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dog sitting or sleep over information

836 views 9 replies 7 participants last post by  Metchosin 
#1 ·
Milo (a wonderful miniature schnauzer) is my sweet Tucker's best friend. We're going to try a couple of sleepovers at each other's houses to prepare for Milo's 10 day stay at our house in December.
I'm working on preparing information, not just for Tucker's visit with Milo, but for the future when Tucker is left somewhere else.
Do you have information prepared for leaving your Havanese dog? If so, what should it contain? All recommendations appreciated:)

I'm including my first attempt here, so please give any advice or suggestions you think would make it better.....add topics or whatever...



Tucker’s Information:


Vet Information:
(name, address, phone number included here)


Reaching us:
our phone numbers
If you can’t keep him and can’t reach us: (phone number/names of friends)

Feeding:
1. Morning: 1 meat pattie, veggies (1/8 cup approx) & a shot of salmon oil
2. Evening: 1 meat pattie, veggies (1/8 cup approx) & a shot of salmon oil
3. I chop up the meat pattie fairly finely and ditto with the vegetable. I mix the veggie with the meat and chop them together so the veggie gets coated with the meat. Then, once in his bowl, I give it a shot of salmon oil. I heat this mix in the microwave for 10 seconds to take off the fridge chill.
4. Once you place his meal down, he should look at you and wait for “Okay, take it” before approaching his dish.
5. He likes water at the end of his morning & evening meal. Otherwise, he’s not much of a water drinker. I do leave his water bowl filled, though.
6. Treats: Make him do something for a treat, eg. sit, look, dance, jump, spin, twirl, down, over...

Issues:
1. He’s generally ready for bed by 8:30, but likes to be with you until you go to bed. He gets up about 8 am unless you are out and about. I bathroom break him before bedtime and first thing in the am.
2. Tucker sleeps in his bed. He used to sleep in his crate and if you can get him into it, that would probably be best. (He’s been sleeping in our bedroom on the floor by our bed. But, if he’s with Milo, he should be fine in the same room, in his crate or on his bed.)
3. He doesn’t chew or destroy things. If he’s worried, he’ll just tend to bark.
4. Tucker is a fairly timid dog. He loves people and dogs he knows. He’s not a high energy dog.
5. He doesn’t like to play with more than one other dog. He is not aggressive, but plays best with one other dog.
6. He comes when called and stays fairly close when in an off leash area.
7. He will miss me and will stick fairly close to a human more often than not. He does like to be close to people. He is very gentle with children.
8. He is very wary of strange dogs and hates his butt sniffed. Once he gets to know another dog (two meetings), he’s fine with them. But, he will growl and snap initially.

Bathroom Information:
1. First thing in the am he does a pee. He also usually does his first poo at this time. Sometimes the poo isn’t done until after breakfast.
2. He is house trained, but has a fairly free rein to go out during the day for the pee. He can last a long time if you go out and need to leave him in alone.
3. Cue word: “Get Busy”….if he’s sniffing instead of doing his business.
4. He will do another poo usually later in the afternoon or just before dinner. Generally, he has one or two poo’s a day.
5. In the am: I do check his butt to see that there are no dingle berries. I lift up his tail and look at the hair below his anus as well as check his anus. Ditto in the evening. He doesn’t mind a tail lift and look, or even a wash with a cloth. Seems gross, but it comes with the breed.

Habits:
1. He loves to play ‘find it’ with his Hedgehog or a treat (cheese).
2. Unfortunately, he has separation anxiety and will bark if he’s separated from his people.
3. He will bark at dogs going by his window or in his yard.
4. He finds car rides difficult. He pants, drools and shakes in the car, expecting to be left to defend the car.

Grooming:
1. (I haven't done this one yet, but it will contain a couple of things about brushing before going outside and waiting for the coat to dry. I do not expect any sitters to be as vigilant as I am, so will have to deal with the consequences once I get home.)

...end of blurb at this point... but, now you know all of my secret issues:) I LOVE my dog, but, as you see, he's not perfect. Still, I think it's only fair for a sitter to know the issues.
Am I missing anything? Other suggestions for topics MOST APPRECIATED!!

Sharon--who's already missing her dog and he's not having his sleep over until next week!!! (when I'll be out of town anyway!!!!)
 
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#2 ·
I had a dog sitter stay at the house with my two havs for a week last winter and I left her like 6 pages of instructions. The pet sitter said they had never seen anything like it:redface:

But the lady had never been in our house and never stayed with our dogs...so I left alot of detail. I will print it out and see what is all on it tomorrow and let you know.

Somethings I can think of off the top of my head is -

their chip # and the contact infor

I left my vet with my visa # if they had any emergencies and gave vet instructions to take care of what ever they needed.

Both my dogs know different words, so I left a list of they words they know

Where they might be dangers....like my Missy will eat things she shouldn't so don't leave your purse out -she will get your gum, she will also drink your coffee is she can get to it - Casper will try to get in the garage....and out the front door, that sort of things that can be of danger to them.

I really think the more infor they have the easier it will be for the pet and pet sitter
 
#4 ·
I also leave my dog sitter with the name/phone number/directions for the emergency vet and the phone number & ID #s for the dogs' microchips. And like Lynn, I call my vet to advise them the sitter has authority to request treatment for the dogs, leave my credit card info and also leave the sitter with a letter of authorization for any treatment with a guarantee to pay any related charges (with a request to try and reach me first.)
 
#5 ·
Yep, I had a 3-page list this summer for our new dogsitter. He actually seemed happy that I had written so much detail. I gave it to him several days before he sat so he could read over and ask questions, and it is on my computer and I have used it now with several dogsitters. Trial runs are a very good thing.

I also now tell the sitters that if there is a need for a butt bath, just take the hose and grab the tail and go for it! I guess in Canada that might be a little chilly, but I rarely have luck with the wipes if it's bad.

I also have all the chip, ID info with Rabies, etc. and all vaccines listed as well as the emergency vet. I even have a description and photo handy of Jackson if he did get lost.
 
#6 ·
Wow, you all have great ideas for this! I've never thought about leaving Tucker with a pet sitter, but if I ever do, I'm coming back here for ideas for my list. I'm very impressed with the detail--I know I would want that, too.

I can't imagine going into this kind of detail with most any other breed. Aren't we luck and spoiled to have our Havs?! They really are special!
 
#7 ·
Thank you everyone for the great ideas! I agree, this looks like it might turn into a 'manual' before I'm done. But, I think I will find it really helpful in the future.
I've added ideas already mentioned and have made it into a kind of template, which I'll paste below. I'm not happy with my choice for some of the heading words, but, 'better done than perfect' seems to work for me! If anyone thinks there's something important I've missed, please keep the great ideas coming! And, maybe some of you will find my ramblings helpful, too:tea:
Sharon

Tucker's Information:

Vet Information:
Name, address, phone number, hours of operation
Hospital address, etc. if different
Information about how to handle an emergency if it happens (eg. vet has a CC number and is aware of the dog sitting arrangement)

Microchip, & Other ID Numbers:
Include these here

Reaching us:
Home and cell numbers or phone number where we'll be if out of town
E-mail Address
If you can't keep him and can't reach us: give another contact number/name

Photo and Description if he gets lost:
Attach photo, with dog's description, leaving a space for phone number of sitter

Feeding:
Morning & evening routines for food (eg time, release commands for taking food)
Food brand/etc. info & amounts
Water (let them know how much he generally drinks)
Treat details such as tricks known and if he has to work for a treat, amounts to treat, favorite treats.

Favorite Toys & Games:
List here

Bedtime Routines:
Time he goes to bed/gets up
Bathroom routine for these 2 events
Where he sleeps (house location) and what he sleeps in/on

Issues:
Make note of things that are a problem and when they might happen, including any dangers he is drawn to (eg. drinking your coffee if it's left at 'lap' height).
Make note of dog's personality in any situations that he might encounter on the sleepover/sitting time (eg. timid when meeting a new dog). I found this needs a longer explanation, so I've included my examples.

1. Tucker is a fairly timid dog. He loves people, including children and dogs he knows. He's not a high-energy dog.
2. He doesn't like to play with more than one other dog. He is not aggressive, but plays best with one other dog.
3. He comes when called and stays fairly close when in an off leash area.
4. He will miss me and will stick fairly close to a human more often than not. He does like to be close to people. He is very gentle with children.
5. He is very wary of strange dogs and hates his butt sniffed by them. Once he gets to know another dog (two meetings), he's fine with them. But, he will growl and snap initially. If I know the other dog & it is friendly, I will keep walking to let him sort it out. I find that if I stand while the butt sniffing is happening, he'll hide behind me and growl & snap more than if I'm just walking.

Bathroom Information:
Length of time between bathroom breaks.
Location of bathroom, if staying at home (eg. back corner of yard)
First thing in the morning/Last thing at night routines (I'd put them here again)
General poo schedule (time and number per day)
Cue word if any.
Information re 'cling ons' if they tend to be an issue (long haired dog) & how to clean up

Habits:
I'm leaving my info here for ideas:

1. He loves to play 'find it' with his Hedgehog or a treat (cheese).
2. Unfortunately, he has separation anxiety and will bark if he's separated from his people.
3. He will bark at dogs going by his window or in his yard.
4. He finds car rides difficult if he's left alone. He pants, drools and shakes in the car.

Grooming:
1. Teeth brushing schedule and how to
2. Hair brushing (equipment & when/how to)
3. Bathing schedule and how to
4. Butt washing
5. Strange encounters (how to deal with something like pitch without shaving that area)
6. Things Tucker does to alert you there's a problem (eg. stops walking because there is a leaf stuck on his foot & how to check for the problem)
7. Groomer if an emergency arises (contact groomer and arrange payment for this)
 
#10 ·
Milo is arriving tomorrow! We're very excited.
His owners, Pam & Dale went to PetSmart and got a name tag with my name & phone number on it in case something happens.
I think that's a really good suggestion! Milo will be here for about 10 days, and he'll most likely stay with us at other times. So, the price of the tag is well worth it.
 
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