Hi Guys,
I have been with trusted almost 3 years and this is a new challenge for me so please any advice would be great!
So me and my partner have been travelling for a while and found a lovely house sit with a small pomeranian. The owner is lovely and can’t do enough for us. I wasn’t available to do a meet and greet because of work commitments but my partner came to meet the dog and he was happy.
I arrived early (Without my partner) to meet the owner before leaving. The dog was quite aggressive snapping at my heels and growling. I thought that hopefully he would settle, but is now continuing to growl and snap. He really is missing his owner but I obviously can’t get near him for cuddles or comfort and he hasn’t eaten all day.
Is there anything you suggest that could maybe help him settle a little (Whilst making sure i still have all my fingers by the end of the sit! Haha)
Would love to hear your thoughts
Thanks
I feel for you. Forget cuddles and comfort, you’ve tried that, he’s not interested. Try taking him out for more walks (even just short ones for his little legs). With each walk, he will feel more bonded with you, because most dogs love walks. Usually the first walk seals-the-deal, but it may just take a little longer on this occasion. If you struggle to get his harness on without him snapping, then sit with him in the garden if you have one, but it will take much much longer that way.
At home, two strangers are the only thing he has to focus on, whereas walking will stimulate his mind, he’ll be focused on other dog scents, rather than you. So he’ll get used to you being there, without his focus being on you, like it is at home.
Just ignore him at home and let him do his own thing, but sit on the floor so you are less intimidating to him until he decides you are no threat.
If he has dry food, take it out for the walk with you and drip feed him it as treats instead of in one go, just make sure you have water with you too. If it’s wet food, taking him for more frequent walks may make him hungrier.
Also, it sounds like at the moment, you have had nothing to praise him for, so whenever you see him slightly calmer, good boy, good boy, good boy in a soft voice goes a huge way, and will makes you sound like his owner, it’s familiarity.
I hope things get better for you.
Welcome to the forum. We had a pom for 17 years. He was the cutest dog, incredibly smart, and he had a memory like an elephant. He would meet someone once and always remember, even years later.
They are small dogs, and sometimes because of their size, they are intimated easily. They also tend to think they are bigger than they are, and initially, may need to show they are there to protect their home if a stranger has arrived. He or she, to me, is acting like he’s not feeling secure, and letting you are not someone they know.
I’d recommend using desirable treats and let them know you are a friend. Keep your distance for a while and let them know you are not threatening in any way. Our Pom loved cheese and chicken or turkey. Use whatever you have, but drop a few pieces near them. I’d then sit on the floor at a distance, set a treat or two out and let them have it with no reaction on your part. Do this a few times, but then sit somewhere further away, maybe on a chair or sofa, keeping some treats with you. When they come to you, drop a treat to them, without reaching for them or trying to pet them. Once they know you are not a threat, and that you are lovely because you have lovely treats, this should likely pass.
I would also check with the owner, see what has worked for them with new people and see what they recommend.
Has this sit just started? If so, he’s just weighing you up and needs a little time to adjust as is clearly feeling insecure. You’ve received some great advice so far and being patient and gentle in all you transactions with him is essential, as he’s clearly observing you. Don’t make any sudden movements towards him, just afford him his own space until he’s more confident with you. Speak to him but don’t push him out of his comfort zone. Has he got any toys? You could maybe put those near him or in his bed, for comfort, and see whether or not he responds. Dropping high value treats will give positive signals, as mentioned by @anon10466095. Try sitting down and ignoring him and he’ll soon get the message that you’re not a threat. Letting him do things in his own time is key.
Wishing you luck!
When I’m with a skittish pet, I basically pretend that I’m ignoring them and let them do their thing, but I keep up a constant stream of conversation in a soothing tone. Low tone, positive reinforcement, etc. so they can get used to my voice and it’ll help them relax. I’ll move around the house like normal so they can see i’m not doing anything weird. and ‘oops’ occasionally i’ll drop a treat for them to investigate so they start associating me with good things. Some pets take longer than others to come around. I do think asking the HO for advice can’t hurt, but just give it time.
I will admit though that I always feel a bit sad if I never really get to bond with the pets as being with the creatures is 99% of why I sit in the first place.
Has your partner arrived yet for the sit @Jaz as that may make a difference too where the Pom has met him before? Did the owner make any suggestions on the behaviour if it started when you first met the owner and the dog? Is this the first time the owner has had a sitter? If so, it is understandable the dog is missing its owner and needs time to adjust to your presence. You have been offered great advice which hopefully will see a change for the better soon.
Wanted to mention that when I was telling someone we got a Pom many years ago, he said, oh, so you got an ankle biter. I hadn’t heard that before, but I guess it’s all they can reach when they think they need to protect their home since they are so tiny.
Welcome to the forum!
As said over, when I’m new to a pet I ignore them and let them check me out from a distance. Good advice of talking and making conversation in a soft voice. I don’t think he misses his owner. He sees you as a threat. It is important to acknowledge to find the solution to calm him.
Is he actually following you to bite? Or what happens just before he snaps? That could be a key.
For dogs (animals) body language is huge. It can be regarded threatening to come right at them (show them your side, not your front), don’t make eye-contact or look straight towards them as it can be seen as aggression. I wanted to keep an eye on an animal, and found out that it worked well to look at it through the camera on my phone (so I saw it but didn’t look at it 
).
A smile can be seen as aggressive as you show teeth.
Always keep treats in your pocket. That is how my dad is loved by all dogs.
I agree that a walk could be a solution to het him involved in something else. Keep treats in your pocket, though. 
i’m glad i’m not the only one that talks to the pets they sit. sometimes I feel crazy. lol. but it just feels like you’re supposed to talk to them. i’m sure anyone hearing me would think i’m bonkers.
example morning convo:
ok Mr furry sleepy face, I know you’re all cozy thinking my belly is your pillow, but i need a cup of tea so you’re gonna have to scooch your furry behind over so I can get up.
or on a walk:
yes, I know you want to play with the ducks, but ducks are for looking, not playing. not everything wants to be your friend and while I know you’re super cute and sweet, you’d scare it to death, so let’s just walk over this way instead.
Definitely not the only bonkers one.
I spent the first two days of a sit singing ‘Oh, why you look sad, tears are in your eyes, come on and come to me now’ (I’ll Stand By You – The Pretenders) to a spaniel, before realising that he was perfectly happy, but just had a miserable resting face…
Hi Jaz,
I’m absolutely sure this sit will be wonderful once you’ve won the little pom over.
Ask the owner if there is any of their unwashed clothing you can put in the dog’s bed. Maybe there’s a scarf or coat that you could wear, if you’re comfortable, or put the clothing between or underneath you when you sit near it. Something that has the owner’s scent on could really help.
Definitely no eye contact. Sit lower than them on the floor if you can to show submission.
Rolling on your back and showing your belly may be going too far though! Good luck.
Success!! Finally took him some time (he wont let me move without trying to eat me) but we have progress… eaten half my cheese on toast and a full bowl of biscuits so not as worried now xx
Thanks everyone for the advice, its definetly helped!
One thing I always do when I’m looking after a new pet, whether it’s a cat or dog is I lead with a few treats.
Straight away, they will associate you with something positive and it will begin to diminish their anxiety.
I’ve just finished a sit looking after a rescue dog called Charlie who’d been treated particularly cruelly in his early life and then abandoned. I didn’t have an opportunity to meet the pet parents so had to let myself into the house. Not going to lie, I was a bit concerned about how it was all going to go and so were the pet parents.
What I did was set up a little treat treasure hunt and he loved it. We were on belly rub terms straight away. This is my go to winning formula and so far, has had 
success rate in winning the pets over. Give it a go and let us know how you get on.
He’s absolutely adorable. I still miss mine all these years later. Once you win them over, they will be your shadow. Hope you enjoy your time together!
Awww hes very happy! I always had rescues and very loyal once they get used to you. This dog isnt interested in treats but very happy to give the puppy dog eyes when your eating.
All my tricks weren’t working bevause the owner doesnt walk him either. But someone suggested cheese and treats and some relaxing music seemed to do the trick. But really appreciate all the advive and its made me a lot more confident going into house sits where pets are unsure.
That’s amazing! It’s always great to add new tricks to our toolkit!!! So glad you’ve made great progress there. Kudos to you!
I would never show submission to a dog. That’s asking for trouble.
Maybe I didn’t explain it well. In this instance it was to put the dog at ease, in a moment. Not full submission.
As you met the owner before leaving, didn’t the owner recommend anything when the dog started snapping?
Hey, she recommended anxiety tablets but he wouldn’t let anyone near him. I texted his emergency contact yesterday because he was soo unsettled and had started to get a sore tummy and off his food and water.
She gave him lots of cuddles with me sat with him and we gave him our time together. He’s like a different dog today! Eaten all his food, he jumped on me this morning for a treat so I think he just needed someone familiar to help him settle with me.