Hi. I am from the US and all my sits have been in Europe. I am currently on my 9th sit. It is a repeat sit for someone who was one of my first sits. When I got here, the first thing I notice when I walked in the door was the dog smell. In the next day or so, I noticed numerous cobwebs and spiders. (The homeowner is older and had been having health issues so I’m sure some/many cleaning tasks were put aside which is understandable.) I didn’t want to live with the cobwebs and spiders, so I did go through all the corners with a feather duster. I am still seeing ones I missed. As for the dog smell, there is now an 11 1/2 month old small-breed puppy which I knew about prior to coming. However, I didn’t know she was having a hard time with housebreaking-hence the smell. I have left the door open(as the owner does) for the dog to go outside as she wishes. But, the dog is still peeing in the house. It seems like every day, it’s more often. (Which could be behavioral and/or the dog missing her owner.) Today, it’s quite chilly outside so I shut the door, and the dog has already pooped and peed twice in the house despite being left out several times. But that does tell me that leaving the door open was helping some. But, when I do let the dogs out, this one just stands there. I have 2 weeks left. Does anyone have any advice? (Thanks in advance
On another note…I have to admit, I am pretty frustrated with myself on the houses I chose this time. Since I come from the US, I tend to do a 2-3 sits when I come over. This is a 7 week trip and I had 4 sits lined up this time. My first house was awesome. The second house smelled like cats. The third one smelled like the cottage in the woods it was, but the house itself was clean and nice and in a beautiful area. This house smells like dog. I have always been choosy about the sits I pick. But, after this trip, I am definitely going to be much more particular on the houses I choose in the future. Live and learn…
Since sitting, we’ve found that there are some older girl dogs are less in control of when they ‘go’ as they get older, and smellier too. But we’re with a little 10 year old girl now who smells fresh as a daisy, and will happily hold off going to the toilet forever if it’s raining outside, she hates the rain.
We buy neutradol gel and place them around the place, to help get rid of the aroma. It absorbs the smell quite alot (gets rid of a curry smell quickly too). But we always remove them before the owner returns because we don’t want the HO to take offence, for something that could simply be their pet getting older.
Depending on your circumstances, maybe work on training the dog and/or getting the dog diapers. Not sure whether you can tolerate the existing smell — if it’s pee, you’d have to do thorough cleaning and even then that might not be enough, because rugs or carpets might require professional cleaning. And if pee has seeped into carpet padding and/or the underfloor, you’re pretty much stuck.
Have you tried walking the dog to see if he “does his business” rather than just letting in the garden?
This might break the habit the dog is getting in to.
I think if the smell of urine is on a surface they’re going to want to pee there, no? I think vinegar is the cheapest way to remove the scent & a deterrent for the dog BUT very acidity, so not for all surfaces. I can’t get a house to sit, I actually stopped trying for 2 months now lol.
Where are you looking? Have you posted your profile for feedback from the community? The holidays are generally a VERY high in demand time for sitters so it would be a good time to get some sits books and reviews on your profile. Once you have a couple reviews it makes things a lot easier.
If it were me, I’d establish some structure similar to training a new puppy. If possible, restrict the places it can free pee to a couple of rooms that are ideally not carpeted. Establish a bathroom schedule that the dog can become familiar with and will know that’s when he’s supposed to go to the bathroom.
First thing in the morning, take him right outside before it can pee inside. Take it for a walk so it does #1 & 2 before going back inside. Take it for an afternoon walk to do it’s business and again before bed. Limit where it can go at night when it’s not supervised.
Give it lots of praise when it goes outside. When it pees inside, put him right outside so he understands that’s where he should go, even if he has already gone inside. You want to build the connection for him of peeing only outside.
I would thoroughly clean all areas where there’s pee that you can. Ideally, purchase a specific animal urine cleaner which will be more effective with the smell for you, but has enzymes which minimize the attraction for the dog.
This will help you, but also the elderly owner when she returns. It’s a young dog, so will he will likely learn quickly.
Buy a pack of these and put them in the spots he tends to pee in. If the owner hasn’t been able to train him at nearly a year old I don’t think it’s your role to try to get him housebroken in two weeks unless you like a challenge and hopefully a glowing review. (Actually, if you do manage to house-train him, ask the HO not to mention that or you’ll get other people with puppies inviting you to sit.)
No I haven’t, how do I do that? Is there a place that is best to share?
I just need someone to give me a shot, I know the lack of reviews is killing me. I have got a few from ppl I sat for outside of Housesitters but it doesn’t seem to be enough. I get it, I’d be leery too
She had puppy pads in the cupboard. I put several down. She tore up 2 of them. A little while ago, she went outside then came in and peed 6 inches from the one that was left.
Curious what country you’re in. That’s a shame, I’ve done over 30 sits including several in the UK and have been very fortunate, yet nonetheless I’ve learned over time to be more discerning on what I choose.
As it is a young dog and an old owner I would assume that this dog has never been house-broken, unfortunately. If one buy a puppy from a serious breeder (at least it is common here) the breeder will have started the training and many puppies are quite good already when they get a new home, but of course the small ones need to go more often. If the new owner doesn’t follow up the good start is wasted. One has to be quite consistent in the start, so the dog understands it, which I can understand can be difficult to follow up for elderly people.
I would do as Voyager suggest. Not because it is «the sitters job» but because it will make the stay more pleasant.
To the extent you can, get rid of the smell indoor as the places the dog has done business will attract it to do it again. You can get special sprays for that if you have a petstore nearby. If not, I often clean normally and afterwards wipe over with White vinegar (learnt from a breeder).
Dogs often need to go after they have eaten/ drunk, after sleep and after play. In the morning, make it a priority first thing.
Many dogs need to move to do business. They are more likely to go properly to the toilet if they have the opportunity to proper excercise / a good long walk (my dog is like that. Although she won’t do anything inside unless she is ill).
Some use close supervision and have the dog in leash inside so that they detect the dog needing to go early enough. You may know it, but signs are for instance sniffing on floor and/ or circling.
It is a very unfortunate situastion for you and the dog, and also the owner. Sorry you had to experience this. I think Voyager has good advice and I think it could be of help. Best of luck!
My suggestion is to start local, apply for short, last minute sits. I got my first sit immediately because I had a car and was going to use it during the sit. The HOs liked that, as well as the fact that it allowed us to meet in person for the “interview” and see if we were a good match. In addition, apply for short, last-minute sits. Someone who needs a sitter for the weekend two days from now will have fewer options and be less picky. Lastly, you have to know how to “sell” yourself well in writing. I’d be happy to look at your profile and applications and suggest improvements.
Once you have reviews, it gets much easier to get more sittings.
We had a HS where the HO did not disclose that one of the Dog’s was not house trained at all, pee and pooped inside and I mean, it did not matter if we took the Dog for a Walk or spent 5hrs outside with the Dog(s) this Dog would hold on and as soon as we went inside, within seconds it had run off somewhere downstairs and done and poop and pee! we learned pretty quickly to close all the Doors inside so the Dog could not poop and pee just anywhere, it was limited to the Laundry room where the dogs all slept, we cleaned it up with Vinegar to reduce the smell (the floor was lino so suitable for Vinegar) the Dog started to pee on the mat at the back door (protest to not being able to just go pee anywhere downstairs?) Olbas oil sorted it pretty quickly it went back to the Laundry room to pee. Tea Tree Oil/Eucalyptus does the same job, only a drop, will deter a Cat or Dog from Peeing or Pooping in the same spot.
Leaving the Door open, limiting where it can pee/poop in the house and if the floors are suitable for Vinegar use some, bi carbonate soda will help on carpets/rugs that it’s dried on to help absorb the smell, sometimes a sit is how a sit is.
You could try the oil if it does it’s business in the same spot and see if that helps it to go outside?
Being a Young Dog and the HO being older, it might just be what they have gotten used to as maybe they don’t get to the let the Dog out in time, the other’s can hold on, the Pup can’t and it’s gotten used to it as has the HO? If the HO is training the Pup still and you know the routine ie: first thing outside while you get their food ready, then let them back in, then put them back outside while you wash their bowls, water etc and they do their business, you go outside with them, pick up any poops and play ball etc for a bit then they can come back inside? it’s a bit hard as we don’t know what the routine is?
Try and enjoy the rest of the sit and remember sometimes a sit is just how it is. x
