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Parenting after 35
Less than 8 hours into dogsitting - heeeeelp
This is going to be a LONG week.
She's pretty mellow, but she has clearly never lived with cats or babies. She keeps yipping when she sees a cat through the pet flap, and two of the three cats are too scared to come in from the garage. The third cat has some dog experience and ignores her, thank goodness.
Margaux is very interested, and Ellie the dog is fine with that, except when Ellie is in her designated sleep area. I look away for a minute, and Margaux has gone over there and is poking at Ellie's toys. Ellie seems pretty territorial about those toys, and has growled at Margaux twice.
So, I am worried that the cats can't easily get to their (protected) food area, I worry that the dog might nip Margaux, and I worry about the barking. What should we do about bedtime? Ellie is used to sleeping in her master's BED! That's not happening, our bedroom is blocked off as the cats' safe zone. I'm afraid if we put her in the yard she'll bark and yowl.
Uggggh.
You are likely to be eaten by a grue.
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Less than 8 hours into dogsitting - heeeeelp
Well, I would put the dog's bed in the living room and hope he sleeps OK alone. If he howls because he is alone, I might be tempted to put the dog's bed in my room near my bed and have the hound from hell sleep there. It might tick the kitties off, but as they are already miffed, I am not sure you'll notice the difference.
I moved Oscar the Dog's bed to where Maddie couldn't get to it when he was getting a little territorial. Another reason to move the dog's bed into your room so she can't get to it and he wont nip. GL - you're a good friend.
You're a good friend to take this on. We have a dog and a cat so I know a little bit about them
, anyway here are my thoughts:
growling and Margaux is bad. Since you don't know the dog well and the dog doesn't know you, be careful. I'm careful with our dog around Libby and we've had her since she was 9 weeks old, and she's submissive, and she's good with kids. Growling is dominance behavior and it can escalate. I would keep dog and dd separate even when you're there to supervise. things can change quickly, and a nip could be the least of your worries.
The cats will survive. If they can't/won't get in, then you may have to put food out for them. As for bedtime, make up a spot in whatever room you want her in, put a dogbed or a pillow or blankets down, give her a treat and prepare for a bit of complaining before she settles in. If you leave her outside, she'll probably bark, which is fine as long as you don't have any neighbors.
You will survive. If it's really awful, one option is to send her to a kennel until her owner gets back. Most of the stuff (cats, sleep) will sort itself out within a night or so. My only worry would be making sure that the dog and Margaux are closely supervised when together.
You're doing a great thing for your friend! And who knows? Maybe you'll end up loving her so much you'll get one of your own! Good luck.
I agree about being extra careful with the dog and Miss M if there's been growling. My brother's dog, who has been around Ellie since she was born, has taken some pretty non gentle patting in stride and has never, ever growled or demonstrated any snappish behavior towards Ellie. She has gotten up and left on several occasions. Your guest may not feel comfortable getting up and leaving if there's no place she knows to go, etc. GL, you are a fab friend and I hope the upcoming days get easier.
Great new pic too!
Kennels and petsitters book up for Thanksgiving weeks in advance, that's how she ended up with the dog in the first place.
Amy check your gmail, sent you a PM...
My Blog
I couldn't have said it better. We have two cats and two dogs and our dogs have never growled at S. Instead, they get up and move away from her when she gets to be too much. Could the dog sleep in the garage at night? It would be warmer and more protected than being outside all night. Just a thought....
Okay, we've decided to go for the yard during the day when it's nice out, the garage at night, and three walks so she doesn't get too lonely out there. She is a nice dog, but the growling thing just made me too tense. We put an old chair (she's used to sleeping on her master's bed, so we wanted something cozy) with a soft blanket and all her toys in the garage for her. We've got a little space heater if we get a cold spell or something.
I hope that's enough!