Caring for a friend's dog

Introduction

Taking good care of someone else's Dog may appear to be a terrific idea at first for anyone who enjoys dogs.

Regardless of whether you already have a Dog or not, there are a few things to consider.

At some point, your friend, cousin, co-worker, or neighbour is likely to ask you to look after their dog.

It may sound like a fantastic idea and a fun time, but there are certain things to consider before choosing whether or not you are prepared to do it and under what conditions.

Things to consider before choosing whether or not you are prepared to do it and under what conditions.

Timeline

If a friend requests you to look after her Dog for a few hours while she goes on a date, it's usually a simple task.

You will most likely have little or no obligations because she has already fed and strolled the dog, engaged with him, and given him the appropriate medications.

It will be up to you to be able to pet him or even let him lie in your room.

This is sure to be enjoyable without the responsibilities that come with owning a dog.

On the other side, you might be requested to look after a Dog for a weekend or perhaps a week while the neighbour is away.

This is a difficult situation.

In this instance, you would have to replace the current Dog owner for some time; you would have to adapt your personal life to owning a Dog and learn everything there is to know about the animal's requirements and habits.

Your Dog-Handling Experience

Even if you do not have any of your own, taking good care of another pet can be a rewarding experience for most Dog lovers.

However, prior expertise with Dogs will not suffice in determining how tough it will be to care for an unfamiliar animal.

Every Dog is different, and you must never generalize about its characteristics and behaviours.

Now, if you have a dog, you will most likely find it easier to care for another one to some extent.

For example, if you are used to walking a Dog for a stroll, adding another pet wouldn't be a problem.

If you're feeding your dog, it'll be easy to remember to feed your friend's Dog as well.

People who aren't bothered by their Dogs barking in their house will probably be unaffected by the pair of them barking in unison.

Age and Behaviours of the Dog

When deciding whether or not to care for someone else's dog, it's important to consider the dog's age.

Taking care of an adult Dog is significantly easier than taking care of a puppy or a senior dog.

So you may have worked with older Dogs before, but you have never had a puppy.

Older dogs, particularly large breed dogs, are usually calmer and less inclined to start chasing cats or playing with passers-by.

Taking care of a senior animal is probably to be the easiest duty of all.

If they're used to being in restricted spaces, they'll probably know how to act, as well as recognize the tonality of the voice and other cues that they're doing something wrong.

Plus, they might be able to show you some great tricks.

Your Every Day Routine

Every Dog has a routine that they are accustomed to.

Probably, your new Dog will not allow you to sleep in if you're one of those persons who enjoy sleeping in.

He'll opt to take him out for a restroom break or meals at the exact time he anticipates these things to happen.

The same may be said for other routine actions such as going for a stroll, playing with your children, taking medication, or sleeping.

Consider whether you're willing to put your plans on hold or compromise your daily routine for the sake of someone else's dog.

Suppose the present life mix is full of unpredictable scenarios like meetings, business responsibilities, or pals waiting for you at the airport.

In that case, it's best to postpone taking care of someone else's Dog for a more convenient time.

Learning More About Dogs

If feasible, meet and spend some time with the dog ahead of time

This is especially vital if you've never met or gotten to know the Dog you'll be looking after.

You'll want to make sure you're at ease with the Dog and also that the Dog is at ease with you.

Meet up with the friend as well as the Dog somewhere neutral, like a park.

Spend some time getting to know your dog.

You can use this time to ensure that you're in shape for it.

To get to know it, try and play fetch with it or perform stunts.

Even if you're fine with the dog, make sure it's at ease in your presence.

Even if you've met the dog you'll be caring for before, try to spend some time with it before it enters your care to rekindle your bond.

Inquire about the dog's medications

Before you leave the Dog in your care, find out what medications it is on.

Ensure you have all the directions for every medication before the owner leaves, whether it's a daily medication or something they'll only need to take once while they're with you.

It's an excellent idea to have the owner write down such instructions or take notes as they explain them to you.

Place the instructions with the medication bottles in a visible location that is out of range of the Dog or any kids in the house.

Even if the Dog isn't on any meds, having the veterinarian's phone number handy is essential.

If something goes wrong, you'll need someone to contact.

Their veterinarian will have all of the dog's records, allowing them to provide the finest care possible in the event of an emergency.

They can also advise you on any meds you're taking if you misplace the instructions or are unsure about something.

Make a list of the feeding instructions

Many Dogs follow very strict dietary regimes.

Make certain you understand how much and when to feed your dog.

Inquire with the owner of this Dog loves to "graze" or eat small amounts of food throughout the day.

This would necessitate leaving his food out all day, so if you have a pet who might eat it, make sure you figure it out.

Inquire about any items that the Dog isn't allowed to consume, as well as how many treats they're allowed each day.

Keep in mind that some Dogs may become stressed when their owner leaves and their food patterns may vary until they adjust.

Inquire about any behaviour concerns

Before leaving the Dog alone, make sure you're aware of any potential aggression issues, housebreaking concerns, or even shyness the Dog may be experiencing.

Some Dogs may be aggressive on the leash, or they may be fearful of strangers.

Some Dogs may still have accidents inside the house on occasion.

Make sure you're prepared for these issues and talk to the dog's owner about dealing with them effectively.

If the Dog has major aggression issues, you may want to recommend that the owner board them in a professional boarding centre that is better suited to handle that type of behaviour, or whether the Dog is shy, you might want to provide it with its room to grow comfortable.

Allow it time to adjust and give it its preferred toys.

How to Care for a Dog Belonging to Someone Else?

After you've examined everything above and still want to take on this duty, here are some helpful hints for caring for yet another owner's dog, so everything goes smoothly for everyone involved:

Prepare yourself in advance

Before you welcome the Dog in, please speak with the owner to learn everything you need to know about caring for their pet.

This includes information about the dog's behaviour, daily routine, the food he eats, whether the Dog has been housebroken, whether he has been trained and what instructions he understands, and other crucial details that could help you prepare for the assignment.

In addition, you must prepare the home for the arrival of the dog.

Determine where your new pet will sleep and eat, as well as how to appropriately introduce the Dog to any other pets or children you may have.

Keep your home secure

Dogs become accustomed to the environments in which they spend more time.

Even if their owners' homes contain potentially dangerous items, they will rapidly learn to avoid them.

However, keep in mind that your home is unfamiliar territory for the temporary occupant, so keep an eye on them.

Protect yourself against sharp items and furniture edges.

Keep them away from stairwells and other areas where they could become stuck.

They might run away if you leave the rear or front door open.

Also, keep them out of kitchens and bathrooms where they could come into contact with dangerous chemicals, or put them in the cupboards.

Ensure that your trash cans are out of reach, or utilize dog-proof trashcans instead (many regular ones possess the same options).

Have a list of emergency contacts

If you've ever taken care of a dog, you probably have a few veterinarians' phone numbers in the phonebook.

Prepare yourself if you are new to this task.

Accidents happen, even when we have the best intentions; Dogs get sick or even start acting strangely.

You should always have emergency contacts on hand in these instances, such as various veterinarians and an animal poison control hotline.

Inquire the dog's owner for the phone number of the dog's regular veterinarian.

If this clinic is not near your home, look into other possibilities if you need to go to the clinic urgently.

Check the veterinarian's hours of operation and find out where the nearest after-hours veterinarian is.

Consider a friend or family member you could contact if you are unable to contact the Dog owner and are unsure what to do.

Of course, this friend must be the one who understands more about the Dogs than you do.

Make a sleeping space for the dog

Inquire with the owner about how the Dog sleeps at night in one's own home.

Is the Dog allowed to sleep in the owner's bed? Is the Dog kept in a crate at night? Is there a separate bed for the dog? Create a similar sleeping scenario for your Dog in your home, regardless of how it sleeps.

Bring the dog's bed over to your house if it has one, so it has a familiar spot to lie down to rest at night.

Bring a crate to your place if he sleeps in one.

Allow your dog to meet your other pets if you do have any

If the Dog is staying with you and you have pets, set aside some time to acquaint the Dog before the Dog arrives.

Introduce your Dog to your friend's dog at a neutral location initially, such as a park.

After that, you can take the dog to your house after they've gotten to know each other, making sure they can get along with any pets you have, such as cats.

You'll have plenty of time to resolve any difficulties before the owner departs.

When you're not at home, keep the dog isolated from your other pets.

Because they are still getting to know each other, there's a potential one of them will get territorial about toys or aggressive if you aren't around to interfere.

Caring for a friend's dog

Taking care of another person's Dog is a responsibility we would gladly embrace and repeat as needed.

However, there are some factors to consider before accepting it, as things could always go wrong.

Before bringing a Dog into your home, consider how you will live with that Dog and whether it will fit into your daily routine and life dynamics.

Even if you believe nothing horrible will happen, make a list of emergency contacts.