Introducing pets to a sitter
 

I've got a little problem. Actually 3 of them. I am scheduled to make a trip to Mayo in Rochester, Minn in early Dec. I've got 3 little dogs. I've been very ill for about a year. In the last year no one has been in my house but my husband and I. (no family close and no friends left who visit) The dogs are very protective. The last time anyone was in the house (repairman) all three little dogs were threatening and I had to take them out on the patio.

I have to break in a housesitter who will be coming in twice a day to feed, water and let them out while we are gone. How in the world do I do this? My disipline and training of them has deteriorated terribly due to my illness. I'm getting so stressed over this and I can't find anything that tells me how to do this. Do any of you have any suggestions?

Billye

I would have the housesitter come in while you are still there to get the dogs used to them. Show the sitter what you do to feed and water and exercise them while they are watching. Then start having him/her do these things while you are there and able to show the pets that you "approve" of what the sitter is doing. Make sure that you have their favorite treats around to give them when they show good behavior. Have the sitter come and pay attention to them, give them treats, play ball with them if they do that. If you have pet names for them make sure the sitter knows them. A lot will depend on your attitude toward the sitter, try to be relaxed, calm and generally adopting a "what a great, fun thing this is" pose.

Thanks for the sitter tricks
 

Well those are good ideas, but how do we get past the frenzied barking to do all of this.

Billye

Billye,

Would your pet sitter be able to come twice a day everyday starting now while you are still home?

I wonder if having the pet sitter start now, while you are still home, would help your dogs to get comfortable with him/her so that by the time you leave to go to Mayo the dogs are comfortable with the person, and comfortable with the schedule.

I don't know what day you leave for Mayo, but you said early December - which is about 4 weeks away.

If you start now, you could have the pet sitter come twice a day everyday for one week and during the first week the pet sitter could just come and sit on the couch for a little while. Let the dogs bark and whine and flip out for week 1... all dogs eventually stop barking and flipping out and get used to a new person and a new schedule.

For week 2 you could have the pet sitter come twice a day everyday and during this time you could assist the pet sitter to feed the dogs, take them outside, pet the dogs, and help them get more comfortable with the person and the schedule.

For week 3, again the pet sitter comes twice a day everyday, and during week 3 you don't help them with any feeding or walking or playing, but you do talk to the dogs and reassure them to help them be more relaxed, more comfortable.

For week 4, you could have the pet sitter come twice a day everyday, and during this week even though you are still home you act as if you are not there. You allow the pet sitter to use the key to let themselves into the house, you let the pet sitter do all the feeding, walking, petting, playing, attention, all by themselves. You don't help, you don't talk, you pretend that you are not there.

During weeks 3 and 4 another important part is that the dogs are only fed and walked while the pet sitter is there. You still give them attention and love during the rest of the day -- but no treats no food no going outside to go potty unless the pet sitter is there. During weeks 3 and 4 you help the dogs to get comfortable and accustomed to being fed and walked only while the pet sitter is there.

By doing this slow transition, hopefully by the time you leave the dogs are comfortable with the person and comfortable with the schedule -- which means that while you are gone you will be less worried about the dogs so that you can focus on yourself and your health.

The only drawback to a slow 4 week transition plan is that depending on who the pet sitter is, you may have to pay them during the next 4 weeks since they are coming daily... I don't know if that is something that you are able to do, but maybe the pet sitter would be willing to work out a payment plan?

I hope that helps, I hope that your trip to Mayo goes well.

Take care,
Liz

Liz, thanks
 

Liz,
Thanks for so much detail. This sitter is a friend, but will be giving up part of her income in order to do this for me and yes, I'll pay her for this. I really feel as if I am putting her thru a lot, but I don't have any choice except to board them. And one of my little dogs has some deficiencies. He was premature and I didn't realize when I agreed to raise him and keep him that this premature birth affected his sight. He is comfortable at home but really frightened outside his familiar area.

Anyway, this detailed working schedule will help me a lot. I just have to squeeze it as she will not have a full 4 weeks to "train".

Thanks so much,
Billye

Your welcome Billye, I'm glad I was able to help :)

I know how hard it is to leave pets at home when traveling. When my husband had testicular cancer, he and I had to travel to Indiana to see the #1 doctor in the world because the local doctors did not know what to do next to treat my husbands cancer.

Anyway, we had to go and we were going to be away from home for 10 days. I made arrangements for my dog (chelsea) to stay at my fathers home with my parents and siblings. Chelsea and I used to live there with my family, so I knew she would feel safe and I knew she would be well cared for.

But, my biggest panic attack about leaving to go to Indiana was because I was worried about my dog. I didn't panic about the cancer, or the visit with the super-specialist doctor, and I wasn't worried about how the trip would affect my own health, or the money aspect of having to travel to Indiana in a rental car and be at a hotel for over a week -- my biggest worry about the trip to Indiana was my dog... and I called my sister 3 times a day to check on how Chelsea was doing.

So, I can completely understand your worries, and I do hope that your dogs can learn to feel comfortable with the sitter, because that is what will help you feel comfortable and have fewer worries on your trip.

Take care,
Liz

Yesterday with the sitter
 

Yesterday my sitter came. I let her in the front door and we sat down. She accross the room from me. She had the treats by her. Then my husband came in carrying one of the dogs and the other two followed him. This part of the house isn't their part so it's sorta neutral territory. Cami went to the sitter tail wagging and "wuffed" a little. But the sitter talked to her and Cami let herself be petted. The setter loves animals and she knew how to talk to them. The first treat was offered and Cami took hers right away. The other two Rio and Copper, then approached the sitter warily but both their tails were wagging. They took their treats. All backed away and ate, then the barking started.

They were offered another treat and they all took it. They then proceeded to start barking again. We let them bark a short while with the sitter talking to them the whole time. I didn't say anything. Then my husband picked up one of them and the other two followed him back into their part of the house. So, it went better than any of us expected. They didn't eat her. We will repeat this a time or two. Then let her walk into the rest of the house with the dogs and us. Kinda like from neutral territory crossing into their territory. We hope they will have developed a trust for her before we do this.

I'll keep you updated on this saga. Thanks for all your help.
Billye

Other part of the house
 

Today the sitter came for the third day. They all took their offered treats and then proceeded to start barking, but they also at the same time were comfortable enough to run around and play in the same room with her. So we decided to see if they would let her go into their part of the house. They followed us and let her go into their territory. No one ate her. Yayyyyyy!!

She was also allowed into the back yard and they didn't eat her. Yayyyy!!
It looks like it's going to work. She is coming tomorrow and will feed them for the first time.

Billye

I'm glad to hear the dogs seem to be adjusting to the sitter! One less thing to worry about!

When I found out my son was getting married this summer, out of town, my first worry was "who will we get to dog sit?"

Cara

The sitter fed the pups today
 

Today our sitter came at feeding time. Came in the house thru the garage door whitch will be the most convenient door for her. The dogs freaked, because they were used to her coming from the front of the house. I decided it was time for her to feed them. She got out the bowls and my husband showed her how to measure their food and she placed the food bowls down on the floor one at a time and called each dog. They quit barking as soon as she got the food bowls out. They ate fine for her and then they had to be coaxed to go out. I think my little Rio was afraid of her but the other two were troupers. I feel that once she has the whole routine down, there won't be any problems. Cami even let herself be held by the sitter this evening. I'm feeling less and less that this is something to lose sleep over. It looks like it's working out.

Thanks for all your help.
Billye