I am house/pet sitting for a family with 2 dogs. I have been their sitter for 3 years and stay at their house at least 3 weeks out of an average year. so the dogs know me pretty well..
Per the owners instructions.. The dogs may fight each other so they are kept separate. One of them is a big couch potato so he is fine when he’s indoors and he loves the snow so I can let him out in the fenced backyard for as long as he wants.
However the other dog barks constantly unless I am actively interacting with him.. He has to be crated when I leave, he will eat things and destroy furniture. He can’t go outside unless I watch him closely because he will eat things. He has a very high pitch echoing bark and barks the whole time in the yard, he and I also both get cold fast, so I try to make it quick.
When I am home and we are indoors he is kept in the kitchen and dining area so he can’t chew any fabrics. or fight the other dog. He is a sweet boy and wants to be near me; so I try to sit at the dining table on my computer as much as possible to be near him. He still barks A LOT. I can tell his behavior issues come from boredom and he seems stressed. He carry’s toys around but will not play fetch or tug of war or anything (if I try he seems very confused) They do not take him on walks and don’t even have a walking leash, there’s no side walks here and it’s a busy highway but I wish I could.
I tried hiding some kibble in his toy tire, which did entertain him, but he got it out quickly. The only treats they give him are milkbones. He gets tummy issues easily so I don’t want to give him anything new.
Any other suggestions? I feel bad for him. I am hesitant to buy him anything because I don’t want to make the owners feel bad but I would be open to it.
submitted by /u/Frozenyogurtplz
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