That is not really true, I could not claim to be one. But I found them pleasurable on all my sits. Except in one case, when I had gotten enough of the dog keeping an eye on me all the time.
This summer I will do a return sit of a really nice dog, a Border Collie. The location is also desirable, but I like the place better with the dog than without him.
I think itās important to show empathy for a dog, instead of getting annoyed and referring to a dog as āitā
No offense intended. Gender neutral language
Haha! Ok, letās just say āit helps to be a dog-loverā¦ā
I actually love dogs and cats a lot. I wish I could magically visit them again, for maybe a few days, because theyāve all been lovable. The energy of repeating those sits would be too much, though.
In the latter case, I actually felt bad for the sweet cats, because they were shortchanged, since the dog was so intensely jealous that sheād chase and tackle them unless they were gated apart. I wouldāve loved to spend more time petting and playing with them. Sleeping with the cats at least gave them some quality petting time.
I suggested to my hosts that they get a couple if the year-old pup doesnāt outgrow her jealousy. But they were so happy with our sit that they asked me back anyway.
Also, I swear this is the strangest thing:
HO sent me a video of her holding treats near her buttocks. Dog was supposed to come touch the ābase of her spineā take the treat and walk behind her.
Ughh this why your dog is following me everywhere licking me in an unwelcome way 
@Becca THS isnāt a volunteer site, itās an exchange site. Dogs require socialization, training, boundaries for their own well-being, not just because people expect it. As a ādog personā Iāve volunteered in dog rescue for 15+ years. That where my volunteer time is provided, not to a home owner who decided to be lazy or negligent with their dogs. Iām not a free dog trainer or pet psychologist or unpaid full-time canine au pair and no one on this site should be.
The OP isnāt a bad person, or not a ādog personā, because they found being around an unsocialized, poorly trained dog displaying pathological behavior problematic. Not being able to leave is not an equitable exchange. I feel sorry for that dog but I also think it sounds awful to be around. Two things can be true at the same time.
Side note, Iām with a doodle right now. A ālock-downā dog with work from home people. It is not anxious, it can be left at home for 6-hours+, but I donāt because I absolutely love being around him. Heās high energy but has been socialized, has training, walks well on a leash, has had clear boundaries set. The HOās knew that was their responsibility to do, regardless of breed, a pandemic, or work location.
Hi @lou28
Iām well aware that this is an exchange site. Iāve used the word āvolunteerā in this context because sitters have the freedom to choose whether or not they take on a particular sit ā it is voluntary rather than enforced.
Unfortunately, itās absolutely impossible to tell from a listing how well-trained or socialised a dog is, and even if you ask the right questions in advance, itās subjective to a degree, and youāre relying on homeowners offering full and honest answers. Iāve been caught out in the past, despite asking the questions I felt I needed to ask, and itās not pleasant ā my āholidayā plans were curtailed massively and I had no option but to suck it up for the welfare of the dog involved. The flip side of this is that homeowners face the same uncertainties about the sitter that they choose ā even if sitters are able to offer specific details of their experience such as your 15+ years volunteering in dog rescue, there is no guarantee that things will go to plan every time.
It is therefore always a bit of a gamble as to how well a sit will work out for the parties concerned, and I canāt really see a way around this. In the interest of managing my own expectations of a sit, I now try to go into the situation with the view that things might not work out exactly as Iād hoped, or even be what one might consider an āequitable exchangeā. If Iām not prepared to take that risk, and to prioritise the needs of the animals, then I opt for a proper holiday instead.
Iām certainly not suggesting that the OP (or anyone else who has experienced a similar situation) is a bad person or not a ādog personā for not enjoying their sit. Iām just making the generalisation that if and when things go wrong ā or even just dealing with the day-to-day mud, mess, hair and poop that dogs somehow manage to produce ā it definitely helps if you at least feel some sort of bond with the pets that youāre caring for. Iāve learnt something from every challenging situation, and it just makes you better prepared for the next one.
Glad youāre enjoying your doodle! Sounds like you landed a good sit :o)