a large dog, I worry that they’ll lose control of it, especially if the dog is reactive or overly exuberant and I’m walking a smaller dog.
You’re right to choose what you can safely manage. But even a fairly squat French Bulldog has muscle and can drag anyone not expecting it. Having the two on a double lead certainly frees a hand for picking up or managing gates etc.. but when you pass a cat suddenly the drag is times two and I have to lean back and pray! I’ve never let go of a lead as some Home Owners have advised me to do.. but it’s a consideration with some consequential injuries to those who hang on!
These two are pretty good but Dylan isn’t very traffic aware and veers from side to side depending on what interests him.. I fear tripping over, especially being on my own in a walk in a very quiet part of UK countryside!
I’m sorry to say, what people tolerate as happy behavior is often risky.
Dogs can be trained to welcome owners in a calm and happy manner and it should be done for reasons such as this one.
There used to be a lady who had a training show who used to say “dogs aren’t hard to train, people are,” and it is absolutely true because a lot of behaviors are spiced up by the owners who then believe it’s the dog, when the dog has simply been allowed to be conditioned by the owner’s lack of boundaries.
On my last sit I introduced the HO to a gentle leader… it turned a 100+ lb pup from a puller who literally takes people flying to a gentleman in one walk.
Doggies are happier with manners and boundaries! A lot of what people perceive as happiness in a dog is anxiety!
Yes, even some smaller dogs can be forceful. We all have to consider what we can manage, and we can all make mistakes.
Plus, accidents can happen. Small dogs and cats can more easily trip you, for instance, because they can be harder to see and suddenly walk into your path unexpectedly. That can be especially risky on stairs.
When I arrived at a house for the first time the dog went BESERK ! The owner had no control whatsoever! What a start! I finally said,”Shall we sit down?”
Thankfully she agreed and the dog calmed down quickly after that..
You’re right such mad moments become a norm and somehow “endearing.” For some owners who don’t think there’s another way to be. but actually no one wants uncontrolled behaviour on any occasion. Some Smaller dogs get away with murder in this respect!
When my Great Danes stepped out of line it was soo obvious! As a consequence they were quickly checked and subsequently improved. This is a generalization. Great training can be seen across the spectrum.
Better trained dogs would win over those of the population less keen on dogs and dog owners.
The more I housesit the more I admire and wish to replicate a tightly run ship and a calm sea dog!
People perpetuate bad pet behavior IMO… I’ve seen it first hand that large breeds get scrutinized when they do the same things small breeds do. I’m glad your danes were well adapted/trained to not jump. Over here I trained my little one not to but family members always allow her to and feel that I am mean for not letting her.
Even minimal training is a life changer for dogs (owning and sitting too!)
One of my classmates in our Retriever training class had a nasty accident WHILE training was underway. Her dog ran into her leg full force during the “sit and come” exercise and her knee cap was shattered. She had to ensure months of operations and therapy. Ever since then I have been very wary when even a trained dog runs towards me, and have become an expert at the last minute side step.
Oh my ! I’m housesitting for a lady of 74 getting her second knee fixed.. so she can keep up her skiing! I’m sitting for 51 days as she’s going to the Stares for the surgery and rehab / physio required. I think her knees just needed replacing, not attributable to any accidental incident just wear and tear..
When I landed in UK I alerted all my sit appointment Home Owners that I was on British soil.. She replied after a week and I really thought of the possibility she had passed away! No she’d been busy with her social calendar and all was well. Can I come over beforehand to meet everyone at a cheese and wine event and a sleep over at the retirement village she’s a reigning queen?
This lady is seriously FUN and I’m looking forward to meeting her and the dog soon!
Think Thursday Club with a pet thrown in!
Our cats are always trying to kill us, for example, by sitting at the top of the stairs, immediately behind us when we are cooking!
