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?
Properly, there are lots of 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 count on an nearly human degree 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 go away my Dachshunds with a canine sitter occasionally once I journey.
Frankly, it’s excruciating.
I waffle between worrying they’re having a horrible expertise and inflicting a whole lot of frustration and envisioning them completely happy, frolicking, and having fun with each minute of their “sleepover”.
The truth is someplace in between. I do know this as a result of I’ve watched round 100 Dachshunds over time.
I wish to assume mine are particular. That they’re higher adjusted than most. That they’re completely behaved and don’t let a distinct 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” once 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 verify on some issues that your Dachshund will doubtless expertise at a canine sitter’s home that your canine sitter could also be leaving out of the dialog (doubtless omission, not deception).
Sure, Your Dachshund is Burdened When You Go away
Whereas some Dachshunds are solely anxious for about quarter-hour, most are careworn for the primary few hours, and even the primary day, they’re away from you.
That’s regular, particularly if you happen to spend nearly all of your time with them, make money working 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 step by step turned much less careworn 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 Could Not Be Enjoying With Others
I get it – I wish to envision my Dachshunds taking part in and having a grand ol’ time with the brand new pals they meet on the canine sitters.
Or perhaps 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 character.
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 gained’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 whilst you’re away is lower than 50%.
In my expertise, solely about 20% of the canines that I watch frequently have interaction in play.
Your Dachshund Could Not Eat For the First Day or Two
When a canine is careworn, 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 go away the dish of meals down for them to graze so I choose it up and provide it to them once more later.
If a canine nonetheless isn’t fascinated with consuming the second time that the meal is obtainable, I attempt to make it extra attention-grabbing.
I’ll attempt to hand feed them.
It’s shocking 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 gained’t eat their meals, I provide real-meat treats all through the day in order that they at the least have one thing of their abdomen.
Nearly all canines will eat on the second day they’re right here as a result of they’re hungry.
Your Dachshund Could Change Their Potty Habits
Whether or not it’s because of stress, or confusion a few new home format or yard, some Dachshunds gained’t go potty for the primary day, even once I know they should go, or they could 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’ll occur. It’s not a giant deal and I simply clear it up.
Usually, it’s partially my fault anyway.
The indicators a Dachshund offers when they should exit might 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 could not perceive the place the proper” door to “sign” at is positioned.
We Can’t Observe Your Actual Routine
One in every of my “specialties” is following a Dachshund’s regular house routine as intently as potential.
However that isn’t 100% potential.
My home is completely different. My routine is completely 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 differ however some widespread ones are:
- In case your Dachshund free-feeds at house, that gained’t be potential at my home as a result of I can’t go away meals down the entire time.
- Should you ship your Dachshund’s favourite toy, they could not get to play with it as a result of 1) I don’t need any fights over it and a couple of) I don’t need the opposite canines to destroy it.
- Their regular dinner time could change, as a result of I’ve to strike a stability between my schedule, when my very own canines count on their meals, and whenever you usually feed your canine.
Whereas it’s doubtless that your canine sitter will do every little thing they’ll to maintain your pup’s routine the identical, particularly since that may make their job simpler, do know that every little thing can’t go precisely the way in which that you simply do it… and your canine will probably be okay.
Ultimate Ideas
Like I mentioned, your Dachshund sitter doubtless isn’t leaving this stuff out to be misleading.
It’s simply that there are lots of causes these matters could not come up or that the sitter desires you to really feel like your canine’s keep was straightforward and satisfying.
I get that. I at all times lean in direction of a “good report” once I discuss to homeowners after their Dachshund stays with me.
Nonetheless, 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 handle any points that got here up.
In the long run although, there may be in all probability nothing {that a} educated, skilled Dachshund sitter can’t handle in order that your pup has a very good expertise.
In different phrases, know that there will probably be an adjustment interval on your canine and the sitter, however that your canine will probably be completely superb when you are on trip.
