Presumably the home owner wasn’t honest about this behaviour otherwise you may not have accepted the sit.
Make sure you write this in your review. It’s not right that you couldn’t leave the dog at all, as the owner must do. I’d feel imprisoned.
@GentleSitter it sounds like separation anxiety (which could explain why the pet parent did not want him left alone).
Our experience of owning a doodle and knowing many, is that they can be quite needy. Separation anxiety can be a real problem and very limiting for owners (and sitters!) but please remember the dog can’t help it and it’s not something you’re going to change during a short-duration sit. Just be patient and kind.
Did you ask how long the dogs could be left, before confirming the sit?
@GentleSitter please leave an honest and factual review to warn future sitters . Include the things you wish you had know when you applied for the sit .
I’ve minded a cockapoo once and yes, the dog never left my side. At least I was able to go out. But when I was home, it needed constant contact. The owner suggested a future sit and I just didn’t enjoy it enough to want to commit to another sit. It’s a bit sad, really.
I had a similar experience with a year-old poodle who was intensely jealous if I gave the household cat any food or bit of attention.
The poodle would whine, bark and repeatedly jump on her hind legs in upsetness. If there hadn’t been a gate separating them, the poodle would’ve chased and tackled the cat, as it tried every time the cat had to traverse paths into the house, when it returned from exploring the outdoors.
Similarly, when I did a recent sit with another year-old pup, she would whine, bark and jump up and down emotionally on her hind legs if I spent anytime with the household cats. They had to be separated or she’d chase and tackle the cats. The dog was especially incensed at night, knowing that the cats could roam free and sleep with me while she had to sleep in her crate. Lots of whining and barking.
The pup had such severe separation anxiety (and tried to chew everything) that I’d put her in her crate while I showered. She could see where I was, because I’d position her crate by the open bathroom door, and yet she’d still whine nonstop that I spent any time not petting or playing with her. She was a mini pinscher-dachshund mix.
These were all lovely pets — the dogs and cats — but they took loads of energy. I passed on repeat sit offers, because of that.
That’s hard! Especially when you thought you’d be able to leave for two hours. In my experience cockapoos have an incredibly loud bark and can be very needy. How come the two dogs had to go out to pee separately? It sounds like a rough sit, well done for getting through it.
It may be the owner really did mean their suggestion of having an emergency contact or their mum (who could be very sprightly at 80!) come watch the dog, but an hour is such a short time it doesn’t feel worth it.
I recently looked after a cockapoo, he was a year old and I think he was kept in a crate a lot. Certainly crated at night with me otherwise he would cry all night. He was a very frustrated pup and ended up nipping my hand. He also chewed a pipe to the radiator and had to call the plumber (I lost some socks too). The owner said she was working with a behavioural specialist but she was very dishonest about his behaviour problems.
He would jump right on the table/kitchen counter and take my food to the point where I had to eat in my room. I couldn’t bring myself to locking him in his crate during the day (as per the instructions) so didn’t go out at all really.
@GentleSitter Please leave a factual review today, before your time runs out.
Do not use emotional words or phrases, just the facts presented diplomatically.
This will give future sitters a heads up to discuss these issues with the HO during the video chat. That will help them decide whether to accept this particular sit.
I’m sorry that you didn’t enjoy your sit, but have to say that this sounds like perfectly normal Cockerpoo behaviour to me! Not necessarily desirable behaviour, and certainly not something that you’re going to be able to solve on a brief house-sit, but now that you’ve had this experience at least it will give you a better idea of questions to ask and things to discuss with homeowners for any other sits that you have planned, to make sure that they really are a good fit for you.
Bear in mind that lots of dogs in that sort of age range will have been ‘lock-down pups’, who became used to having people around all day when Covid restrictions meant that owners were working remotely. Added to that, certain breeds are just more needy than others, and, since his owners had gone away, he would have been even more needy than usual, and looking to you to provide comfort and security. Dogs don’t generally have an on/off switch, but a decent walk usually helps them to settle, (albeit on your feet), and mental stimulation or games that involve them using their nose to find things are also wonderfully sleep-inducing!
Bottom line is that you really need to be a dog-lover to volunteer to look after someone else’s dogs for a few days AND still find it a pleasurable experience. I’ve had a Cockerpoo try to join me in my bath, and woken up with a Weimaraner’s head on the pillow next to me – you just have to laugh, and embrace the fact that they really are (wo)man’s best friend.
)
