Dog sitting is great, but not at any price!

In order to finance my future training as a dog educator, I do some dogsitting. This allows me to partly finance my courses. But should I do this kind of work at any price and under any conditions?

Dogsitting pour financier ma formation MEC

In order to be able to train and pay for the MEC (Dog Training Instructor) course that I want to do. I’ve decided to do some dog-sitting in my spare time. For the moment I have been able to do this with a few dogs of different breeds and levels of training:

• Spitz
• Shiba
• Beagle
• Caniche

I noticed a big difference in the way the various dogs were brought up and the attention they received from their owners. These disparities prompted me to think about what I was and wasn’t prepared to accept on these shifts. This was to make dogsittings easier and to avoid becoming a goat.

Inappropriate behaviour observed

When I’m looking after a dog, I find out as much as I can before I take him in, by asking the owner questions. These range from food to outings, including fears and vaccinations, etc.

Despite these questions and a quick glance if the link was with Mia. I’ve found that the worst owners I’ve had are those who need a dogsitter “in two days’ time”. They don’t think it’s worth educating their dog at all.

Most of the shortcomings observed were as follows:

• No training (no need, he’s a small dog)
• Cleanliness not acquired
  • Does its business anywhere outside except in greenery
  • my dog is shy and finds it difficult to go outside
  • Male marking anywhere, including indoors
• Dépendance affective avec demande d’attention en tout temps
• Owner unaware of how to care for his dog
  • tartar that makes your breath stink (bad odour)
  • No or partial vaccination
• Dog not at all responsive (because we got a dog to have a dog)

_{Although on three shifts, it’s a bit early to make a general observation. It’s a trend I’ve seen with other custody requests that I’ve turned down.}

I’d like to have custody, but on my terms!

Although the decision not to do complicated guarding was taken before these services, stricter conditions were put in place so as not to have to deal with undesirable situations. Among the points I consider important are: complete vaccination, anti-parasite treatment, 100% cleanliness, no various addictions or dangerous behaviour and, above all, a visit to the animal’s living quarters before I give my answer.

These conditions should already limit undesirable situations. Because it’s not up to me to train other people’s dogs, it’s up to their owners. This will also avoid the little phrase that says it all: if you want to train him, go ahead.

In a nutshell

Looking after a dog can’t be improvised and I don’t want to have to pay the price for owners who don’t know how to look after their dogs. That’s why my conditions of care will be more structured and strict in order to spare myself and spend quality time with the dogs under my care for a walk, a day or a weekend.