I sat a dog a few weeks back for some people. Really great and nice, nothing wrong with them.
The issue I had was the dog was not "as advertised" and I had a rough time watching. It was rather unruly and played A LOT rougher than I expected it to.
My question is how do I tell these people I don't want to watch their dog again, without coming off like a jerk.
Hi Brett -
I'd advise you to be honest with your clients, and let them know that as much as you loved working with them and enjoyed their dog, you didn't feel you were the best choice for his sitter. I see you don't have pets of your own, and you don't watch dogs from multiple clients, so I'm not sure what kind of rough play the dog was engaging in, but if, for example, he was just too rambunctious in your house and you were worried about things breaking, maybe let them know that with his amount of energy, you were concerned that he might injure himself and would be happier somewhere he could really get out his energy, maybe somewhere with another high energy dog who enjoys running and wrestling. Not every dog is going to be a great fit for you, and that's ok. If you make your concerns about the dog's comfort and happiness rather than about his behavior (which may be a negative for you in your house, but might be perfectly suited somewhere else), you're a lot less likely to offend, and they may still recommend you to friends.
I really don't think you need to address this issue unless they attempt to rebook with you. I watched an unruly dog whom was described as friendly and sweet by the dog owner. Instead, she attempted to attack my golden retriever, and certainly did not like the company of other dogs. When dropping off the dog, I mentioned it to the owner who acknowledged she was aware of this information. It's really frustrating when owners withhold these characteristics bc everyone wants to view their pet as "perfect". I did end up booking the dog again since I was aware of her behaviors, her triggers, and I was confident in handling her.
If they put in another request, just tell them you're not available. No confrontation this way. And you won't be lying. They don't have to know the real reason why you're unavailable to watch their dog. Be sure to rate the dog with Rover, though, so that other sitters know the real deal and will be prepared to handle this dog. And if I can't take a dog, I always tell the owner if they want to they can call Rover Support for help placing their dog.
Other sitters do not see prior reviews; they are for Rover's Eyes Only. Truly a pity and something many sitters have expressed a desire to see.
Agreed!!! I have had a few awful stays and one dog was very dangerous. The customer was in total denial and I am sure he will use Rover again. I left a very honest review that will never benefit anyone.
This was an issue back a few months ago for me. Repeat client with an aggressive and very playful dog. I could handle one but then she got another dog in addition. When she asked me to sit again, I was honest with her and told her both of them would be way too much for me. Honesty is the best policy.
I just tell them that their dog was was nice but too much 'dog' for us and not a good fit for my home/with my dogs. So far, I've been pretty good about predicting the dogs' behavior from the meet 'n greet. I won't watch a dog without one and mine last about an hour.
Rule of thumb is to have a long thorough meet and greet. Even though that doesn't always mean they won't act unruly, it's a better chance you'll see how the dog is. I normally have pet parents come to my apartment, hang out for a bit, and relax for maybe an hour. This gives us time to chat,for the dog to relax in it's new environment, and I think you'll get a better feel for how the dog will be for the stay. Obviously, a long meet and greet isn't easy for everyone but you just have to find a way to conduct them to get the best results from them.
As for telling them you can no longer watch their dog, be polite as possible. That's all you can do.