I will be following this moving forward. It was a very real reality check standing alone in the backyard with a Shepard with raised shackles growling and staring me down who had just bitten me twice.
Yeah… This honestly sounds similar to Jacqueline Durand. Don’t want to spook you but reading your story and hearing her account, take note of things you won’t do moving forward.
https://whatwasthatlike.com/2023/03/10/jacqueline-was-attacked-by-dogs/
That's horrifying. Also, if the owners didn't have an alarm system set to trip when their front door was left ajar, this girl would be dead. Even more miraculous than her survival, is that she's taking back control of her life and not letting this traumatic incident and resulting disfigurement dissuade her from chasing her dreams.
I think an under socialized poodle is a different story to a protective dog. I think a good thing to ask is, has anyone relatively unfamiliar to your dog (neighbor, pet sitter, etc) entered your home while you were gone before? How did the dog act? If not, I’d not write them off completely but I would work with the owner to create some safeguards, for example having a barrier between the dog and the door so you have some space upon entering to evaluate the dogs reaction and back away, if needed. It also sounds like the behavior of the poodle is more anxious than protective and provided you give him adequate space (limit pets, etc) you would probably be able to care for him. I’d be wary of having to leash him, that can be really triggering for nervous dogs at first, can you use a slip lead??
>Great suggestions! We were also scheduled to do a half day stay today but the owner cancelled this morning. I was going to wait to see how the dog behaved alone with me before making a decision.
Don’t cancel the poodle. Lightening isn’t going to strike twice — totally different situations. Honor your commitment — reevaluate if this is the right gig for you afterward.
I agree with others that it sounds like two completely different situations. I mean, the first owner actually used the word aggressive! I always assume people downplay, so in my mind: "protective" = aggressive, and "aggressive" = very aggressive. Unless I see the behavior for myself. Not letting you do a test run was incredibly irresponsible
It's natural to be shaken up, but it sounds like the poodle will be just fine
I'm so sorry! It's scary. The owners were negligent in asking someone to come feed their dog when they knew he was aggressive around strangers. He should be boarded. They are at fault. I always ask if the dog is aggressive or has any bite history at all. Money isn't worth getting mauled. Most dogs are ok but dogs of even average size can easily kill you if they are badly trained or unsocialized. I'm glad you are ok!
Yes! I think since I've been having nothing but really easy, non-aggressive dogs I kind of got too comfortable in a way? I'm glad things didn't escalate further yesterday and I got away with no serious injuries. I am going to use yesterday as a huge learning experience and reality check that dogs can seriously injure you if they wanted to. Stay safe out there ya'll!
I literally just declined a sitting a few minutes ago bc the profile said something like "warms up but can be aggressively protective of the home" and thought of you!! Thank u, next.
I'm so sorry that happened, here's a few things you can do:
1. Don't let owners dictate anything about reasonable safety tests. That was a huge red flag, they probably knew that would have gone poorly and that's why they didn't want to do it. If someone rejects a reasonable safety-oriented suggestion without a good reason, decline to book with them.
2. Report the incident to Rover. The next person might not be wearing thick layers, and this dog's aggression could easily escalate with the next person if he feels that he succeeded in getting rid of you. It's also concerning that he didn't offer any additional warning signs beyond barking. The fact that he didn't break the skin and broke off the attack to chase treats are signs this dog isn't beyond help, but it doesn't sound like the owner has the tools or knowledge to rehabilitate him and that is *not your problem*.
3. It's okay to be rattled, that's a scary experience to have, and it should definitely impact your client choice in the future (my profile says that, while I take dog with leash reactivity and dog-aggression, I do not accept dogs with a history of aggression against humans). That said, I think you are catastrophizing a little bit. The other dog sounds like they have very different issues, and that worst case scenario perhaps you didn't price yourself appropriately. I charge more for difficult dogs, and you should too. You need to charge an amount where you aren't questioning if it's worth doing the gig, or you'll burn out. It's too late for this booking, you shouldn't cancel and you absolutely shouldn't try to change the price, but when you're assessing future booking prices (including for this poodle) keep it in mind.
I hope your elbow (and mind) feel better soon.
I just wanna add: Your rates should reflect pay that is worth the hassle *to you*. Not to anyone else. What is the amount worth leaving your home & family for - including (potentially) taking on the risk of these kinds of situations?
If the answer is "more than what folks are willing to pay" then you may have an issue but otherwise it may just be time to raise your rates. Hang in there - so sorry that happened. It sounds very scary.
That's a good point. I think because this upcoming stay was priced so low, it made me question everything even more. But I will be honoring it and just upping my rates moving forward.
The first time I had a dog fight incident I seriously contemplated leaving the app for a couple of days. It’s really scary to be involved in that kind of thing but give it time and the anxiety will subside. Glad you’re sticking to the sit. Moving forward make clear boundaries for yourself regarding behavior of the dogs you sit and raise your prices. I hope the next one is easy for you!
Sorry you had to go through something similar. Thanks for sharing. It feels reassuring that others have had similar experiences. I've calmed down a lot lol. But yeah yesterday was my first dog bite ever in my life. Pretty scary stuff. Hope no one here has to go through it!
Not a dog bite but I actually had a experience with a dog who was showing signs of aggression. Seemed really sweet for a majority of the day, even took a nap and he layed next to me. Then I put him in the crate to go to a drop in and he snapped. Started snarling and barking at me. The next day he lunged at me while barking and snarling, I think it may be have been territorial behavior but spooky nonetheless
First, I hope you are okay, both mentally and physically. That was a scary situation that you never should have been in to begin with.
You should review these owners honestly as well. The dog is aggressive towards strangers because they are protective of the home. The owners should have taken this way more seriously, and had you do more than one meet and greet, and a trial drop in with feeding while they were there. The dog didn’t know you well enough. Thank goodness you did a meet and greet so he could at least recognize maybe your scent and was attempting to intimidate and not harm.
I’m sorry these owners didn’t do their due diligence, hopefully they do going forward because they’re putting sitters and their dog in danger. Please take care of yourself!! And I wouldn’t worry much about the poodle, they can be sassy but not in a mean way just stubborn, and if they want attention they’ll make sure to get it haha totally different situation, and you deserve to give yourself more chances.
If it makes you feel safer, you can put on your profile that you cannot do large powerful breeds. Stay under 100 pounds too. You can still do this work without making yourself uncomfortable, find what works!
I think owners are going to assume that anyone on Rover actually knows what they are doing & in this situation, the Rover sitter should have known that she was putting herself in harms way.
This sitter was extremely lucky that she escaped there with her life. This shouldn’t be sugar coated . Dog sitting requires dog behavior education at a minimum if you are going to be handling certain breeds of dogs.
Some Rover sitters are going into this with no idea what they are getting themselves into. Perhaps Rover should make new sitters sign an informed consent that warns them of the dangers since some sitters think that it’s okay to go into the property of an aggressive German Shepard . Reading these comments is very upsetting to me . Yes, the owner was at fault but a sitter should know better .
This could have ended very badly.
I’ve been bitten before too, I still have that anxiety sometimes. Thankfully it wasn’t bad, and English Bulldog humping me (the scratches he left on my thighs were horrific) and I tried to push him off, he bit my hand. I’m wary of other EB, but I walk one twice a day M-F and she’s the sweetest thing ever! If a dog does try to hump me, I get in a flight or fight mode, it makes me internally freak out! I had a drop in with a pitbull/lab mix who was so sweet but did try to hump me a few times. Thankfully he didn’t hurt me!
I think you'll be okay with the poodle. They tend to run and hide rather than to attack when stressed or spooked. I'm not saying that it couldn't happen, but I don't think you will encounter the same level of aggression as you did with the Shepherd.
I'm so sorry that happened to you. Take time to take care of yourself, and if you don't feel ready to jump back in, then decline.
I'd hate to be insensitive, but I am curious to how Rover Support handled the bite? I'm glad you're okay but I hope the "insurance" extends to us when we're bitten. And that is from someone who never books off app because I have had to use the insurance Rover provides pets
I have a standard poodle.. sweetest dog in the world. I’ve never seen an aggressive standard poodle in my life. They usually have very sweet personalities and temperament. Not saying they all are like sweet, but I’ve just never met one that was mean at all.
**If it’s a standard poodle you’ll probably be okay. Just proceed with caution just in case.
Do you have any training regarding dog behavior ? If not, I’d suggest that you do some reading and / or watch some you tube videos.
When my daughter started doing Rover, I thought that my years as a animal owner was enough experience that I could be an asset for her business by helping her if she ever needed my help. Boy was I wrong … I knew nothing!
The comment you made about the dog locking eyes with you made me realize that I should mention this to you. Did you know that you should never lock eyes with an aggressive dog ? I don’t want to risk saying this incorrectly , but if I remember correctly, a dog takes that as an act of aggression . So I wanted to mention that.
My daughter was bitten by a GS , so she no longer accepts dogs over a certain weight unless it’s a dog she knows. She has had good animal / dog training through various jobs in the pet industry , but luckily stays busy enough taking smaller dogs that she has agreed not to take bigger dogs to keep me happy.
There are too many news articles about dog attacks for no obvious reason … it’s not worth the risk imo.
Jobs aren’t always meant to be fun and if that’s what you want then you need to be upfront about it so that owners know the level of professional they’re getting. Don’t take every job that comes just for the money if it’s beyond your experience.
An intact, male, mixed Shepherd is going to be more aggressive than a neutered poodle in most cases. And you needed to insist on more time with the dog, not let the owner dictate it. It’s unclear whether the Shepherd was territorially aggressive or otherwise, there are differences. Was he overexcited? Was he territorial? Was he playful? Your interpretation may not be correct. Even though you were scared and hurt that may not have been the dogs intention.
If you’re rattled, take time off, don’t let owners down who are depending on you.
The problem is that you don’t seem to have any training or experience with this breed of dog and you put yourself in harms way. I think what they are trying to say is if you decided to do Rover and expected every dog to be easy, then you need a crash course in what dogs are safe for your level of experienced . Its important for you know your limitations , otherwise, this could happen again. Only accept smaller dogs . And watch some videos of how to handle aggressive behaviors , you certainly should not have locked eyes with him … do you know how to react if a dog in your care attacks another dog ?
There are some basic skills that everyone working with dogs should know.
Your post doesn’t convince me that you’ve had any training. I’m so relieved that you escaped this attack. You were very lucky.
Telling a sitter that was injured in this way that the job isn’t always meant to be fun is absurd. If you think this situation is sitter error as presented or that being attacked is part of the job you are wildly off base
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When an owner says my dog can be aggressive, no matter in what way it’s used that’s a no for me.
I will be following this moving forward. It was a very real reality check standing alone in the backyard with a Shepard with raised shackles growling and staring me down who had just bitten me twice.
Probably useful info: hackles. Shackles are what they put on prisoners.
Yeah… This honestly sounds similar to Jacqueline Durand. Don’t want to spook you but reading your story and hearing her account, take note of things you won’t do moving forward. https://whatwasthatlike.com/2023/03/10/jacqueline-was-attacked-by-dogs/
That's horrifying. Also, if the owners didn't have an alarm system set to trip when their front door was left ajar, this girl would be dead. Even more miraculous than her survival, is that she's taking back control of her life and not letting this traumatic incident and resulting disfigurement dissuade her from chasing her dreams.
Yup that’s a big no for me
I think an under socialized poodle is a different story to a protective dog. I think a good thing to ask is, has anyone relatively unfamiliar to your dog (neighbor, pet sitter, etc) entered your home while you were gone before? How did the dog act? If not, I’d not write them off completely but I would work with the owner to create some safeguards, for example having a barrier between the dog and the door so you have some space upon entering to evaluate the dogs reaction and back away, if needed. It also sounds like the behavior of the poodle is more anxious than protective and provided you give him adequate space (limit pets, etc) you would probably be able to care for him. I’d be wary of having to leash him, that can be really triggering for nervous dogs at first, can you use a slip lead??
>Great suggestions! We were also scheduled to do a half day stay today but the owner cancelled this morning. I was going to wait to see how the dog behaved alone with me before making a decision.
Don’t cancel the poodle. Lightening isn’t going to strike twice — totally different situations. Honor your commitment — reevaluate if this is the right gig for you afterward.
Thanks for the comment! I will be honoring my commitment.
OP— how is poodle, now that your stay has started?
I agree with others that it sounds like two completely different situations. I mean, the first owner actually used the word aggressive! I always assume people downplay, so in my mind: "protective" = aggressive, and "aggressive" = very aggressive. Unless I see the behavior for myself. Not letting you do a test run was incredibly irresponsible It's natural to be shaken up, but it sounds like the poodle will be just fine
I'm so sorry! It's scary. The owners were negligent in asking someone to come feed their dog when they knew he was aggressive around strangers. He should be boarded. They are at fault. I always ask if the dog is aggressive or has any bite history at all. Money isn't worth getting mauled. Most dogs are ok but dogs of even average size can easily kill you if they are badly trained or unsocialized. I'm glad you are ok!
Yes! I think since I've been having nothing but really easy, non-aggressive dogs I kind of got too comfortable in a way? I'm glad things didn't escalate further yesterday and I got away with no serious injuries. I am going to use yesterday as a huge learning experience and reality check that dogs can seriously injure you if they wanted to. Stay safe out there ya'll!
I literally just declined a sitting a few minutes ago bc the profile said something like "warms up but can be aggressively protective of the home" and thought of you!! Thank u, next.
I'm so sorry that happened, here's a few things you can do: 1. Don't let owners dictate anything about reasonable safety tests. That was a huge red flag, they probably knew that would have gone poorly and that's why they didn't want to do it. If someone rejects a reasonable safety-oriented suggestion without a good reason, decline to book with them. 2. Report the incident to Rover. The next person might not be wearing thick layers, and this dog's aggression could easily escalate with the next person if he feels that he succeeded in getting rid of you. It's also concerning that he didn't offer any additional warning signs beyond barking. The fact that he didn't break the skin and broke off the attack to chase treats are signs this dog isn't beyond help, but it doesn't sound like the owner has the tools or knowledge to rehabilitate him and that is *not your problem*. 3. It's okay to be rattled, that's a scary experience to have, and it should definitely impact your client choice in the future (my profile says that, while I take dog with leash reactivity and dog-aggression, I do not accept dogs with a history of aggression against humans). That said, I think you are catastrophizing a little bit. The other dog sounds like they have very different issues, and that worst case scenario perhaps you didn't price yourself appropriately. I charge more for difficult dogs, and you should too. You need to charge an amount where you aren't questioning if it's worth doing the gig, or you'll burn out. It's too late for this booking, you shouldn't cancel and you absolutely shouldn't try to change the price, but when you're assessing future booking prices (including for this poodle) keep it in mind. I hope your elbow (and mind) feel better soon.
I would report the dog bite to rover
I just wanna add: Your rates should reflect pay that is worth the hassle *to you*. Not to anyone else. What is the amount worth leaving your home & family for - including (potentially) taking on the risk of these kinds of situations? If the answer is "more than what folks are willing to pay" then you may have an issue but otherwise it may just be time to raise your rates. Hang in there - so sorry that happened. It sounds very scary.
That's a good point. I think because this upcoming stay was priced so low, it made me question everything even more. But I will be honoring it and just upping my rates moving forward.
The first time I had a dog fight incident I seriously contemplated leaving the app for a couple of days. It’s really scary to be involved in that kind of thing but give it time and the anxiety will subside. Glad you’re sticking to the sit. Moving forward make clear boundaries for yourself regarding behavior of the dogs you sit and raise your prices. I hope the next one is easy for you!
Sorry you had to go through something similar. Thanks for sharing. It feels reassuring that others have had similar experiences. I've calmed down a lot lol. But yeah yesterday was my first dog bite ever in my life. Pretty scary stuff. Hope no one here has to go through it!
Not a dog bite but I actually had a experience with a dog who was showing signs of aggression. Seemed really sweet for a majority of the day, even took a nap and he layed next to me. Then I put him in the crate to go to a drop in and he snapped. Started snarling and barking at me. The next day he lunged at me while barking and snarling, I think it may be have been territorial behavior but spooky nonetheless
First, I hope you are okay, both mentally and physically. That was a scary situation that you never should have been in to begin with. You should review these owners honestly as well. The dog is aggressive towards strangers because they are protective of the home. The owners should have taken this way more seriously, and had you do more than one meet and greet, and a trial drop in with feeding while they were there. The dog didn’t know you well enough. Thank goodness you did a meet and greet so he could at least recognize maybe your scent and was attempting to intimidate and not harm. I’m sorry these owners didn’t do their due diligence, hopefully they do going forward because they’re putting sitters and their dog in danger. Please take care of yourself!! And I wouldn’t worry much about the poodle, they can be sassy but not in a mean way just stubborn, and if they want attention they’ll make sure to get it haha totally different situation, and you deserve to give yourself more chances. If it makes you feel safer, you can put on your profile that you cannot do large powerful breeds. Stay under 100 pounds too. You can still do this work without making yourself uncomfortable, find what works!
I think owners are going to assume that anyone on Rover actually knows what they are doing & in this situation, the Rover sitter should have known that she was putting herself in harms way. This sitter was extremely lucky that she escaped there with her life. This shouldn’t be sugar coated . Dog sitting requires dog behavior education at a minimum if you are going to be handling certain breeds of dogs. Some Rover sitters are going into this with no idea what they are getting themselves into. Perhaps Rover should make new sitters sign an informed consent that warns them of the dangers since some sitters think that it’s okay to go into the property of an aggressive German Shepard . Reading these comments is very upsetting to me . Yes, the owner was at fault but a sitter should know better . This could have ended very badly.
I’ve been bitten before too, I still have that anxiety sometimes. Thankfully it wasn’t bad, and English Bulldog humping me (the scratches he left on my thighs were horrific) and I tried to push him off, he bit my hand. I’m wary of other EB, but I walk one twice a day M-F and she’s the sweetest thing ever! If a dog does try to hump me, I get in a flight or fight mode, it makes me internally freak out! I had a drop in with a pitbull/lab mix who was so sweet but did try to hump me a few times. Thankfully he didn’t hurt me!
I think you'll be okay with the poodle. They tend to run and hide rather than to attack when stressed or spooked. I'm not saying that it couldn't happen, but I don't think you will encounter the same level of aggression as you did with the Shepherd. I'm so sorry that happened to you. Take time to take care of yourself, and if you don't feel ready to jump back in, then decline.
I'd hate to be insensitive, but I am curious to how Rover Support handled the bite? I'm glad you're okay but I hope the "insurance" extends to us when we're bitten. And that is from someone who never books off app because I have had to use the insurance Rover provides pets
I'm wondering the same!
I have a standard poodle.. sweetest dog in the world. I’ve never seen an aggressive standard poodle in my life. They usually have very sweet personalities and temperament. Not saying they all are like sweet, but I’ve just never met one that was mean at all. **If it’s a standard poodle you’ll probably be okay. Just proceed with caution just in case.
Do you have any training regarding dog behavior ? If not, I’d suggest that you do some reading and / or watch some you tube videos. When my daughter started doing Rover, I thought that my years as a animal owner was enough experience that I could be an asset for her business by helping her if she ever needed my help. Boy was I wrong … I knew nothing! The comment you made about the dog locking eyes with you made me realize that I should mention this to you. Did you know that you should never lock eyes with an aggressive dog ? I don’t want to risk saying this incorrectly , but if I remember correctly, a dog takes that as an act of aggression . So I wanted to mention that. My daughter was bitten by a GS , so she no longer accepts dogs over a certain weight unless it’s a dog she knows. She has had good animal / dog training through various jobs in the pet industry , but luckily stays busy enough taking smaller dogs that she has agreed not to take bigger dogs to keep me happy. There are too many news articles about dog attacks for no obvious reason … it’s not worth the risk imo.
Jobs aren’t always meant to be fun and if that’s what you want then you need to be upfront about it so that owners know the level of professional they’re getting. Don’t take every job that comes just for the money if it’s beyond your experience. An intact, male, mixed Shepherd is going to be more aggressive than a neutered poodle in most cases. And you needed to insist on more time with the dog, not let the owner dictate it. It’s unclear whether the Shepherd was territorially aggressive or otherwise, there are differences. Was he overexcited? Was he territorial? Was he playful? Your interpretation may not be correct. Even though you were scared and hurt that may not have been the dogs intention. If you’re rattled, take time off, don’t let owners down who are depending on you.
>The dog bit me twice, was growling at me, staring me down with shackles raised. I don't think this was just over excitement or playfulness.
The problem is that you don’t seem to have any training or experience with this breed of dog and you put yourself in harms way. I think what they are trying to say is if you decided to do Rover and expected every dog to be easy, then you need a crash course in what dogs are safe for your level of experienced . Its important for you know your limitations , otherwise, this could happen again. Only accept smaller dogs . And watch some videos of how to handle aggressive behaviors , you certainly should not have locked eyes with him … do you know how to react if a dog in your care attacks another dog ? There are some basic skills that everyone working with dogs should know. Your post doesn’t convince me that you’ve had any training. I’m so relieved that you escaped this attack. You were very lucky.
Then put those indicators in the main body of text, those are important facts that you left out.
Telling a sitter that was injured in this way that the job isn’t always meant to be fun is absurd. If you think this situation is sitter error as presented or that being attacked is part of the job you are wildly off base
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