Managing Difficult Animals During a Pet-Sitting Assignment

No one tells you that an animal can be very different when its owner is away. The calm dog you met might become anxious on the second evening. The sociable cat might disappear under the bed for 3 days.

This guide covers the most frequent situations and how to manage them without panicking.

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The Dog with Separation Anxiety

What you will see:

Prolonged vocalizations, destructive behaviors (chewing, scratching at doors), hyperactivity when going outside, refusal to be left alone even for 30 minutes.

What helps:

• Maintain the owner's exact routine (same wake-up time, same walking route, same meal times)
• Frozen stuffed Kongs for times when you need to leave, keeping the animal occupied for 20 to 40 minutes
• Leave and return calmly, without dramatic goodbyes or greetings
• Gradually increase short absences if the animal tolerates them

What you should not do:

Punish destructive behaviors after the fact; the animal won't connect the two. Over-compensate with cuddles after a vocalization; this reinforces the behavior.

When to call the owner:

If after 48 hours the anxiety does not decrease and the animal refuses to eat or drink, this is abnormal.

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The Leash-Reactive Dog

What you will see:

Barking, pulling, aggressive behaviors directed toward other dogs, people, bicycles, or cars.

What helps:

• Change sidewalks before the encounter, not during; anticipate by 20 meters
• Maintain a safe distance and stay calm: your tension on the leash transmits directly to the dog
• Distract with a high-value treat before the trigger point, not after

What you should not do:

Force encounters with other dogs "to socialize it"; this is not your role during a pet-sitting assignment. Your role is to manage, not to retrain.

Important:

If the owner did not inform you of their dog's reactivity before the assignment, report it in your review. Other guardians need to know.

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