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HELP! Can I do anything about a booking I don't feel safe at?

I started a house-sitting booking tonight with two dogs and two cats. I did a meet and greet a few weeks ago and while the dogs were hyper, they didn't seem unmanageable. The owners said they'd calm down after a while and things would be ok, but mentioned keeping things neat because they chew/destroy things when nobody is home.

I've been here almost two hours and these dogs have not calmed down. They jump all over the furniture and on me, they've both tried humping me, and have severe dominance battles that escalate to snarling and biting. The male dog just tore up and humped his bed for about 20 minutes straight, and the female dog constantly antagonizes him. They mentioned NONE of this to me and I don't feel safe. I can't even sit on the couch or get into the bed without them jumping all over me. I can't put them in any other rooms of the house because they're not allowed - I'm assuming because of their destructive behavior.

I wasn't warned of any of this, and the owners are now on a plane on the way to Indiana. I have a background in behavioral training, but this would be some long-term work involved, definitely no easy fix to get through these five days. Is there anything I can do to get out of this booking? I don't think they have anybody local, they just moved here, but I do not know how I can even go to sleep with these dogs around. Is there anything I can do?

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I'm answering days later after your post, so hopefully it worked out. But if you take on dogs that aren't calm or laid back at the meet & great. Don't expect calm later. To others in this position, it's not easy, but you have to dominate over them, be the Alfa, it's not EZ. But that's all dogs get

David B.

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Deb A.

Book a Stay
Irvine, CA

I’d suggest to do your best to tire them out with lots of long walks and indoors play. If there are crates or playpens available, those might be good tools to utilize. However if the dogs are not crate trained they could potentially hurt themselves or escape.

I think that snarling and biting raises this to a limit where you should notify rover trust and safety. During that conversation, they may have helpful input (some have sitting experience).

If you absolutely cannot complete a booking, you can reach out to rover support and ask them if they can find a sitter to reassign it to. However with only a five day booking on a major holiday week, it’s unknown if they will find anyone that they can reassign it to. You will not be paid for the time that they reassign it and rover could potentially take some action on your account which would affect future business.

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Things continued to escalate and the dogs never calmed down. I contacted Rover and the owner, the booking was cancelled, and the owner's friends came to take over.

Sara P.

Glad to hear it’s resolved now

Deb A.

Poor pups needed someone experienced. There’s no “sitting on the couch” in your first two hrs. A long walk individually is best. Glad to know I have to be very specific with sitters or else they sit in the couch instead of engaging with my pups.

Ana M.

Ana, dogs should be trained. I had a dog sitting where a dog was acting like this for the first two days. I was very scared to have him at my home but I played with him as much as possible in my backyard. Eventually he attacked another dog because of snarling. Think! Good job Sara.

Maya B.

I'd add for those of you doing at your home pet care (or any really), make sure to ask if the pet is crate trained. Pick up some VariKennels (the sturdy plastic ones with the metal gates) or the foldable metal wire ones - you can often find them cheap at yard sales. Have them on hand for your guests

Rillan M.

those who suggested this sitter was not doing stuff right or needed more experience must not have read the original post closely. the behavior that was described was way more than a dog that needs some more exercise.

Nate G.

also ana if you expect a sitter to immediately spend two hours engaging your dog i hope you are paying per hour. in my area a typical overnight is 25 - 30 total. i engage dogs a lot and give them lots of exercise if they need it. but an overnight isn't constant engagemen unless it is paid for.

Nate G.

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Rillan M.

Always attempt to engage the dog or dogs. You are actually working for them, not the owners. If the dog won't engage with you or threatens you while the owner is there (when doing an 'at the owner's home' sitting, you need to ask if they've used a sitter or had friends take care of the dog before when they weren't home. Find out if the dog guards food or toys. Is it okay otherwise, but won't let you reach for its collar to put on a leash? See if the owners are okay with it having a drag leash on, so you can pick up or otherwise get a hold on the leash. If you can't pet the dog or the dog tries to flee or to bite, you have a problem and need to think about walking away before accepting that booking. And never, ever, trust a harness to stay on a dog who may be fearful or try to escape.

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HELP! Can I do anything about a booking I don't feel safe at?

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