What is the ratio of problem dogs you have had?
I've had about 10 owners book with me, with some repeat bookings. 90% of the time if the client does a meet & greet they book with me.
8/10 dogs have severe problems. I don't feel the owners are being as honest as they should be about these issues. I always ask at the meet & greet before booking-house training, aggression, crate training, and my favorite special quirks. Every dog seems to have an object they love, hate, or fear. It's so cute, I've heard all kinds of things exercise balls, rubber bands, empty boxes, water bottles, paper etc..
I know dogs are going to be more nervous & need more potty breaks in a new environment. So if an owner says their dog gets 2 walks a day I figure one walk when they first get there then 3 more for a total of 4 the first day & 3 every day after. If they say they're crate trained I still prepare to do some gentle encouragement like leaving treats in the crate during the day to get them comfortable.
Some examples I was told a puppy was pad trained as long as first thing in the morning I took her out of her crate & carried her to her pee pad. She started dripping immediately when I picked her up, so I'd have a pad right outside her crate. Other than first thing in the morning she went everywhere but the pad. On the balcony, on the couch, in the kitchen, in the hall, in the bathroom. She didn't understand when I said "Stop!" when she started peeing on the floor. She'd continue to pee as I carried her to her pad, then be annoyed I was keeping her on her pad. To me this means a dog is not pad trained at all.
I was told a dog was house trained. Despite numerous walks he peed on the couch. I wash everything with enzymatic cleaner, including the sofa covers.
I was told a dog was house trained & crate trained. Despite numerous walks, every hour during the day, he peed everywhere in the house. When I told him "Stop!" during the act he was completely bewildered like he didn't know what he was doing was wrong. He'd go in his crate without much encouragement but start whining in the night. A young puppy I could understand this behavior, but not an adult dog.
It's not like the owners are telling me there's a small problem; they're telling me "Oh no, he's 100% house trained!" An accident here or there from any dog I can understand. When it's most of my clients most of the time I just wonder if everyone else is having the same experience?
Any chance it's the area I'm in, Los Angeles?
I'd really like to hear the details other sitters are having with dogs ...
YES, owners are not always honest is there descriptions of their dogs. I have had a few with problems. One had horrible anxiety and was all over the place when no one else was in the room. The owner was retired and spent their entire lives with the dog. I try to be really careful about retirees.
One of my first dogs through rover was ok in the meet and greet, but aggressive and bit my dog during the stay, so I kept it outside on a lead after that. This dog did not have many teeth, that was the red flag that he bites a lot...and doesn't let go! I found out this dog stayed in a crate a lot!
Absolutely. I'm learning to read between the lines during meet & greets. Thanks for the tips on retirees, I haven't had any yet so it's good to know to look out for that.
I've watched over 20 different dogs and thankfully have only had issues with 3 or 4 dogs I've watched. The current dog I am watching is one of those "issues"/problem dogs. The dog pooped in my house within 10 mins of arriving, & owner did not inform me ahead of time that dog has open wounds on leg
Hold on now on retirees...I'm retired and have 3 dogs. None of them are a problem. I disagree that retirees pose an issue because they spend a lot of time with their pets...I see how it "could" be an issue but it could be an issue with any age group really. Give us chance...I'm also a sitter
I have a dog with terrible anxiety - continually humped me for 3 hours (and his nails have not been cut), peed on the carpet in my building as he was going for his walk (I followed the owner's walk/pee schedule), constantly barks all day to the annoyance of neighbours. They never bathed him either!
Yes,100% of dogs have issues.Dog behavior begins/ends w/owners who NEED to commit to WHY an issue exists & HOW to control it. DAILY training/positive reinforcement is only way to improve dog behavior. Age/diet/breed/environment play a role as well! Owners can really screw a dog up. Stay calm. Woof.
Agree! OWNER profiles need much improvement.
I’ve been on Rover almost 2 years and really fed up with owners’ dishonesty. I have many wonderful experiences, but too many awful ones. People lie, and Rover does NOTHING to encourage owners to be as awesome as we have to be! Nothing! Business model seriously flawed!...
...(continued)... I am doing mandatory daycare ‘test’ day or night from now on to prevent any more catastrophes. What we’re experiencing is the consequences of the decline in human character. That’s why people lie and don’t care what their dogs do to us!