So You're Planning Some Time Away, But You Have An Anxious Dog At Home.. Now What?
First things first, you should take some time to really access your pets behavior to see if anxiety is something they truly struggle with. And if so, what type of anxiety it is. Just like with humans anxiety can come in many shapes and sizes and the best treatment for them depends highly on the type of anxiety they struggle with. Separation anxiety, for example, can most definitely be significantly helped by a dog sitter coming more often! The more interaction your dog has with others will help to ease the feelings they are dealing with. The exercise will also help to calm their mind and body, just like with us. If however, they are anxious about new people near them or inside their home, its extremely important to hire a well-trained and experienced pet sitting company.
Make Sure You Hire Someone Who Understands Dog Body Language
As crazy as it may sound, dogs say so much more than we do just simply with their body language. Something like looking all the way to one side and exposing the whites of their eyes is a very common example of this. In the animal behavior world, this is known as "whale eye." It's a tell tale sign from a dog that they are uncomfortable. A knowledgeable sitter will know that a dog displaying this behavior should be handled with extra caution and care.
Notice and Note the Behaviors Your Dog Displays
Many dogs when placed in anxious inducing situations will become defensive and even aggressive. This is a completely normal behavior! This is their way of telling you to back off. Typically this includes behaviors like growling, air snapping, showing their teeth, and crouching down or backwards. When you notice your dog showing any of these signs, it's crucial to note them for your care provider. It's also helpful if you're able to provide further context and background on what and how exactly the pup displayed these behaviors. For example, you could note that Fluffy will growl if you get near his food bowl while he's eating. This will cue your sitter to make sure they feed Fluffy appropriately to avoid making your dog feel like he or she needs to be defensive. You may also note things like Fluffy will crouch backwards and protect his toys if you go for one of his favorites. This is a very typical sign of an anxious dog. They can sometimes feel the need to control things around them so having someone touch or move their toys can push them over the edge.
Knowing When You've Found The Right Pet Sitter Comes From a Feeling Within
When it comes to someone else looking after your fur baby, this is often a "gut feeling" we either do or don't have about someone. It's not always a good match with everyone so it's important to do your research to find someone who's qualified and experienced in working not only with dogs in general, but with dogs who have a history of anxiety. For dogs struggling with anxiety, it's best to keep their routine as predictable as possible. This includes who you let look after them. So when you do find the right sitter for you, hold onto them!