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  1. #1
    Senior Dog BaconsMom's Avatar
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    Any dog-sitting tips?

    Jake and I will be dog-sitting for a friend in 2 weeks. Bacon and their dog Bibi get along super well. They regularly have play dates and we hunt with them on a regular basis. This will be our first time dog-sitting. Bibi is a german shorthair pointer, and she is very high energy! She is also hunting trained, so great recall (in theory). A few questions

    1. Anything special I should do to get her acclimated to our home?
    2. Bacon sleeps in our room at night, but we don’t think we can trust Bibi to be loose at night, should she just sleep in her kennel, in our room?
    3. Should we separate them while feeding meals?
    4. Bibi has a fenced in yard at home, we do not. However her family assures us she comes when called, and is fully trained on E-collar recall. I know I want to get some good playing in for her to zap some energy, but I really don’t trust her off leash with no boundaries, any tips?
    5. Anything special we should do with Bacon?

    Any tips would be great. I want to make sure Bibi and Bacon have a good time!
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  2. #2
    Senior Dog smartrock's Avatar
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    I've mainly just pet-sitted our daughter's dog. Until you know how Bibi seems in your home, I'd pick up any of Bacon's toys or bones that are lying around so they aren't an immediate source of tension between them. I'd let her sleep in her crate at night, in your room if you're OK with that, unless she normally doesn't sleep with her owners anyway. I'd feed them far enough apart that you can keep an eye out and get in between them if one moves toward the other's food bowl while the other is still eating. Or you could feed one then the other in a room with the door shut. I don't know what to say about exercise, I'm sure I'd be afraid of her running off, too, but hopefully she'll want to stay where Bacon is. Might not be a bad idea to have a copy of her immunizations in case there's some reason to take her to a vet during the stay.

  3. #3
    Senior Dog Tanya's Avatar
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    1 - I find even dogs used to my house, my dog get "sad" when their owners leave. I find taking a walk helps. Possibly play with Bacon in the back. Something to change her mind from thinking "oh no! htye left!"

    2 - if she is used to sleeping in the crate that sounds like a good plan (crated in your bedroom). if she isn't used to sleeping in a crate that may or may not turn out so well :P

    3 - yes better safe than sorry. it's easy to just seperate.

    4 - yeah...i'm pretty anal about that kinda stuff and wouldn't leave dog new to me loose regardless of how well their recall may or may not be with their owners. Has the dog EVER worked for anyone else? Some dogs barely sit for others never mind recall. that's a pretty big test (recall for someone else). I at least wouldn't do it for many hours after their departure. Is there anywhere fenced you can go? at least practice? tennis court, baseball field, friend/family?

    5 - not really. If he's too much for her at times and she needs space (or vice versa) just step in.

    ETA: agree with picking up all toys and bones. Even if htey are ok outside the home or even in the home with her owners there she may be a big anxious at first which can lead to stuff like guarding (even if not normally a guarder). You can bring toys out under supervision as a test as she settles in.

    OH and if you have an extra tag with your number o nit (even if it says bacon) slip that on her collar for her stay so they don't immediate call her owners should anything happen

    Quote Originally Posted by BaconsMom View Post
    Jake and I will be dog-sitting for a friend in 2 weeks. Bacon and their dog Bibi get along super well. They regularly have play dates and we hunt with them on a regular basis. This will be our first time dog-sitting. Bibi is a german shorthair pointer, and she is very high energy! She is also hunting trained, so great recall (in theory). A few questions

    1. Anything special I should do to get her acclimated to our home?
    2. Bacon sleeps in our room at night, but we don’t think we can trust Bibi to be loose at night, should she just sleep in her kennel, in our room?
    3. Should we separate them while feeding meals?
    4. Bibi has a fenced in yard at home, we do not. However her family assures us she comes when called, and is fully trained on E-collar recall. I know I want to get some good playing in for her to zap some energy, but I really don’t trust her off leash with no boundaries, any tips?
    5. Anything special we should do with Bacon?

    Any tips would be great. I want to make sure Bibi and Bacon have a good time!

  4. #4
    Senior Dog CraftHer's Avatar
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    For recall, do you (or they) have a long lead (20 ft)? You can test Bibi's recall. Just because she's great with her family doesn't mean she'll be great with you, too. Also, find out what her high value treats are in case her recall needs a little extra incentive.

    Have fun.

  5. #5
    House Broken
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    I wouldn't let her run loose, unless it was talked about and agreed upon by both parties. I would let them know if they allow this you won't be held accountable. I would not want anyone running my dog without me. Vic

  6. #6
    Senior Dog Snowshoe's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by BaconsMom View Post
    Jake and I will be dog-sitting for a friend in 2 weeks. Bacon and their dog Bibi get along super well. They regularly have play dates and we hunt with them on a regular basis. This will be our first time dog-sitting. Bibi is a german shorthair pointer, and she is very high energy! She is also hunting trained, so great recall (in theory). A few questions

    1. Anything special I should do to get her acclimated to our home?
    2. Bacon sleeps in our room at night, but we don’t think we can trust Bibi to be loose at night, should she just sleep in her kennel, in our room?
    3. Should we separate them while feeding meals?
    4. Bibi has a fenced in yard at home, we do not. However her family assures us she comes when called, and is fully trained on E-collar recall. I know I want to get some good playing in for her to zap some energy, but I really don’t trust her off leash with no boundaries, any tips?
    5. Anything special we should do with Bacon?

    Any tips would be great. I want to make sure Bibi and Bacon have a good time!
    My sister's dog was with us for two weeks, she went home last Friday. Bonnie knows me well and has been here before. So,

    1. I think it would help if the friends and Bibi could spend time at your house before hand. Maybe a barbeque?

    2. Good friends can still have boundaries and sleeping place, especially if it with you, might be one. I'd put Bibi in her kennel, if she's used to that. Or in another room. Maybe this could be relaxed after a few nights and you see how it goes.

    3. Yes. Bonnie and Oban ate in the same room, at opposite ends and I supervised. After they finished they'd each go check out the other's bowl. I always fed Oban first, to my mind he was here first, he gets fed first.

    4. I agree with you, not to trust her. People usually don't know exactly what their dog will do when they are not there. In our case I do walk Bonnie off leash but we have had many walks together, Sis and I and the dogs. The second last time Bonnie was here Sis and BIL had just left when I took the dogs out. I leashed Bonnie for that one, just, just in case she might decide to run down the road the direction their car had gone.

    5. I address, pet, feed first who was here first when a new animal comes to live or stay. I'm really not sure how much it does for them, especially the cats, but it makes me feel better. Agree about the toys, if Bacon is very fond of any. Oban is not, Bonnie plays with his toys more than he does.


    Have fun.

    ETA: Thought of another one. I have Sis bring all Bonnie's vaccination records, again, just in case we have to go to the Vet. Of course her food (which ran OUT!) her brushes and some treats. I ask her to get Bonnie's nails clipped too, she hates it and I used to be able to do hers but not now.
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  7. #7
    Senior Dog Labradorks's Avatar
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    It's kinda funny...every dog that I watch for friends just gets dumped off and it's like they've always lived with me. I've not had any issues at all, but I typically will not let anyone off leash in an unenclosed space. I do feed separately or at least well supervised. I don't worry too much about the vet stuff, unless they were going off the grid. I know who the vet is and their preferred e-vet. If the dog is used to a crate, make sure they have one available and put them in it just like at home (at night, when not home, etc.). Have the owner's bring the dog's own bed. I like to take them all for a walk first because my two can be too much for the new dog, just over-excited. So, going for a walk and allowing them to acclimate before putting them all in the house seems to just keep things calmer at first.

  8. #8
    Senior Dog Shelley's Avatar
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    I would also get permission at the vet that the visiting dog goes to, and have a monetary limit set in advance, or a credit card on file in case of an emergency. What some people see as reasonable, others might see as extravagant, and vice versa, in regard to what you would spend on a dog if he were injured or needed medical care while in your care. It's nice to be clear ahead of time :-)

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  10. #9
    Senior Dog Meeps83's Avatar
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    Definitely agree on the vet. I had to sign permission for specific people to seek treatment for my dogs. Their names are on file with my vet for emergencies. I'd feed separately and crate at night I'd also keep leashed outside until you know for sure she won't run off.


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  11. #10
    Senior Dog Maxx&Emma's Avatar
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    I also agree with Shelly regarding the vet and financials. It is always best to get that type of info on record.
    I would continue her known routine regarding bedtime, crate, etc.
    There is no way I would feel comfortable allowing someone else to run my dogs off leash. (Especially if there is no history between myself and the dog doing recalls without the owner there.) I will always pick safe over sorry.
    Good luck, I hope you and Bacon have a great time entertaining Bibi!
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