Hi All- we have sat now on over 15 Stays and this one is sad as the pup who is 4 years old is a rescue and very recluse. He did not eat for a day or drink water.
Very skittish- won’t interact and sits in his crate all day. Started growling at us from the moment we stepped in the door as we only had a walk through the day before but did not stay over. Walked into the house after the owners left.
Now growls at us when we come within 5 feet- bit diaconcerting.
The owner during the walk through did not mention any behavior issues and was aggressive with clipping the leash on him to pull him out the crate and out door for a walk.
Part Pit and with the growling not interested in going near his head to clip the leash. He is not food motivated and doesn’t play with toys… again feel bad for the pup.
Has a fenced in yard but hardly goes out. Any thoughts / suggestions on warming up or just stay the course?
(Title edited by Forum team to encourage replies )
I totally get why you are careful. As he seeks refuge in his crate it is indeed a good idea not to go after him.
You might know, but try to not
Go directly towards the pet
Show the front of your body to the pet
Look directly at him/ seek eye contact
Smile at him (showing teeth)
You can see how dogs approach these situations, with calming signals. Minding their own business, showing the side of the body etc.
This will let him check you out and feel ensured that you are not dangerous. Just being in the room and do whatever while he checks you out is valuable. Time is key. In similar sitations I sometimes also talk or sing a lot, in a more high tone (not «growling») and feel that it helps to communicate (or it helps me ). Sometimes I Even say a few Words in the language of the owner. I guess maybe other everyday noises is good.
At the same time, maintain your safety. Not necessarily because something will happen, but if you have a plan then you will also be calmer which will help.
Keep talking to him as much as you can, in a soft and calming manner.
Be sure to give him his own space too for as long as it takes.
I’d leave treats about the place for him, but make sure he knows you did it. Walk well away so he can go and investigate on his terms
The off his food and lack of motivation thing is probably due to you being there, so he may well like treats/food.
Don’t make eye contact, don’t sit on the sofa, instead sit yourself on the floor about 4 - 6 feet away, place treats on the floor in between you both, and just watch TV and now and again just say good boy without looking at him, the TV noise is familiar to him so it will soothe him a little more, as he’ll relate it to what his owner does. That way he can get used to your scent and know that you aren’t a danger to him.
As soon as he’s relaxed a tiny bit, get the lead on him and take him for a walk, because when you walk a dog everything changes, he’ll then know that you’ll look after him, you aren’t a threat, and he can relax a little more knowing you are in control of everything. Walking a dog is the best way to win them over when they are extremely anxious, but sometimes it takes time just to get to the point of putting the leader on.
Thank you Garfield… we are tracking with these suggestions… giving him space and time. Jodi will try singing she has a beautiful voice… my talent is listening!
He hasn’t moved from the bedroom and we need to get him outside to do his business… stay tuned.
Thank you CRU… we would love to give him treats but he has allergies so no treat available to offer per the home owner. He isn’t interested in toys either… so our efforts are limited.
We have stat on the floor he keeps his head down eyes up and growls loud. Unfortunately we would love to give him treats but he has allergies so no treat available to offer per the home owner instructions not even veggies. He isn’t interested in toys either… so our efforts are limited.
Walking is another story - he isn’t a walker- when I did the orientation with the HO she handed the leash over to me after we walked a couple of blocks and he turned right around and pulled hard to go back to the house… working through options…
Also the HO told us NOT to reach over him so getting close to him and attempting to clip a leash on him is something we are not willing to risk based on his current demeanor.
Suggest you let the host know and ask what has worked in the past. And if you get desperate, you might need to tap an emergency contact who knows the dog better.
Bigger picture, dogs can be riskier, especially when rescues / new to a household. That’s why overlapping day or night with hosts can be valuable — you want to give the dog(s) time to acclimate to you. And if they aren’t amenable, then the sit might not actually be doable.
My own rescue dog needs special care. We never leave him with someone unfamiliar, because it would be unfair to him and them. That’s why we never host — we hire professionals whom he’s had opportunities to get to know. He’ll never be left with a THS sitter, because THS is not meant to serve all pets.
Just an addition to the great previous replies :
How long has this dog been with these owners ?
Is there any chance that the rescue from which he came could be contacted and help as a resource ? Perhaps a previous foster (if applicable) could help ?
Obviously these are big reaches asking people who are no longer involved for their time and help…but we animal lovers have been known to step up to the plate when we have experience with a given animal who is having trouble adjusting.
I’m sorry for both you and the pup (especially since the owner’s behaviour based on your description seems questionable). It sounds like you’re coming from a place of patience and true care . Know that, regardless of the outcome, these will be the best assets you have in trying to help.
I was worried when I read that owner says one should not reach over him. I would like to stress that aggressive animals is a violation of THS terms, and this plattform of voluntarily exchanging unpaid sitting should not in any shape or form knowingly put others at risk. Were you aware of what this actually was and would play out before you confirmed?
I don’t know what the pet is fed, but if kibble - I use my dogs ordinary kibble as treats also.
If this doesn’t improve a lot soon, I would personally give notice to leave and say they would need to contact their emergency person. For myself but also for the pet as it seems stressed. It isn’t good for the host either if her pet
experience a lot of stress going forward.
That’s why I suggested that you contact the host — they know where the dog came from and anyone who’s handled him well, in case you need to ask for help.
One of the people we’ve left our dog with works at the shelter where we adopted him. Now that we’ve recently moved back to the area, we’ll have her take care of him again. The first time we were going on vacation without him, I contacted the shelter where he’d spent extended time — before the first time he was adopted after being found as a stray and again after he’d been returned by an adoptive family, because he has issues. I specifically wanted someone who’d helped care for him and I offered a lot of money, so he wouldn’t be scared of a stranger. Some rescues are damaged and need extra care.
Other folks we’ve paid to take care of him include his trainer. And even in those cases, we did that only after he’d gotten to know her and we could tell she knew what she was doing.
If your sit dog has had such folks in their lives, or other people who know the dog well, your host would know.
All good advice. On a sit earlier this year with 3 dogs, a cat, and a macaw, one of the dogs really wouldn’t get close. The HO told me she really didn’t warm up to men. She ate and drank, but wouldn’t get close although after the first few days she would watch me closely from across the room and she seemed to want to get close and join dog #2 on the couch with me. But she just couldn’t. So I talked to her, tossed toys for her to fetch but didn’t force anything. HOs returned and wrote that she was fine and happy.
Thanks Tomi… last night was RUFF as he got up twice to go out which we accommodated but he barks as soon as he goes out so that give us concern waking the close neighbors up. Managed through that- went back and looked based on your comment- all previous sitters were woman! And they all sat the HO 2 dogs! The other seemed to pass away between the previous sit and us. So this is seems to be the first sit without his buddy which could have level set things and having first male sitter where we only had 20-30 minutes of orientation the day before and no comfort / reinforcement time with the HO probably is starting to add up. He is now squeezed in between the shed and fence looking into the corner not moving! Haven’t experienced anything like this before… reached out the HO to ask if this in normal…
To all… even keel day as it was totally chill… he hung around with many zoomie’s from running outside inside and back out…. Played calm writing music and he slept on the couch… then he came closer and closer so we turned the proverbial corner… thank God! Will keep all posted….
I’ve sat for a rescue with issues. A challenge was that all previous sitters only said the dog “needing to warm up” a couple of days, but not saying what was the issue and how they solved it. You might want to consider doing it in your review (or nudge the host to do it in their listing). I did, and hope it will help the sitters after me understand the pet better (and assess whether they are a good match).
We bought a few toys last night some squeaky balls, stuffed animal and pull rope and left them in the living room. This morning we had my wife go down first without me to hang out. She got down there and he was chillin on the couch with the pull toy!!! YEAH!! She even sat with him and he let her pet him for a long time!! I waited for 30-40m then went down. Definitely a male thing as he just ran outside through the open door when I came down. Guess I am the scary one…. But he is roaming and getting closer keeping an eye on me every time we scoots by… there is hope… just sitting in the backyard smoking a turkey…. Gorgeous day! Excited and relieved… but still cautious. Will keep you all posted as to the progress and our efforts! Gobble Gobble!
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). Sometimes I Even say a few Words in the language of the owner. I guess maybe other everyday noises is good.
as he got up twice to go out which we accommodated but he barks as soon as he goes out so that give us concern waking the close neighbors up. Managed through that- went back and looked based on your comment- all previous sitters were woman! And they all sat the HO 2 dogs! The other seemed to pass away between the previous sit and us. So this is seems to be the first sit without his buddy which could have level set things and having first male sitter where we only had 20-30 minutes of orientation the day before and no comfort / reinforcement time with the HO probably is starting to add up. He is now squeezed in between the shed and fence looking into the corner not moving! Haven’t experienced anything like this before… reached out the HO to ask if this in normal…
please do keep us updated on how the sit is going!