Sometimes being a Rover sitter is all about making sure my furry boarders get along with my kids and each other. That can mean anything from being in the same place they are, inside and out, to staying at home 24/7 to make damned sure no one gets in a fight. Most of the time, fights are rare, but not always.
One thing I do is that I make sure to always do a meet and greet first. A meet and greet is where a potential client brings their dog(s) over to meet mine and see how everyone gets along. That way, I can weed out potential trouble right there. I’ve had dogs that go after other dogs at first sight, despite their owners promising that their babies love other dogs.
I do meet and greets at my home. Bran and Arya (especially Arya!) just aren’t comfortable meeting new dogs someplace like a park. Oddly, they don’t even do well taking a walk with new dogs—walking with each other is supposed to get them into that “pack mentality,” but it doesn’t work with my two. (I suspect it would work fine with just Bran, but he follows his crazy sister’s lead!). We always start in the back yard, where the owner lets go of their end of the leash; it’s important to keep that leash on, in case something bad happens. The guest dog sniffs around the yard, getting the scents of my two. Usually, the guest dog will leave pee-mail and poo-mail. (That always embarrasses the owner, but really, dumping your scent in the yard is a very effective way to show your ID, when you’re a dog!) Then I let Bran and Arya out, and wait to see what happens, keeping on my toes just in case.
Meet and greets show me potential trouble spots in dog behaviors. If a possible boarder just can’t settle their hackles, and they keep acting uncomfortable or aggressive, that’s a big red flag, and I won’t take them. If they’re shy or fearful dogs and can’t get used to Arya’s over protectiveness and high energy, she may try to establish immediate (and very rough) dominance. That’s another red flag, because not only do your dogs need to get along with mine, my dogs also have to get along with yours!
I don’t know what Arya’s prerequisites are, but sometimes she seriously dislikes shyness and will bark and snarl, and then sometimes she comes over very calmly as soon as she sees that the visiting dog is uncomfortable. Arya is very good at settling and reassuring a shy newcomer—when she wants to be.
Barring emergencies or appointments, I always stay at home with new dogs for their first day in order to monitor their behavior and personality, and how they interact with each other. Most dogs I wind up feeling perfectly comfortable leaving at home if I have to run out. There are some who visit so regularly that Bran and Arya have accepted them as family! But then there are some who behave mostly well, but have a tendency to snap or lunge at other dogs in certain situations (playing rough, for instance). When I see this behavior, I know I cannot leave them unsupervised. I have canceled doctors’ appointments because of this, but in an emergency, I can also stretch a gate across between two rooms to keep everyone safe.
Sometimes you find the perfect dog.
I’m lucky enough to have repeat clients whose dogs fit in very well with us; owners have told me their dogs just go crazy with excitement as soon as they pull in to my neighborhood!
Currently, I’m boarding a perfect gentleman of a dog, Maverick, who loves everyone, dog or human. He sleeps comfortably in a crate at night; loves to play keep away with a ball in his mouth, my dogs chasing him, and everyone having a blast; and will cuddle in my lap despite being over 60 pounds. These are the rare dogs who are so well behaved, so loving, and so friendly with other dogs, that they make my job an absolute pleasure. I love all the dogs I board, but some become simply precious to me.
This is why I so very much love and appreciate being a Rover dog sitter.
The Dog House 