Dog sitting problem, help me please!

[starryfish]

Okay I am pet-sitting for a friend of a friend.


I went over last night and met their dog and cat with their owners still there. Their dog is a pom/chi mix. He was super friendly and hyper last night.

This morning I go over to let the dog out and feed the cat. Cat was fine. Dog on the other hand is standing guard by the door. When I try to approach him (for him to sniff me, put leash on, etc) he growls and then lunges to bite me. I didn't think he would actually bite me because my chi does this sometimes too (when she doesn't want to be disturbed), but he did bite me. I tried giving him treats to get him to warm up, but no luck.


I called the owner and left a message explaining the situation and texted as well but I have not heard back. This dog is probably at 12 hours+ without going outside now (I was there 2 hours ago).

Is there anything I can do in the meantime? What would you do?

ETA: she is texting with me now. Apparently she says he has never acted like that before and they have had a pet-sitter before (regular one is not available this weekend). 

[starryfish]

May 1, 2015 9:34:54 GMT -5 @foodielicious said:

do you have the clothes you wore the day before? Would wearing them again help you think?

yes I do. I could change and go back over later. 

When I was there I took off my scarf and sunglasses hoping he just didn't recognize me, but it was worse. 

[EmilieMadison]

Holy shit. First, I hope you got some medical attention if you need it. Are you ok?
Second, if the owners haven't gotten back to you, I would do nothing in the meantime. Everyone will be safest if you are not there.

I have to wonder why a friend of a friend is the only one they could find to care for their dog, and since the dog bit you (OMG) I would be highly suspicious that no one else would do it because the dog is aggressive.

I would not subject yourself or the dog to further trauma. Tell the owners that because their dog bit you, you will not be comfortable caring for the dog and that they will have to make other arrangements immediately.

[starryfish]

May 1, 2015 9:37:39 GMT -5 EmilieMadison said:

Holy shit. First, I hope you got some medical attention if you need it. Are you ok?
Second, if the owners haven't gotten back to you, I would do nothing in the meantime. Everyone will be safest if you are not there.

I have to wonder why a friend of a friend is the only one they could find to care for their dog, and since the dog bit you (OMG) I would be highly suspicious that no one else would do it because the dog is aggressive.

I would not subject yourself or the dog to further trauma. Tell the owners that because their dog bit you, you will not be comfortable caring for the dog and that they will have to make other arrangements immediately.

Thanks. Yes I am ok, he broke skin, but it is not super deep. 

I was thinking of just waiting for them to get back to me (they are about a 1 hour drive away right now, so not too far), and also maybe bringing a puppy pad over tonight (if they had not gotten back to me yet). 

[Deleted]

I would try to sit on the couch or something for a little while and let him smell you/get used to you.
Is there any area where you could let him out without putting a leash on?

[loreleigilmore]

short of going and getting one of those hook leashes that the dog catchers use, I think you need to keep yourself safe. Go get a pile of pee pads and try and corral the dog into an area that if he pees then it's not all over the house. But keep yourself safe.

[starryfish]

May 1, 2015 9:49:33 GMT -5 @fox123 said:

I would try to sit on the couch or something for a little while and let him smell you/get used to you.
Is there any area where you could let him out without putting a leash on?

I could try the couch thing later today (didn't have much time this morning and was honestly a little scared by what happened)

I tried to get him out the door without a leash but he wouldn't move from his spot. 

[EmilieMadison]

May 1, 2015 9:53:44 GMT -5 starryfish said:

May 1, 2015 9:49:33 GMT -5 @fox123 said:

I would try to sit on the couch or something for a little while and let him smell you/get used to you.
Is there any area where you could let him out without putting a leash on?

I could try the couch thing later today (didn't have much time this morning and was honestly a little scared by what happened)

I tried to get him out the door without a leash but he wouldn't move from his spot. 

I would not do this. The owners are only an hour away and their dog has bitten you and is acting territorial and aggressive. Do not subject yourself to any further harm, or the dog to any more stress. 

[crashgizmo]

Wow, this is a tough one. I definitely agree that you need to keep yourself safe. Does the mutual friend you two have in common have any thoughts? I just wonder if this is a common issue with the dog or not. If it isn't, I would think that something might be wrong with the dog and the owners should deal with it ASAP. Either way, the owners should come home or try to make other arrangements.

[awick14]

((Hugs))

I'm sorry the pup was ok last night but now he's not. He probably isn't comfortable because his family isn't there and your a stranger in his home.

I honestly would not go back into the house at all. I'm hoping the family gets back to you soon.

[martini]

I'm so sorry that happened! Are there any treats you can bribe him with? I don't even know if that's good advice- but I used to have to do that with a dog I used to watch for a family friend. Without fail, each time they went away he hated me the first day- wouldn't let me in the house without barking and growling, then after I dropped some treats and said his name a few times, he'd relax and let me in. A few hours later he was my best buddy. The next vacation he'd act the same the first day.

[starryfish]

They are coming home!

[EmilieMadison]

May 1, 2015 14:45:18 GMT -5 starryfish said:

They are coming home!

I'm so relieved!

[compassrose]

Sounds like the best outcome.

[Doggy Mommy]

Glad they're coming home! This happened with our dog last year (she passed away in December). She LOVED our neighbor and had met him many times. She always snuggled right up to him. But when he came over once without us there to take her out, she growled and barked and wouldn't calm down. She didn't bite thankfully. We had to come home, there was nothing else we could do.

[starryfish]

May 1, 2015 19:45:15 GMT -5 Doggy Mommy said:

Glad they're coming home! This happened with our dog last year (she passed away in December). She LOVED our neighbor and had met him many times. She always snuggled right up to him. But when he came over once without us there to take her out, she growled and barked and wouldn't calm down. She didn't bite thankfully. We had to come home, there was nothing else we could do.

Thanks, glad to hear it wasn't just me

[emilyinchile]

This isn't surprising to me at all, actually. A family friend used to stay with us for a couple weeks at a time, multiple times, and would leave her small dog in the guest room where she was staying during the day. I knew her dog from before, dog was always fine with me (I could pick her up and cuddle), and this was in my house, but if I opened the door of the guest room when friend wasn't home yet the dog would growl at me and refused to leave the room to go outside. Totally normal for dogs to be territorial when their people aren't around.

So don't feel bad, take it as a lesson learned (for both you and the owners), and I hope your bite is ok today!