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How to tell family I can't watch their dog in my home agin?

So i've been dog sitting for a few year now, but i'm having my first rover boarding clients this weekend.

One of the dogs has turned out to be a bat fit for me. I have two dogs and when we all had a meet and greet at a local park it seems like everything would be fine. As soon as the dog got here though and his owner left and it was clear that he was going to be a problem.

He is very jealous over human attention and was growling my dogs and humping them when they came near us, to the point where my dogs just went outside and were scared to back inside for like a whole day. Besides being rude to my dogs and the other dog i'm watching this weekend he also has some other really rude behaviors. Our backyard has grass and sand, but for some reason he will only pee on the cement and when he poops he does it right on our doormat or right next to the door. I've tried to have him potty on his leash but he won't and he never goes potty on our walks.

I've had to spend this whole weekend with my guard up every single minute of the day to make sure this rude dog doesn't start or cause a fight with anyone. He is smaller then my dogs so I have to worry about him getting hurt if bothers them too much.

The owners talked to me when we met up the the park about future vacation dates. There is just no way this dog can come back here, what should I say to them? Should I be honest and tell them that their dog shouldn't be boarded in a home with other dogs or just make up some excuse as to why I won't be available?

3 Answers

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Honesty is the best policy so inform the client their dog just isn't a good fit for you, don't make up excuses

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Just be honest. It doesn't help anyone for you to continue to sit a dog that is not a good fit. It would be best for the owners to find a better fit, and to relieve your anxiety around the dog. Dogs can sense when the energy is off and if you have your guard up that could also be weirding out your dogs on top of it.

Just let the owners know :).

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Honesty is the best policy but try to do it with tact. I am a little surprised that if this dog is smaller that your dogs can't handle him/her themselves. Make sure that you share, if you have not already, exactly some of the behaviors that their dog did at your place. Especially the potty stories. Maybe change your routine with dog if time and always bring on walk after eating and not let out in your yard and only on leash. Also, consider you did not ask enough questions before you took in this dog and NEXT time have person always come to your home to meet your dogs on their territory. Finally just politely tell them that you did not feel like your home/and dog was the right fit for their dog. Don't say their dog should not be boarded at someone's home. You only know how dog reacted with you and your home. Others may not experience the same as you. Hope that helps.

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My dogs are very passive and the dog was bullying them so they just decided to not be around the dog. I did all of the walking things, he walked after breakfast and after dinner and I also tried to just leash him in the yard for potty breaks. He would just never go on leash.

As far as asking questions goes I think myself and the owner did a very good job and talking about the dog prior to him coming. I don't think the owner was expecting him to not do well with other dogs especially after our meet and greet at the park went well.