That's nightmare mode, man! Rover takes this stuff very seriously! I just had a scare with a client's cat. It turned out the cat was just a ninja and was hiding from me in the house, but it was a stressful couple of days.

Sounds like you did a fine job once the dog gave you the slip, but I agree with Laura that you need to be up front with the client. Sometimes it really won't help to chase after a loose dog, especially if it's in good shape and doesn't trust you yet. The trick is not to get to that point in the first place. Take a client's advice to heart if they tell you that a dog is an escape artist, but be thorough even if they say he's fine. You don't always know how a dog will react to you when the owner is not around, even if he seemed perfectly obedient at the meet and greet.

If the dog hadn't been in the driveway when you got back, the real bummer would have begun. The call to Rover's emergency line. You need to let Rover know first when a dog has escaped. They will pause your account and contact the owner for you while you continue the search. Your account will be paused until you find the dog and the incident is reviewed by Rover's Trust and Safety team. Their goal is to make sure that you did everything that you could have and, if you didn't, make sure that you know where you messed up. Your account may or may not be reinstated.

Count yourself lucky this wasn't an incident! I was pulling my hair out over my (supposedly) missing cat. I really thought for a bit that I had let the little guy escape and that my pet sitting days were over. Take extra precautions with client pets. Don't unleash them until they are secure behind a closed door and never leave a door open very long.

Hope the rest of your stay goes more smoothly.

You could also consider offering baths as an extra paid service, if that's something you're comfortable with. It could net you a few extra dollars per dog per stay, which adds up over time. On the other hand, offering it as a courtesy makes you much more appealing to potential clients.

Thanks! May try this.

Full disclosure: I am not a dog behaviorist or anything. I'm just a dog person who's watched a lot of Cesar Millan. :D

Dogs can behave very differently in public and at home. From your dog's perspective, he's doing the right thing by standing his ground against an invader. If you're visibly nervous about the situation, your dog's protective instincts can be amplified. Dogs are very perceptive to changes in your mood, but don't always know why your mood has changed!

If at all possible, always have your dog meet a new dog outside in the front yard. If he is still territorial, start out in the street or down the block and walk your dog and the new dog to your yard together. Give them a chance to transition to your territory together rather than putting your dog on the defensive. It's also very important that you model confidence to your dog, rather than nervousness! This is way easier said than done, I know, but it will come with practice.

Try some of this out and let me know how it goes! These are some tips that have worked for me, but your mileage may vary.

I've observed that dogs often have reduced appetites when their owners are not around. Does anyone have any tricks that seem to work when trying to get a Rover pup to eat?