Food and water aggressive?

Food and water aggression can be frustrating and, at times, stressful. I had one dog that got water aggressive just one time. Definitely continue to do what you're doing in keeping her water and food separate; if that means having to keep water up then taking her into a separate room so they can all drink it's not ideal but I always err on the side of safety for me and the animals. Dealing with a dog that gets aggressive toward you is tricky but it sounds like you have or are figuring out how to manage that. I would gently mention to the owners that their dog is food and water aggressive toward other animals and people. There is a way you can do it gently. When I tell an owner something like that, I word it like I think they have no idea (even if I know they know). I usually say something like, "Because dogs are generally confused and a bit more stressed away from their owners, sometimes they often act differently in a boarding situation. XX is a great dog overall, but his food and water aggression was very pronounced. I was able to manage it (that is providing the dog hasn't harmed you or any other animal) after trying some different things. Here's what I discovered what works - xxx. This might be helpful for future boarding visits for the sitter to know to help your dog be more at ease." I've never had an owner get mad when I approached it that way. Obviously that can't be guaranteed, but I think it's best to be honest. I would also make sure to review that dog after the stay and note the aggression issues. Good luck!

People(clients) do not read profiles. Yes, they know about the food aggression but didn't want to risk that yet another sitter will reject their request, so they told you they don't want a meet and greet due to lack of time.

Just feed the dog in her crate. Do not go to her crate while she is eating. Do not interrupt her eating. Yes, some dogs are food and water aggressive. I have never really boarded a dog that was food and water aggressive, I just had 6 dogs here on the Christmas day and they all ate in the kitchen. But I had my own dog who guarded everything from water, food, toys to all my stuff, and no one dog was allowed to approach it. So he had his food and water in a different room and when he ate, I didn't bother him.

You can tell the owners that you did follow their directions and fed the dog separately because she guarded her food and water. Don't suggest they didn't tell you the truth or they lied, it's not worth it, they could just get upset and leave a bad review. Just deal with the dog, respect her privacy, don't bother her when she's eating and you'll be fine. I would not tell the parents anything at all :)

If parents mention something like that (which in my/your experience is rarely, if ever, mentioned - it's a good idea to follow up with some probing questions - oh, has the dog ever reacted to _? , how? what triggers it?) Especially if you're going to allow parents to skip the meet & greet, which I regard as essential.

Yes, I've had a couple dogs who were water and food aggressive, and the owners did not mention anything that served as a warning. It really stood out with the baring teeth, air snapping, and guarding travels to where the water bowls were, food is never left unattended. I was vigilant about guiding/monitoring canine traffic to avoid any negative interactions. My dog and all of his small friends can nicely eat in the kitchen together (I'm closely supervising to re-direct each to their own bowl if needed).

Upon the owner's return, I nicely told them that I thought their dog would be happiest staying in their own house with either a walker visiting a few times daily or a house sitter. Some dogs just do best in their home environments and I'd let them know that I think that's in the best interest of the dog. I wouldn't jump to the conclusion that the owners knew. At home, the dog likely wouldn't demonstrate these behaviors. With one adult dog guest, they'd never been boarded before (friends & family were always available to take care of the dog's needs) And with another dog I figured that previous sitters may have chosen to not mention it to avoid problems. I may not tell an owner that their dog had aggressive tendencies (probably the closest I'd say would be that doggy was resource guarding the water bowl which can happen but it was okay, I managed it so all the pups drank and everything was fine - even if my nerves were frazzled from constant pup patrol) , because some owners will lash out with a scathing, untruthful review if you tell them anything negative about their dog. Depending what the challenges were, I may tell them that I offer that service or remind them that rover support can work to help them find the right person.