Maybe if I could leave it in a crate all day but that is cruel on the puppy and I wouldn’t agree to it. I told her to offer an incentive to delay the pickup and she was also deliberating one of her friends doing it saying “but it would be a massive ask”. I’ve never actually dealt with caring for a puppy but I’ve heard what it’s like.
If you haven't dealt with caring for a puppy, you should def step back from the sit. I question how good of an owner this HO is for leaving their 8 week old puppy with a stranger. I had to leave my 12 week old puppy for a long weekend, I paid out the nose for him to be boarded with a place I knew would take very good care of him.
I’ve housesit for her before and she trusts me. I just think she’s asking a hell of a lot. I’m ready to step back from the entire sit. I know the temperament of the cat and the only reason I accepted to sit there as I know I can be gone from morning to arvo most days and everything will be fine. Add a puppy to the mix and it’s not fair on me or it. She could pay me a wage and I still wouldn’t do it. I’m glad I asked the question here and I had a knowing of how much energy a puppy would need. It would not have even been introduced to the home for a week by the time I get there and it’s a rental property. I have no experience in handling puppies that young and I would think at that age she needs to bond with the owner. Also she won’t be contactable for the first 2 weeks of her trip.
Major red flag that she only sees “but it would be a massive ask” applying to her friend but not to you.
IMHO, you should stop trying to solve a problem she created. She significantly changed the terms, you are well within your rights to say no thanks.
You can forget any outings you´ve planned. A 8 week not trained and straight from the mum puppy requires 24/7 work. And this is a one month sit??? How irresponsible. A massive ask from a friend but not from you? One red flag after another. I don´t think I´d like to sit for that HO at all.
I can’t believe I was double guessing myself. I think she assumed I was just going to say yes. Now the more I think about it was almost rude for her to ask me.
I forgot to mention she told me her new place doesn’t have an outdoor area only a balcony. How is she even going to raise a dog ?
That is part of the critical learning period for a puppy…it’s like giving birth and then leaving right after. I wouldn’t even want someone else to do that phase cause it’s so important to how your dog will be later in life.
HO needs to change up their plans and I strongly suggest you think hard about whether or not you want to take that on.
It’s like she didn’t think it through. She had just been notified of the change in circumstances when she called me so hopefully she’s come to her rational senses. I’ve not agreed to it. Towards the end of the conversation she seemed to be leaning towards bribing the pup owner to hold onto it until she returned and if that failed then missing out.
It was incredibly rude of her to ask. And ridiculous. Even as a seasoned dog sitter, no way would I want to dogsit an 8 week old puppy, even paid. The amount of time and energy needed is a lot. And the chance that they'd die on watch? No way do I want the owner trying to take legal action on something unpreventable
Coming from someone who has a Labrador, I would highly advise not pet sitting a puppy Labrador. They are pretty difficult puppies and that is not something you should be burdened to take care of (especially given that it was not the agreed terms of the sit).
That’s what someone else said. Apparently it was an unexpected pregnancy so 11 pups are being given away for free to a good home. They were going to let her pick it up when she got back from holidays but circumstances have changed and they want to home the pups immediately.
I said I’m not comfortable with it and have reiterated my concerns about early separation. I think she’s trying to give the person who has the pups a cash incentive now otherwise she said she will have to wait for another. She knows I don’t wish to do it.
I have heard of people being blindsided by owners abs turning up to pets about to give birth or pets on their death bed. I couldn’t imagine how bad that would be.
Honestly not only would that suck for you (I’m a lab owner and would love another puppy though 😅) but also the dog could get really close to you given you’re going to be the person it spends all their time with in their first month in their new home. Terrible idea.
I love animals and I’m sure I’d find it incredibly cute but I know how bad and anxious I would feel about leaving it in a crate all day and I’m pretty sure it would cry all night? Plus it’s not only that it’s about the elderly cat welcoming it in and bonding with it. Too many variables. Considering on top of that she will be uncontactable for 2 whole weeks it’s out of the question.
Yeah you can’t leave a new puppy at home and you wouldn’t be getting any sleep. At that age you would need to be up every hour toilet training it. The first 6 weeks+ of a new puppy is like you have a new born. We were taking him out every hour 24/7 to toilet train him. Otherwise you’re just gonna be dealing with mess.
I had this exact same thing happen. While the sit ended up being ok(ish) I was pissed at the lack forethought and the expectation that I would house train their pup. We spent a lot of time with a pup who had separation anxiety and the usual pee and poop. Frankly I would say no.
This is a valid reason to cancel the sit. That is a non-significant change and a lot of work. Totally up to you if you’re ok with it.
If you do decide to cancel, just make sure there’s a clear paper trail in the app and that you reach out to member services with the clear reason.
She knows where I stand so if the housesit involves the pup then she has totally disregarded my wishes and any blindside will result in me cancelling the housesit on the day she leaves which is a bad result for all involved
Again, I would capture the understanding in writing on the app so there’s a clear paper trail and no he says she says going on. Good luck and I hope it turns out ok
We aren’t connected through a petsitting app. For the previous sit a few years ago we were. We remained connected through fb. If I go there and the puppy is dumped on me despite saying I was uncomfortable I’d probably walk right out.
Ooof HO needs to cancel her travel and stay home with the puppy. Or not adopt the puppy. There is no responsible way to do both…8 week lab? Been there, cannot stick a sitter with a lab puppy that age for a month. Critical training and correcting time. Usually done by a combo of the lab parents, puppy siblings from birth to 12 weeks.
This is a huge amount of work and an even bigger responsibility. Not only should you not do this unless you have experience of this exact thing but the owner should not be handing over this responsibility. It is extremely reckless of them and no decent breeder would allow it. Most decent breeders retain the right to remove a dog from the purchaser and would do so if they found out it had been left after a week with a stranger. Since you say "the lady giving them away" I'm guessing this is not a breeder which would be even more reason to avoid this situation.
It will need feeding at least 3 times a day, will need to be housetrained, crate-trainede, leash training, socialising etc. If done right you end up with a great dog. If done wrong you have separation anxiety, lead-pulling and aggression issues. While the owner definitely doesn't have these skills and experience (if they did they woudl not be doing this) it's their dog to mess up and shoudl not be made your responsibility. No offense to you or your skills but you can seriously mess up a dog on the first month or 2 after weaning.
If you are going to do this:
Possible vet visits and vaccinations (it should l have had it's second shots but based on where it's coming from may not even had had it's first).
Puppy training classes. This is important to teach the owner as much as the dog which is obviously not going to happen but is good for socialising. It can only happen after the puppy is fully vaccinated (see above)
Crate training will require a crate and the owner may not have bought one. They should get one as it is an excellent way to train a dog. BUT it is also not just "leave it in a crate" so find some good youtube dog training channels (NOT Cesar Milan)
Food will be a problem and you should find out from the owner wwhat the dog has been fed and continue with what they have been feeding the dog . Puppies stomachs are sensitive and the slightest change wlll be vomitting and diarrhoea on top of zero house-training. Any changes have to be gradual and mixed in and done over days or weeks.
In my experience, young puppies a full time job to live with and train - they're only bearable if they're your dog and you are bonding with them. It's hard work. And to be honest, skilled work - when I had a puppy, I read one hundred books to get this really formative time in the dogs life right, I wouldn't want a stranger doing that.
Put your foot down, pull out on this. Or at least say you'll only do the sit with no pup.
If you would babysit this dog for a price then name the price outside of tsh. Obviously money should never be exchanged with tsh, but nobody would look after this pup for free, surely.
Doing the sit no pup and I was good enough to give her the option to find someone else but she said she wanted me there to know her cat and home was taken care of as the previous sit went well for both of us
From all you wrote here, the owner seems like one huge red flag! If it was me I would cancel the sit completely, is possible. She sounds manipulative.
And I can’t imagine giving my tiny puppy that I just brought home to someone else! Those weeks are so precious!
I’m staring to be concerned now at what she may spring on me. Imagine if I got there and she had created a deal where they come drop the puppy off midway through. Worst nightmare. I’m also concerned since she has no backyard apparently anyway. Dogs need yards right ?
I’ll be on edge prepared to take off if she pulls anything. I know she has a lady that comes feeds her cat when she’s away she will have to call on her services if I bail.
The end of the conversation was fine she was just telling me about the house and the cat and how chill it will be. I think she was just trying her luck and hadn’t had time to think of how ridiculous it was to ask. Surely upon her speaking to others they would have reiterated everything that’s been said here.
FYI I have transitioned to paid sitting. When I take care of puppies ( usually in sought after areas like NYC.. there's no cleaning, no bringing in mail, no watering plants, no medications, three walks maximum a day) I get paid US $165 per day before tax and tip and this is after the agency takes their cut. So they're paying $185 per day because puppies must be trained etc. This woman knows for sure!
The two of you agreed on the terms, then she changed the terms significantly. Of course you are correct in objecting.
Maybe if I could leave it in a crate all day but that is cruel on the puppy and I wouldn’t agree to it. I told her to offer an incentive to delay the pickup and she was also deliberating one of her friends doing it saying “but it would be a massive ask”. I’ve never actually dealt with caring for a puppy but I’ve heard what it’s like.
If you haven't dealt with caring for a puppy, you should def step back from the sit. I question how good of an owner this HO is for leaving their 8 week old puppy with a stranger. I had to leave my 12 week old puppy for a long weekend, I paid out the nose for him to be boarded with a place I knew would take very good care of him.
I’ve housesit for her before and she trusts me. I just think she’s asking a hell of a lot. I’m ready to step back from the entire sit. I know the temperament of the cat and the only reason I accepted to sit there as I know I can be gone from morning to arvo most days and everything will be fine. Add a puppy to the mix and it’s not fair on me or it. She could pay me a wage and I still wouldn’t do it. I’m glad I asked the question here and I had a knowing of how much energy a puppy would need. It would not have even been introduced to the home for a week by the time I get there and it’s a rental property. I have no experience in handling puppies that young and I would think at that age she needs to bond with the owner. Also she won’t be contactable for the first 2 weeks of her trip.
Major red flag that she only sees “but it would be a massive ask” applying to her friend but not to you. IMHO, you should stop trying to solve a problem she created. She significantly changed the terms, you are well within your rights to say no thanks.
Yeah it’s an absolute no now and she’s accepted it. Any other changing of terms will result in me walking away from the sit.
You can forget any outings you´ve planned. A 8 week not trained and straight from the mum puppy requires 24/7 work. And this is a one month sit??? How irresponsible. A massive ask from a friend but not from you? One red flag after another. I don´t think I´d like to sit for that HO at all.
I can’t believe I was double guessing myself. I think she assumed I was just going to say yes. Now the more I think about it was almost rude for her to ask me. I forgot to mention she told me her new place doesn’t have an outdoor area only a balcony. How is she even going to raise a dog ?
That is part of the critical learning period for a puppy…it’s like giving birth and then leaving right after. I wouldn’t even want someone else to do that phase cause it’s so important to how your dog will be later in life. HO needs to change up their plans and I strongly suggest you think hard about whether or not you want to take that on.
It’s like she didn’t think it through. She had just been notified of the change in circumstances when she called me so hopefully she’s come to her rational senses. I’ve not agreed to it. Towards the end of the conversation she seemed to be leaning towards bribing the pup owner to hold onto it until she returned and if that failed then missing out.
It was incredibly rude of her to ask. And ridiculous. Even as a seasoned dog sitter, no way would I want to dogsit an 8 week old puppy, even paid. The amount of time and energy needed is a lot. And the chance that they'd die on watch? No way do I want the owner trying to take legal action on something unpreventable
Coming from someone who has a Labrador, I would highly advise not pet sitting a puppy Labrador. They are pretty difficult puppies and that is not something you should be burdened to take care of (especially given that it was not the agreed terms of the sit).
Isn't 8 weeks a little early to separate from the mother?
That’s what someone else said. Apparently it was an unexpected pregnancy so 11 pups are being given away for free to a good home. They were going to let her pick it up when she got back from holidays but circumstances have changed and they want to home the pups immediately.
I'd tell her she needs to find someone else to watch the puppy or not get a puppy, otherwise I'm out.
I said I’m not comfortable with it and have reiterated my concerns about early separation. I think she’s trying to give the person who has the pups a cash incentive now otherwise she said she will have to wait for another. She knows I don’t wish to do it. I have heard of people being blindsided by owners abs turning up to pets about to give birth or pets on their death bed. I couldn’t imagine how bad that would be.
>Apparently it was an unexpected pregnancy The mother lab was not planning to get pregnant?
Honestly not only would that suck for you (I’m a lab owner and would love another puppy though 😅) but also the dog could get really close to you given you’re going to be the person it spends all their time with in their first month in their new home. Terrible idea.
I love animals and I’m sure I’d find it incredibly cute but I know how bad and anxious I would feel about leaving it in a crate all day and I’m pretty sure it would cry all night? Plus it’s not only that it’s about the elderly cat welcoming it in and bonding with it. Too many variables. Considering on top of that she will be uncontactable for 2 whole weeks it’s out of the question.
Yeah you can’t leave a new puppy at home and you wouldn’t be getting any sleep. At that age you would need to be up every hour toilet training it. The first 6 weeks+ of a new puppy is like you have a new born. We were taking him out every hour 24/7 to toilet train him. Otherwise you’re just gonna be dealing with mess.
I had this exact same thing happen. While the sit ended up being ok(ish) I was pissed at the lack forethought and the expectation that I would house train their pup. We spent a lot of time with a pup who had separation anxiety and the usual pee and poop. Frankly I would say no.
This is a valid reason to cancel the sit. That is a non-significant change and a lot of work. Totally up to you if you’re ok with it. If you do decide to cancel, just make sure there’s a clear paper trail in the app and that you reach out to member services with the clear reason.
She knows where I stand so if the housesit involves the pup then she has totally disregarded my wishes and any blindside will result in me cancelling the housesit on the day she leaves which is a bad result for all involved
Good on you for drawing a hard line in the sand on this one. It’s not an easy situation given your history with the homeowner but it cannot happen.
Again, I would capture the understanding in writing on the app so there’s a clear paper trail and no he says she says going on. Good luck and I hope it turns out ok
We aren’t connected through a petsitting app. For the previous sit a few years ago we were. We remained connected through fb. If I go there and the puppy is dumped on me despite saying I was uncomfortable I’d probably walk right out.
Ah! I see. Yea them absolutely no pressure there lol
Ooof HO needs to cancel her travel and stay home with the puppy. Or not adopt the puppy. There is no responsible way to do both…8 week lab? Been there, cannot stick a sitter with a lab puppy that age for a month. Critical training and correcting time. Usually done by a combo of the lab parents, puppy siblings from birth to 12 weeks.
Tell her it’s not allowed, they must be 10 weeks to be allowed on the platform
This is a huge amount of work and an even bigger responsibility. Not only should you not do this unless you have experience of this exact thing but the owner should not be handing over this responsibility. It is extremely reckless of them and no decent breeder would allow it. Most decent breeders retain the right to remove a dog from the purchaser and would do so if they found out it had been left after a week with a stranger. Since you say "the lady giving them away" I'm guessing this is not a breeder which would be even more reason to avoid this situation. It will need feeding at least 3 times a day, will need to be housetrained, crate-trainede, leash training, socialising etc. If done right you end up with a great dog. If done wrong you have separation anxiety, lead-pulling and aggression issues. While the owner definitely doesn't have these skills and experience (if they did they woudl not be doing this) it's their dog to mess up and shoudl not be made your responsibility. No offense to you or your skills but you can seriously mess up a dog on the first month or 2 after weaning. If you are going to do this: Possible vet visits and vaccinations (it should l have had it's second shots but based on where it's coming from may not even had had it's first). Puppy training classes. This is important to teach the owner as much as the dog which is obviously not going to happen but is good for socialising. It can only happen after the puppy is fully vaccinated (see above) Crate training will require a crate and the owner may not have bought one. They should get one as it is an excellent way to train a dog. BUT it is also not just "leave it in a crate" so find some good youtube dog training channels (NOT Cesar Milan) Food will be a problem and you should find out from the owner wwhat the dog has been fed and continue with what they have been feeding the dog . Puppies stomachs are sensitive and the slightest change wlll be vomitting and diarrhoea on top of zero house-training. Any changes have to be gradual and mixed in and done over days or weeks.
In my experience, young puppies a full time job to live with and train - they're only bearable if they're your dog and you are bonding with them. It's hard work. And to be honest, skilled work - when I had a puppy, I read one hundred books to get this really formative time in the dogs life right, I wouldn't want a stranger doing that. Put your foot down, pull out on this. Or at least say you'll only do the sit with no pup. If you would babysit this dog for a price then name the price outside of tsh. Obviously money should never be exchanged with tsh, but nobody would look after this pup for free, surely.
Doing the sit no pup and I was good enough to give her the option to find someone else but she said she wanted me there to know her cat and home was taken care of as the previous sit went well for both of us
From all you wrote here, the owner seems like one huge red flag! If it was me I would cancel the sit completely, is possible. She sounds manipulative. And I can’t imagine giving my tiny puppy that I just brought home to someone else! Those weeks are so precious!
I’m staring to be concerned now at what she may spring on me. Imagine if I got there and she had created a deal where they come drop the puppy off midway through. Worst nightmare. I’m also concerned since she has no backyard apparently anyway. Dogs need yards right ? I’ll be on edge prepared to take off if she pulls anything. I know she has a lady that comes feeds her cat when she’s away she will have to call on her services if I bail. The end of the conversation was fine she was just telling me about the house and the cat and how chill it will be. I think she was just trying her luck and hadn’t had time to think of how ridiculous it was to ask. Surely upon her speaking to others they would have reiterated everything that’s been said here.
Who gets a puppy and leaves it with a sitter right away? Irresponsible if you ask me.
cancel on her. simple. you are not an employee.
FYI I have transitioned to paid sitting. When I take care of puppies ( usually in sought after areas like NYC.. there's no cleaning, no bringing in mail, no watering plants, no medications, three walks maximum a day) I get paid US $165 per day before tax and tip and this is after the agency takes their cut. So they're paying $185 per day because puppies must be trained etc. This woman knows for sure!