I’ve been a Dachshund sitter for 10 years. Whereas I sometimes watch different small canines, I select to specialize on this particular breed.
Why?
Nicely, there are various causes, but it surely’s primarily as a result of:
- I’ve been a Dachshund proprietor for over 20 years and I’m obsessive about the breed
- Dachshunds and have distinctive behaviors and traits that I perceive and cater to willingly
- I perceive that Dachshund homeowners typically deal with their canines like their “infants” and anticipate an nearly human stage of care.
Dachshund homeowners are sometimes very apprehensive about leaving their canine with a sitter and are nervous that their canine is doing okay with out them whereas they’re gone.
I get it. I’ve needed to depart my Dachshunds with a canine sitter from time to time after I journey.
Frankly, it’s excruciating.
I waffle between worrying they’re having a horrible expertise and inflicting loads of frustration and envisioning them joyful, frolicking, and having fun with each minute of their “sleepover”.
The fact is someplace in between. I do know this as a result of I’ve watched round 100 Dachshunds through the years.
I wish to assume mine are particular. That they’re higher adjusted than most. That they’re completely behaved and don’t let a special state of affairs throw off their routine.
However I do know that may be a bit delusional.
I’ve had canine sitters report that “they had been nice” after I know my canines.
Actually, they don’t seem to be even nice the entire time at my very own home with me. Ha, ha.
Whereas I completely get the need of canine sitters to offer homeowners the impression that their Dachshund had a good time and a seamless expertise – as a result of who desires to go away their canine the place that they had a nasty expertise final time? – I additionally assume it’s crucial to be sincere and set real looking expectations.
So there’s a actuality test on some issues that your Dachshund will possible expertise at a canine sitter’s home that your canine sitter could also be leaving out of the dialog (possible omission, not deception).
Sure, Your Dachshund is Careworn When You Depart
Whereas some Dachshunds are solely anxious for about quarter-hour, most are harassed for the primary few hours, and even the primary day, they’re away from you.
That’s regular, particularly in case you spend the vast majority of your time with them, earn a living from home, take them with you wherever you go, or they’ve separation anxiousness.
The worst case I’ve skilled lasted nearly every week. However the Dachshund steadily grew to become much less harassed every day.
It wasn’t that the Dachshund was a nervous basket case the entire time, he simply didn’t utterly settle till about 7 days in.
Your Dachshund Might Not Be Taking part in With Others
I get it – I wish to envision my Dachshunds taking part in and having a grand ol’ time with the brand new buddies they meet on the canine sitters.
Or possibly you’ve seen movies of canines taking part in with one another at your canine sitters home, so that you assume that your personal canine has “joined the social gathering”.
The factor is, the inclination of a canine to play is exclusive to their persona.
Some canines don’t play with different canines in any respect, some will play provided that the opposite canine’s play model matches theirs, some received’t play with one other canine till they’ve been in the identical home with them for at the least every week.
As a result of sitters solely watch a canine for every week at a time, many Dachshunds are folks oriented and aren’t inclined to play with different canines, the prospect that your canine is taking part in when you’re away is lower than 50%.
In my expertise, solely about 20% of the canines that I watch commonly interact in play.
Your Dachshund Might Not Eat For the First Day or Two
When a canine is harassed, they’re unlikely to eat. Even when they’re extraordinarily meals motivated.
About 30% of the Dachshunds I’ve watched flip their nostril up on the first meal that I provide them.
As a result of there are a number of canines in the home, I can’t depart the dish of meals down for them to graze so I decide it up and provide it to them once more later.
If a canine nonetheless isn’t keen on consuming the second time that the meal is obtainable, I attempt to make it extra fascinating.
I’ll attempt to hand feed them.
It’s stunning what number of canines will take meals from my hand however not eat it from the dish.
I’ll add some sprinkles of dried lung, liver, or meat-based canine treats that their dad and mom despatched with them.
In the event that they nonetheless received’t eat their meals, I provide real-meat treats all through the day so that they at the least have one thing of their abdomen.
Virtually all canines will eat on the second day they’re right here as a result of they’re hungry.
Your Dachshund Might Change Their Potty Habits
Whether or not or not it’s on account of stress, or confusion a few new home structure or yard, some Dachshunds received’t go potty for the primary day, even after I know they should go, or they might have an accident in the home.
It might sound gross – and I’ve been requested by homeowners how I might really feel if their canine peed in the home – however I don’t care if a Dachshund has an accident in our home.
I imply, after all I do however I’ve additionally accepted that it’s going to occur. It’s not an enormous deal and I simply clear it up.
Typically, it’s partially my fault anyway.
The alerts a Dachshund offers when they should exit may be very refined. And they are often very distinctive.
Till I’ve spent a while with a canine, I’ll miss their cues that they should exit.
And since my home is new to them, they might not perceive the place the suitable” door to “sign” at is positioned.
We Can’t Observe Your Precise Routine
One in all my “specialties” is following a Dachshund’s regular dwelling routine as intently as potential.
However that isn’t 100% potential.
My home is totally different. My routine is totally different.
As a result of I’ve 3 Dachshunds of my very own, I’m managing 4-5 Dachshund personalities at a time.
I can’t level out each element that may range however some frequent ones are:
- In case your Dachshund free-feeds at dwelling, that received’t be potential at my home as a result of I can’t depart meals down the entire time.
- If you happen to ship your Dachshund’s favourite toy, they might not get to play with it as a result of 1) I don’t need any fights over it and a pair of) I don’t need the opposite canines to destroy it.
- Their regular supper time could change, as a result of I’ve to strike a steadiness between my schedule, when my very own canines anticipate their meals, and if you usually feed your canine.
Whereas it’s possible that your canine sitter will do the whole lot they’ll to maintain your pup’s routine the identical, particularly since that may make their job simpler, do know that the whole lot can’t go precisely the way in which that you just do it… and your canine can be okay.
Last Ideas
Like I mentioned, your Dachshund sitter possible isn’t leaving these items out to be misleading.
It’s simply that there are various causes these subjects could not come up or that the sitter desires you to really feel like your canine’s keep was simple and satisfying.
I get that. I all the time lean in the direction of a “good report” after I speak to homeowners after their Dachshund stays with me.
Nevertheless, I additionally assume it’s essential to be sincere and clear a few canine’s expertise in order that an proprietor could make a extra knowledgeable choice sooner or later or deal with any points that got here up.
Ultimately although, there may be in all probability nothing {that a} educated, skilled Dachshund sitter can’t deal with in order that your pup has a superb expertise.
In different phrases, know that there can be an adjustment interval on your canine and the sitter, however that your canine can be completely high-quality while you’re on trip.