I own a carolina dog named rebel.. (as you all know) and today I learned he doesn't mind small dogs but doesn't like many big dogs.. Now onto my question LOL...

I am DogSitting (currently just for today but it may happen again) today for a couple that I know (the man works with my hubby, the woman works at a rehab clinic). This morning at 7 they called asking if I could watch their dog (they brought the lapsa apso {i know I didn't spell it right but I'm not small breed person} to our place) Now this dog has separation anxiety and they don't know how to fix it. What could I advise them trying to do... if they leave it alone, even in a vehicle it will pee and poop everywhere. I've never had a dog with separation anxiety so I can't advise anything right now. Also. They asked me how much I charge for watching a dog... I have no clue so this time I said for now we will just go with whatever you can afford... does that sound like a decent idea and thing to say? Also all they sent with the dog was its leash. So I am using a bowl from the house for water though I have no clue if it has eaten today as they dropped it off and left because he was late. Should I ask for some food next time. I didn't have much time to think because they called and woke me up when they asked

There isn't really much you can do at the moment, it is the owners that need to train the dog.

Have you talked to them about separation anxiety training?
If you are going to be dog sitting more often then they really need to train her as soon as they can...

I would be asking them for food, the dog needs to eat whatever the owners are feeding it so it doesn't get an upset stomach.
If they want you to supply food then you need to charge them a little extra to cover the cost.

And it's Lhasa Apso :p hehe :)

The owners should have brought food, at least, maybe some toys. I would ask them for food next time, or charge them for a bag of food and pick one up while you're out. You shouldn't have to supply them with it.

As far as the separation anxiety goes, shaz is right, they need to train their dog. Most often the owners set their dogs up for separation anxiety. An example is when the owner comes home to his/her dog he or she might go straight to the dog and make a big deal about seeing the dog again. We learned about this in puppy training. One of the best ways to combat this is for the owners, when they come and go home is not to make a big deal, just go about their business, wait until the dog is calm and then show the dog attention.

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Originally Posted by shazamataz

There isn't really much you can do at the moment, it is the owners that need to train the dog.

Have you talked to them about separation anxiety training?
If you are going to be dog sitting more often then they really need to train her as soon as they can...

I would be asking them for food, the dog needs to eat whatever the owners are feeding it so it doesn't get an upset stomach.
If they want you to supply food then you need to charge them a little extra to cover the cost.

And it's Lhasa Apso :p hehe :)

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Shaz. Well I know there's not much I could do for them. But even being able to give them some advice would be nice.. (which I think may be, take the dog to either an animal behaviourist or a trainer to stop the bathroom problems) I've talked to them about it but as this is also their first dog they don't know what they should do about it... I did request that they buy a bigger crate since when they told me the size of it it sounded like it was built for a kitten not this cute little dog.. so up a size is what they are going to do. Mini has room in it but not enough to completely turn around and lay which ever way she chooses. (which she seem ti like laying on her back) When watching the dog she is here from 7:30 in the morning until 4:00 in the afternoon. It doesn't bark, bite, growl, misbehave. You don't need to leash it as it listens perfectly (yes even to me surprisingly.. but mind you I also have a fenced in back yard so when I take it out it comes with me and rebel into the back yard.\
Thanks for the spelling correction shazzi hun.. Lhasa Apso. I think I can remember that.
I'm so getting them to send food next time. I have hollistic, no by-product no allergin food but I don't want to give her any because I'm pretty sure she gets generic dog food brands and I think it would be too much of a change for her. (shes five yrs old if I didn't state that)
Just as a ball park range what would someone normally charge for watching a dog for eight hours or so give or take an hour to half an hour. (for driving back to pick her up)

I would honestly have no idea what to charge :confused:

If you can convince them to go to a behaviorist or trainer it would be great.
Sounds like they care for her if they want you to pet sit but honestly it doesn't sound like thye know much about dogs and care.

Glad you convinced them to buy a bigger crate!

This is their first pet ever... she just brought it home from the spca one day without telling her man... they seem to be doing pretty good with her.. me being me I examined her after they left (checked her coat for fleas, skin problems, ticks, mites, checked her eyes, teeth, nails and paw pads.) she seems to be Very healthy and nicely groomed. She isn't over weight but she feels like a good weight for her size... (shes real good when picked up). They do go to a vet from kentville (the town they live near.) that I used to use when I lived in the same town so I know they have a good vet. I think its just lack of experience with them. Plus I know she just picked up some dog care books so I know she's trying to do what is right...
I`m glad I got them to get a bigger crate too. Me personally I don't crate dogs but my dog wouldn't walk into a room it knew it wasn't allowed in even if no one was around. He doesn't demolish things, pee anywheres, bark or all that sutff that can be stressful and annoying..
With the separation anxiety I did think about telling them to try leaving a radio on or something because the noise might help her... In the summer they could keep her outside as long as they had a sufficient dog house and penned area. Or would that be bad for such a small dog
Aww shaz I was hoping you`d have a price guess for me... that's all right though lol

I've never dog sat sorry! I haven't ever boarded my dogs at the kennel before either (but I will need to later this year) and I cannot for the life of me remember how much mum said it cost... I think it was around $30 a day but don't quote me on that.

Sounds like they are trying to do the right thing for sure.
I don't know what it's like to live in a dog free house as we have had them pretty much since I was born.
When I was 1 year old my parents bought a little cross bred mutt from the pet store (not knowing any better) and they had to take it back because I was allergic to it.

Then when I was 3 the house got broken into 3 times in the one week so they decided to get a Rottweiler for protection, it just happened to be show registered so it spiralled from there (and yes I was still allergic but no-where near as bad!)

Anyway... what were we talking about lol...

I probably wouldn't leave a Lhasa outside, not only could another dog get to her and hurt her but there are factors like heat and small dogs are pretty high on the list for stealing.

True they are high on the list for stealing. No dogs on their street except for theirs actually which suprises me.. but they live outside town with not many houses around so that could be hwy... Aww allergic.. that's no fun... I suppose I'm so used to big dogs that I didn't think about heat and small dogs. You've got a point there

Allergies are the bain of my existence.
I am doped up on antihistamines 24/7 which is why some of my answers sounds jumbled sometime (well that's my excuse anyway :p)
I can live with sneezing and hives, I can't live without animals.

I don't blame you there shaz. If I was allergic I'd put up with sneezing and hives and being doped up on antihistamines 24/7 just to be around animals too.. Well we took the dog to the beach with our dog.. Everything Went Awesome.. hmmm went.. went... I think its went... I know its went... I also meant to say why but spelt it wrong in another post and I noticed it :O they walked side by side and loved it. Dropped the dog off and they gave me 25 bucks (they chose the price not me, I left it up to them) when I left the cute little thing tried to follow me down the stairs lol

I think the people just need to get another dog so it won't be as lonely and it will have someone to play with. I have three little dogs and when ones alone and isn't with the other two she won't do anything. She'll just fallow you around no matter what but when you put them together there happy and getting along together and playing.

That's a good idea I never thought about that but at the same time you would also have to consider if you could take care of two dogs or not at the same time as some people can not

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Originally Posted by binx44

Thats a good idea i never thought about that but at the same time you would also have to consider if you could take care of two dogs or not at the same time as some people can not

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Yeah, you could end up with 2 dogs with similar problems. Lol. It helps to have the first dog trained. Then when you get the second dog it's easier because puppies are monkey see- monkey do and will be easier to train. A second dog just might help with the anxiety though.

It is a lot harder training 2 dogs than just one... trust me haha

Seeing them play with each other makes me happy though but unfortunately that doesn't always happen, even dogs can have personality clashes same as people.

You just gave me my 4th green box Marie :D Thanks!

no problem! =)

The vet around here charges 25 dollars a day for boarding. We had to do it a couple years ago when our fence blew down.