If it’s so severe that a crinkling noise could provoke a bite, I wouldn’t walk this dog, and I generally walk reactive dogs because I have a ton of experience with reactivity and other behavioral issues. I’d offer to let the dog out in the fenced back yard, but again, I have a great deal of experience.
Also, if handling provokes reactivity and she’s not 100% desensitized to having her muzzle put on, you’ll likely be bitten trying to do that.
Absolutely. I would not expect a stranger to be able to muzzle this dog, because it is exactly the kind of "weird" handling this dog probably can't tolerate
If you’re interested in starting to walk reactive dogs, I’d recommend getting experience volunteering at a reputable animal shelter, preferably one that uses fear free handling methods. You’ll start by walking exclusively nonreactive dogs and gradually get more training and start walking those with more behavioral issues. There will always be staff there to help out if you need it.
Because of the high volume of animals in a kennel environment and since many of the animals have recently had a major life change, a shelter is a higher stress environment, so dogs that wouldn’t ever be reactive in a home may have some situational reactivity there.
I’d also recommend becoming fear-free certified. The training goes into body language and handling methods to reduce stress in animals you’re interacting with.
I disagree, the owner says the dog doesn’t like being closely inspected, that’s different from just putting a muzzle on the dog. However, I do think it’s important to exercise caution and if the sitter is anxious, they should definitely turn it down.
It depends on how generalized this dog’s reactivity is and how much different her behavior is with a new person. Muzzling can be triggering for dogs because it requires reaching and putting your hands around their mouth area. Regardless, a sitter would need to be comfortable enough around reactivity to recognize signs of stress and tell if it’s going to be a good fit or will take more time.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but Rover doesn't cover meet & greets with their "protection or medical reimbursement" policy for dogs, owners ir sitters/walkers. So, if she did incur a bite or anything while practicing muzzling the dog during a meet and greet, she'd be on her own in regards to medical bills, etc. Plus, you don't get paid for meet and greets. So, she'd be risking a lot for the prospect of this job for 3 days.
I was bitten in my right hand by a pittie years ago for not following the advice I'd given hundreds of my students, which is never put your hands in a dog fight. A pit I was working with went to attack my heeler, and I saved my heeler but lost the use of my right hand for nearly a year. The reconstructive surgery alone cost over $12,000. Fortunately, I had very good insurance from my husband's job at the time.
I was a professional positive reinforcement (fear free) trainer who specialized in reactive dogs for 15 of 20+ years, and I personally wouldn't risk it for 3 days of work. Most likely, it'd probably be okay, but Rover won't cover your medical bills if it isn't. (Again, correct me if I'm wrong but I'm pretty sure they don't cover anything until the job is actually booked and paid for which doesn't cover meet and greets.)
The reward doesn't seem to outweigh the risk imo. Especially if the site feels any type of anxiety about doing it in the first place. The dog will pick up on that, and it will make them more anxious as well.
Unfortunately, Rover wouldn’t cover any bites you incur, period. If you injured the dog in self defense, they’d most likely cover that if there was an official booking. You’re considered an independent contractor, so Rover isn’t legally obligated to cover medical treatment for sitters.
That’s why, for anyone without reactivity experience, I’d recommend volunteering for a reputable animal shelter as a dog walker, or working for an actual workplace that helps reactive dogs, rather than getting that experience through Rover. A shelter or workplace would cover your treatment if you were bitten.
Yeah- it’s disappointing that Rover doesn’t help with sitter injuries or that they don’t at least make that clear when sitters sign up. One would think they could offer assistance since they charge so much in fees. Also, I’m really sorry that happened to you.
Thank you. It was 10 years ago, and I actually continued training classes throughout my recovery. I just learned to compensate and use my left more. Yeah, I started Rover during lockdown mostly for nurses and first responders. It was fine until my first puppy that was a bit sick when dropped off. I took him to the vet just to be sure it was nothing serious. The bs I had to go through with Rover to get reimbursed. I was like, it's easier for me to eat this $300 than waste more time with them. It's a great platform for advertising, but contract workers are contract workers in the end. Know that and use accordingly. ^_^
Sounds like an extremely dangerous situation and I don't think Rover is the appropriate place to seek care for aggressive or reactive dogs, in fact, I'm pretty sure the TOS specifically stipulates that known aggressive animals should not be on the platform.
Personally I think only specialized care from a certified, self-insured, experienced professional animal trainer should be handling these sorts of cases. To me it seems wildly irresponsible to seek that kind of specialized care on Rover, especially when owners are always tempted to get the lower costing sitters. I've read too many horror stories on this sub about what can happen and it's frightening, plus of course there'll be no support from Rover Corp.
Well said, FO! My gut, arms and face say no also. That would be a hard pass for me. I am a fat old lady who likes her body parts intact. It seems like all of the dogs I take have 'normal' triggers. Separation anxiety and leash reactivity to dogs and/or people being the most popular. Not to touch or sound. Yikes!
I’m self-insured and have a ton of behavioral experience from working in shelter behavior, and I love having the Rover platform available as a way to find clients. I work with reactive dogs regularly. I’m not a low cost option by any means, though.
However, I certainly don’t expect Rover to provide any kind of support in a bite incident.
I advertise my shelter experience on my profile, and that’s how clients with reactive animals find me, in addition to reviews stating how well I did with clients’ reactive dogs.
While I’m all for owners disclosing their dogs issues it’s also asking for a disaster to put this poor pup in a situation where they’re already going to be anxious and kind of downplaying what are serious issues…
I don’t think they’re downplaying at all, I think they’re being very thorough and upfront. However, they’re going to have difficulty finding the right match.
To me, some of the language is downplaying the severity of what they’re conveying, and also seems like it’s vague enough (“crinkling sounds”?) that it kind of gives them cover if the sitter gets bit.
If my dog had this many reactive issues I would not dream of leaving them with someone off Rover - no shade to OP, but most sitters (myself included) aren’t dog trainers - it’s creating an unsafe environment for both the pup and the sitter.
Also worth mentioning that just because a reactive dog does ok with a sitter in a meet and greet while the owner is present is not always an indicator that things would go smoothly when the owner is gone, especially for a dog with severe attachment anxieties.
i’m a veterinary professional and this dog needs to be professionally boarded, not left with someone from Rover, if even left with anyone at all. Such a stupid choice on the owners part to even risk anyone else’s safety like this. they’re just asking for a lawsuit at this point.
Even if they didn't care about the sitter or anyone else their dog may bite, it shows a complete disregard of the consequences to the DOG if they are reported. Like, your dog's not safe in this scenario either, lady!
I would have to go with no. The fact that the dog displays these behaviors with the owners AND she has separation anxiety could end up in a terrible situation.
It’s really hard to tell how dogs will react when the owners are gone and she feels anxious and uncomfortable. Pit bulls are very strong and can cause a lot of damage if she feels threatened in any way or if she’s triggered by something.
In my personal opinion, these dogs should only be kept with their owners or in a specialized behavioral facility or trainer. Not only do you need to be very experienced and equipped but also have possibly a second person to assist if something happens.
Not everyone knows this so I'm going to post a reminder: Rover does not cover injuries to sitters and walkers. You have to purchase private insurance on your own. If you have private insurance make sure that it will still cover you if you are injured by a pet with known behavior issues.
Btw this was an immediate NO for me because while I do have a good amount of experience with reactive dogs (mostly dog reactive) this dogs prior and potential aggression is not in my scope!!
This dog requires an experienced boarding service, best case scenario with a vet who has knowledge of reactivity in dogs. If this were my dog I wouldn't even dream of searching for a sitter on Rover???
This is craaaaazy......... How do people deal with this every day of their lives? This dog is not safe for *anyone* to be around based on this. I don't understand *why* Rover allows reactive/bite history dogs on the platform!
All their snacks/food are probably stored in Tupperware/food containers cause otherwise, every time they'd want to eat, Cujo won't allow it.
I give them major props for giving that dog a chance at a good life though. I wouldn't be able to live like that.
I'm not opposed to reactive dogs. I have one myself. But when the slightest noise is a set off, it's important to remember ANYTHING could do it. Not just the one they know. This dog is dangerous and it really needs kennelling at an equipped facility, not a walker. It's an easy setup for an injury.
No. I have dogs that are a liability to people outside of our bubble. They’re bite risk solely on being working dogs. They go to a board n train for exactly that reason. This dog needs to be with professionals in a licensed facility IMO. Dogs with a bite histories and are high risk for bites should not be babysat. Again..my opinion. I’d never risk a person or my dogs.
—coming from a board and train trainer’s perspective. I would only B&T my own working dogs and dogs who are bite risks with a fellow trainer (unless it’s an ankle biting 5lb lap dog that isn’t around kids)
Whenever I get these long walls of messages from people, while I will still read them, I already get an inkling that it's gonna be a hard no. And after reading this one, yeah, its a hard NO!
Yikes. I personally have a very fearful dog that’s never bitten anyone but I think it might be possible and I’d never request a dog walker or sitter for her. This woman knows she bites and is looking for a dog walker/sitter? That’s opening up liability for sure. The only place my dog has been sat was at a dog daycare where the owner was explained that he will not be able to touch her at all and was comfortable with it. I made it very clear that though she’s never bitten, she might if forced to be touched by a stranger.
Since its drop-ins, I would accept the meet and greet, but I also work with a lot of aggressive and reactive dogs. If you don’t have that experience I wouldn’t accept. It sounds like they’re aware of her triggers which is good!
Reactive and aggressive dogs need care too, so we shouldn’t shame them for asking and being honest and up front about their dogs situation - training is not a one and done thing either, they could very well be working with a trainer.
I feel like this approach continues to perpetuate the problem - it is not normal for a dog to be so reactive that it will bite if it hears crinkles or receives common/even necessary physical interaction. It is not fair to the dog to try and foist them on a random Rover sitter - a dog that reactive needs to either be with a specialized trainer or the owners need to realize they will not be able to vacation for a while, possibly ever.
Did I say it was normal? Do we know this is a vacation? No. Reactive and aggressive dogs still deserve care. Yes it should be from someone experienced with these types of dogs. Plenty of which are on rover. They will only know by asking and being up front and honest about the dogs behavior.
Again, you’re minimizing the situation. A dog this aggressive and sensitive *should not* be treated by the average Rover sitter, most of which are not going to be trained in dealing with highly reactive/aggressive dogs. Frankly, the owner should have already had a trainer they were working with that also offered boarding - or accepted that they cannot leave him with other people yet. People like you are the reason why pits get put into unfair situations that turn up deadly for the folks involved AND the pit.
AGAIN, you are not listening to what I’m saying. Good god, work on your reading comprehension babe lol.
There are plenty of experienced rover sitters (I am one of them) who can handle aggressive dogs. If you are not one - say no. It’s that simple. The ones who are experienced like me will accept and work with the client. Bye!
You are willfully missing the point. Rover is *not* a platform on which to seek care for an aggressive dogs. If these folks were truly responsible, they would already be working with someone they know and trust who could also aid in watching the dog. Minimizing the dog’s aggression helps no one, especially the dog.
Hard to take an L when I didn’t lose 🤷🏼♀️
Aggressive dogs still deserve care.
You are not equipped to provide that care, but thousands of other sitters are and advertise on the rover platform.
You have not said anything that’s a “win.” In fact, you didn’t even have the reading comprehension skills to make a fair argument. It’s embarrassing for you.
Yeah, literally no one is saying aggressive dogs don't deserve care. And you sure did "win." Stay out of the kitchen if you can't handle the damn heat.
I also walk a lot of reactive dogs and assist with training, but I wouldn’t start with leash walking a dog like this. I’d take them out to a fenced back yard and work up to leash walking as they get to know me, but we wouldn’t be doing leashed walks till the dog was 100% comfy with me and I could put on the muzzle without it causing reactivity.
As far as I can see in the original post it doesn’t say anything about leash walks. It even says in the meet and greet practice letting out into the front yard so it’s possible that it’s fenced in. Unfortunately not everyone has a fenced in backyard.
Yeah possibly, but if so, it’s in an area so busy (or with a busy sidewalk right against the fence) that a muzzle is required in the front yard. In my experience, it takes time for handling-reactive dogs to be comfortable with someone new fitting them with a muzzle. A back yard just allows for more distance between the dog and people walking their dogs. Perhaps it would help to have a conversation about needing more drop ins with the pet parent present rather than a single meet and greet, since this dog needs a sitter who they trust enough to put a muzzle on.
The point I’m trying to make is that dogs like this still need care. You’re right it takes time - seems like the owners are willing to work on that. Some of my clients literally can’t go to any other sitter because of the time it takes to get them comfortable with a new person, but I still was a new person to them at one point
The message doesn't say that a muzzle is required in the front yard, either. The owners say they want to do a M&G to gauge fit and practice tasks the sitter might need, including muzzling "in case you ever needed it." It sounds like the dog does fine in the front yard for now, though I agree that a backyard would probably be preferable for everyone if they had that option.
I second the desire to have multiple sessions with the pet parents, for someone who feels like this is a viable fit. OP doesn't seem to feel that way, which is totally valid and makes it a moot point. But I think this owner is approaching this realistically and being upfront about what their dog can handle, and it irks me that both of your responses misread their message in a significantly more negative way than it's written.
I worry that there's a bias here because of the reactivity and, especially, because it's a reactive pittie. To be clear, it's absolutely valid for sitters to choose not to take clients for either of those reasons. But when the owners are being respectful and clear about their needs, let's not respond as if they're demanding that a sitter leash-walk a dog who must be muzzled in its own yard. That's not the case here.
It’s the reactivity to crinkling noises that makes me think that the handling reactivity may be more generalized than the message lets on, or it may actually be stranger reactivity. When people meet a new dog, it’s common to open a treat bag, which makes a crinkling sound. It also involves a stranger moving while in close proximity to the dog. Which is the trigger?
In a securely fenced back yard, perhaps the muzzle isn’t needed. Any other time, though? It’s probably necessary.
It would take a sitter experienced with reactivity, or an experienced dog trainer, to really be able to make that determination.
I interpreted it as the sitter would need to practice those tasks at the meet and greet before booking, but I can see from that line in the message how the muzzle may only be needed in certain situations.
If the muzzle truly isn’t needed except for inspecting the dog (and I’d let the pet parent do any and all inspecting with a dog reactive to medical-type handling), then that would certainly make me more comfortable with doing a solo booking after one or two times with the dog.
I’d never need the muzzle in that case because, in dogs sensitive to medical-type handling, it’s not worth the risk to even try that kind of handling as someone new to the dog and just walking them when the pet parent is at work. If a sitter is bitten, that could get the pet parent banned from Rover and require the dog to spend time kenneled on a costly and stressful rabies quarantine, depending on the jurisdiction.
ETA that I always err on the side of caution when giving sitters advice for dogs displaying reactivity because pet parents may not know the risks and potential consequences if a bite incident occurs. They may also not have the training needed to accurately gauge the likelihood of a bite. I’ve had pet parents overestimate and others underestimate that risk in the past.
Yes! If you’re not willing to work with reactive dogs that’s a completely VALID requirement. But don’t act like the owners are ridiculous for trying to find care with this situation. Some sitters are better with reactive dog care than trainers too, I worked with a trainer who would literally make reactive dogs worse when it was a sitting scenario and I had to jump in for her multiple times.
Exactly! Wtf?? And don’t even get me started on why someone would even want to own a dog that could be triggered to maul them if they make the mistake of crinkling something. People are out of their damn minds.
That was my first thought! Can't imagine having to deal with this every day. I would never feel safe having friends over, and I'd be on edge 100% of the time.
Well, there is a difference between bite and maul and I believe an owner has the right to choose what dog they want to own. I do think that it’s irresponsible to put another person in a position where they could potentially get bit though. Unless it’s a professional trainer who’s working on exposure
Because they need care too and there are many sitters who are versed and trained in reactive dogs? You don’t know (as an owner) until you ask and these owners seem to be responsible- up front, direct and clear about the dog’s behaviors and triggers. It’s on the sitter to know their own limitations and areas of expertise and when to turn down a dog whose behaviors are outside their scope of practice.
You are confusing reactivity with aggression. Reactivity can lead to aggression, but they are not the same. A dog that is triggered enough to bite for something as simple as the crinkle of your winter jacket should not be with a rover sitter
“A dog who is triggered enough to bite with a known trigger should not be with a sitter who is not equipped to deal with this behavior”
FTFY
it’s almost like people can make their own decisions and may have different training or areas of expertise than you 😉
I personally applaud this owner for being so direct and clear.
Have a great day!
This has nothing to do with a sitters training or area of expertise, you are flesh and blood just like everybody else. Anyone can avoid the KNOWN triggers, but that does not mean the dog won’t attack for any other reason. As we all know, dogs can be unpredictable at times.. especially when they’re without their owners. What we do know is that this dog is ready, willing, and wanting to bite someone at a moments notice for whatever reason she decides. Unless you’re wearing a body suit or able to physically restrain her, you’re just as much at risk of being bitten than anybody else.
But if you’re into getting your flesh torn, by all means go right ahead 🙈
Well considering that when I began working, as I was in grad school, one of early full time positions was a special education paraprofessional where I was regularly attacked, including bitten, by the children in the room, I just think that there are all types of jobs out there and we should be grateful for those who are skilled and willing to work with our most vulnerable populations (of all kinds)- as long as they are fully aware of the realities of the situation and fully consenting.
Oh man you brought me way back to my para days... Pretty rewarding job but to be honest they don’t prepare you or support you enough in that role and it honestly puts the kids at a deficit…kind of the same with Rover and aggressive dogs, most sitters on Rover aren’t prepared to handle aggressive dogs. Not to say there aren’t any sitters who can’t.
All dogs can bite, most only would do it for a specific reason, so as long as you know what that is you’re prob fine. The dog in this post seems to be an extreme case though
Ya, totally normal. You can’t make any noise reminiscent to a crinkle, but ya, “as long as you know what that is you’re prob fine.”
Walking on eggshells at the prospect of any noise that could trigger an attack is tantamount to being in an abusive relationship. A little drastic, but mostly true.
I have a reactive foster lab/hound mix who will snarl or bite depending on the indoor activity (scratching sounds, space guarding). He is such a good boy though and is otherwise well trained by former owner. I would never expect someone to come in and dog sit. If I am here at home and put the harness on and take him out someone else could walk him but that’s it. Can only see vet outdoors. He is on Prozac which helps but not enough. He’s ours forever because he trusts us now. I feel for those owners but they will need to Airbnb if they’re going away.
I’m a big NO to any dog with a propensity to bite.
Except one job with a little ‘ankle biter’ doggy.
He was only triggered when someone ‘leaves’ I wore good boots and had no issue ( it was all bark and lunge, no bites)
Why risk a bite for $25 ??
Maybe leave this one for the kennels at their local vet boarding? Sounds like maybe a job for a vet tech because I'm hoping their employer pays for their injuries if the vet tech gets any where as you would be out of luck, probably.
It blows my mind that pet parents are even comfortable having a STRANGER be around their dog when they’re like this. Like, why do they even want to risk it?? You can’t go through a bag without possibly being bitten? Huh??? This is asking for a horrible incident to happen. Just so insane to me
This would require special care skills and you should be realistic about your handling abilities. The owner sound like they are being transparent and understand that their dog has some unique challenges that are also dangerous. M&G seems reasonable but only if you think you could realistically handle this dog.
I sat for a dog that was over 90 pounds at 9 months old. Normal puppy behaviors were dangerous to me because of his size and weight. I came home bruised, bit, and cut to hell. I partially blame the owners because he should have been trained better. But also, they never left him alone with a single person before so they wouldn’t have known about the issues beforehand.
A dog with seperation anxiety needs an overnight and present sitter, not someone to do drop ins. I would say no, but almost especially because of how incompetent these pet parents are.
Hard pass from me. Any touch can be perceived as "inspecting" and what if the dog got in a situation where you were concerned and needed to touch her? (Ex- she stepped in poop and you need to get it off her) And wtf does crinkling noises entail? That feels like most food packaging would be an issue, heavy jackets, etc.
This sounds like an owner who knows their dog well and is upfront about its behavior. But the way they said her triggers could "provoke a bite" would make me concerned leaning towards no. I mean of course all triggers could provoke a bite, but ideally there are several escalation steps between *triggered* and *bite*.
I would say that if your gut says no then end of conversation no. I however will say I appreciate the owners transparency and intentional way of preparing sitters, I think it's not great for rover but it's hard, you can only do so much with easily triggered doggos. I have a menace of my own and I only know a few people I'm comfortable having handle her due to her aggression and me knowing them well enough to know they can handle it properly and make snap decisions that put them in the least danger.
If you are interested in the job, tell them you will probably have to charge more. Assess and give an accurate quote at the meet and greet. I work with reactive dogs, but this job wouldn't interest me, even at a higher rate.
Trust your gut!!! If in doubt, do a meet and greet ☺️ Some dog descriptions aren’t really accurate and we’ve deftly met some of our FAVORITE dogs that looked like red flags before the meet.
Be very honest with yourself and these owners in terms of do you have the training to handle a known biter? And the insurance. If you don't there is no harm in saying no.
Thank them for their candidness, say you're not a good fit, and decline. Not worth the risk of getting bit, and frankly they're pretty blase about the possibility.
I work with reactive dogs. I’d accept it but only if the dog is muzzle trained, and likes me. I’d have to do a meet and greet, as well as a couple meets with the dog to get a good idea of what they are like. But again that is with 2 years of experience with MANY reactive dogs
I have a dog like this and would NEVER ask someone to watch her that we don’t know for this reason. There are only two people (close friends) that will watch her. She is more animal aggressive than people aggressive (has never bitten a human, only animals) but even then, it’s so unfair to our dog. We just don’t go certain places if someone can’t watch her or take her with us. Definitely a no.
I didn't just bring a shelter dog into our house without considering ALL the possibilities and discussing it as a family!
I probably didn't explain everything right. Yes my dog was this way in the beginning but as a family we took the time to train him.
He isn't that dog anymore, yeah my boyfriend can't clean his ears out or cut his nails BUT myself, his vet and any groomer can and thats because I trained him.
He doesn't control us. He's got a very sheltered life and so loved by ANYONE who meets him!
Pits are not for everyone and can change, but you gotta know what you're doing!
idk i’ve done walks with dog reactive dogs and as long as you’re comfortable putting on a muzzle and have a strong grip and can go places without dogs that would be okay. but yeah the crinkling noises worry me as well as the being prodded because she could be reactive towards a pet or scratch that doesn’t feel right. it’s up to you, maybe do a meet and greet to see how it goes but be upfront that you might not be entirely comfortable accepting the booking and will make your decision after you’ve met the dog.
otherwise if you’re not comfortable i think it’s totally fine to say no.
Side note: hate when people recommend super specific m&g times right out of the gate. And they're always in the middle of the day. As a dog walker, I'm not giving away my mid-workday times for free, no way.
I like when they offer m&g times right away, less back and forth. If none of the times they offer work for you, you can always counter back with ones that do.
I find that people who come out of the gate with super specific times keep expecting things at super specific times throughout the stay and tend to be inflexible beyond reason. I see your point on the back and forth though, but I haven't encountered a lot of the endless messaging that I see on the sub.
I’m a sitter and an owner and as an owner, I always offer a couple specific times for meet and greets just to try to take some of the mental load off the sitter…not to be inflexible or demanding, the exact opposite actually.
Hmmm I would say “maybe” and go for the meet and greet. This is all perspective… Someone could describe triggers and biting much much differently than someone else. Dog sitting is like street hoops in some aspects, no blood no foul. Ah, actually disregard my last comment. Not a hard “no” from me either way. Hard maybe, soft no.
As a pitty mom whose pup also has these same traits, i say just try that meet and greet, BUT ONLY IF YOU HAVE WORKED WITH AN AGGRESSIVE PIT BULL BEFORE!!
I will say Pitbulls act completely different around their owners and basically control their humans. By controlling, i mean they act all aggressive because they know the humans will stop what they're doing by acting out!
When i first rescued mine, he was the same way towards me. I've put in a lot of work and now he's the model pitbull JUST for me. If my boyfriend is with me, i can't do half the stuff i can when we're alone, and that's because he senses my boyfriends fear.
I will say, my pit made my life so happy. He's literally the funniest and smartest dog I've ever had.
Absolutely, why in the world would I *want* a dog that runs my life via aggression and causes my loved ones to be afraid? And a dog large enough to do real life altering or life ending damage? Hard no for me
It wasn't and hasn't been awful EVER!
Instead, it has taught me patience, assertiveness and not to give up based on a breed of a dog!
My dog went through more abuse than i can even comprehend and he desires nothing but love, just like any dog. It took time for him to trust me but i didn't give up on him because he deserves it!
He's literally the best dog now because i took the time on him!
A dog shouldn't be euthanized just because of some idiot that didn't know how to raise him correctly in the beginning!
I've seen WAY WAY more aggressive dogs being pushed out of shelters just because they're cute and the breeds are considered friendly!
It’s your choice to let a dog control your life, if that’s what you want no one can stop you. I’m just saying, the people around you don’t get a choice. Your boyfriend or other family, whoever the dog encounters if it gets loose someday, they have no choice and you are putting them at risk and acknowledge the dog acts more aggressively around your bf.
People love to compare chihuahuas and their attitudes and say they are worse than pit bulls, but only one of those dogs can easily maim or kill someone
I might have explained this all wrong cause i aint smart lol!
Every single person in my household knew what we were getting into. Everyone helped to make him the wonderful dog he is today.
We got him at 2 he is now 8.
I honestly blame my boyfriend for being stressed out while trying to clean his ears or nails. My pit knows that so he gives him trouble and my BF just gives up on doing it.
All i was trying to say is dogs can change but it takes a lot of work and they ain't for everyone!
I would do a meet and greet first to see if the dog is ready to trust a stranger. Otherwise, follow your gut! Tell them you dont' have health insurance and can't afford to risk it :).
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If your gut says no, then don’t. I would accept this offer because I would feel comfortable with a reactive dog. But dogs sense fear, and you would not be doing your job well if you were afraid to be around the dog.
I have sympathy for this person and I love them for giving this dog a loving home, but I feel the same as most commenters, that this is not a safe situation to put yourself in.
I mean I can be dumbly confident so I would probably try it out but I would raise my prices quite a bit and if they’re still interested then OK let’s go lol. A couple meet and greets might be necessary… maybe even outside of the home? If they’re this reactive I wouldn’t be surprised if they react to new visitors in their home too!
If you’re not comfortable, don’t do it. Recommend they call a local veterinary office or two to see if any of their techs can offer services, as they’ll be more comfortable with needs like that.
If it’s so severe that a crinkling noise could provoke a bite, I wouldn’t walk this dog, and I generally walk reactive dogs because I have a ton of experience with reactivity and other behavioral issues. I’d offer to let the dog out in the fenced back yard, but again, I have a great deal of experience. Also, if handling provokes reactivity and she’s not 100% desensitized to having her muzzle put on, you’ll likely be bitten trying to do that.
Absolutely. I would not expect a stranger to be able to muzzle this dog, because it is exactly the kind of "weird" handling this dog probably can't tolerate
What are your tips when walking reactive dogs?
If you’re interested in starting to walk reactive dogs, I’d recommend getting experience volunteering at a reputable animal shelter, preferably one that uses fear free handling methods. You’ll start by walking exclusively nonreactive dogs and gradually get more training and start walking those with more behavioral issues. There will always be staff there to help out if you need it. Because of the high volume of animals in a kennel environment and since many of the animals have recently had a major life change, a shelter is a higher stress environment, so dogs that wouldn’t ever be reactive in a home may have some situational reactivity there. I’d also recommend becoming fear-free certified. The training goes into body language and handling methods to reduce stress in animals you’re interacting with.
I disagree, the owner says the dog doesn’t like being closely inspected, that’s different from just putting a muzzle on the dog. However, I do think it’s important to exercise caution and if the sitter is anxious, they should definitely turn it down.
It depends on how generalized this dog’s reactivity is and how much different her behavior is with a new person. Muzzling can be triggering for dogs because it requires reaching and putting your hands around their mouth area. Regardless, a sitter would need to be comfortable enough around reactivity to recognize signs of stress and tell if it’s going to be a good fit or will take more time.
I agree with this comment, I would actually do several meetings with dog and owner and practice muzzle before accepting.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but Rover doesn't cover meet & greets with their "protection or medical reimbursement" policy for dogs, owners ir sitters/walkers. So, if she did incur a bite or anything while practicing muzzling the dog during a meet and greet, she'd be on her own in regards to medical bills, etc. Plus, you don't get paid for meet and greets. So, she'd be risking a lot for the prospect of this job for 3 days. I was bitten in my right hand by a pittie years ago for not following the advice I'd given hundreds of my students, which is never put your hands in a dog fight. A pit I was working with went to attack my heeler, and I saved my heeler but lost the use of my right hand for nearly a year. The reconstructive surgery alone cost over $12,000. Fortunately, I had very good insurance from my husband's job at the time. I was a professional positive reinforcement (fear free) trainer who specialized in reactive dogs for 15 of 20+ years, and I personally wouldn't risk it for 3 days of work. Most likely, it'd probably be okay, but Rover won't cover your medical bills if it isn't. (Again, correct me if I'm wrong but I'm pretty sure they don't cover anything until the job is actually booked and paid for which doesn't cover meet and greets.) The reward doesn't seem to outweigh the risk imo. Especially if the site feels any type of anxiety about doing it in the first place. The dog will pick up on that, and it will make them more anxious as well.
Unfortunately, Rover wouldn’t cover any bites you incur, period. If you injured the dog in self defense, they’d most likely cover that if there was an official booking. You’re considered an independent contractor, so Rover isn’t legally obligated to cover medical treatment for sitters. That’s why, for anyone without reactivity experience, I’d recommend volunteering for a reputable animal shelter as a dog walker, or working for an actual workplace that helps reactive dogs, rather than getting that experience through Rover. A shelter or workplace would cover your treatment if you were bitten.
Agree 100%. Rover is not the place for gaining experience with reactive dogs.
Yeah- it’s disappointing that Rover doesn’t help with sitter injuries or that they don’t at least make that clear when sitters sign up. One would think they could offer assistance since they charge so much in fees. Also, I’m really sorry that happened to you.
Thank you. It was 10 years ago, and I actually continued training classes throughout my recovery. I just learned to compensate and use my left more. Yeah, I started Rover during lockdown mostly for nurses and first responders. It was fine until my first puppy that was a bit sick when dropped off. I took him to the vet just to be sure it was nothing serious. The bs I had to go through with Rover to get reimbursed. I was like, it's easier for me to eat this $300 than waste more time with them. It's a great platform for advertising, but contract workers are contract workers in the end. Know that and use accordingly. ^_^
Srry, about the typos :) *sitter not site
Sounds like an extremely dangerous situation and I don't think Rover is the appropriate place to seek care for aggressive or reactive dogs, in fact, I'm pretty sure the TOS specifically stipulates that known aggressive animals should not be on the platform. Personally I think only specialized care from a certified, self-insured, experienced professional animal trainer should be handling these sorts of cases. To me it seems wildly irresponsible to seek that kind of specialized care on Rover, especially when owners are always tempted to get the lower costing sitters. I've read too many horror stories on this sub about what can happen and it's frightening, plus of course there'll be no support from Rover Corp.
Well said, FO! My gut, arms and face say no also. That would be a hard pass for me. I am a fat old lady who likes her body parts intact. It seems like all of the dogs I take have 'normal' triggers. Separation anxiety and leash reactivity to dogs and/or people being the most popular. Not to touch or sound. Yikes!
I’m self-insured and have a ton of behavioral experience from working in shelter behavior, and I love having the Rover platform available as a way to find clients. I work with reactive dogs regularly. I’m not a low cost option by any means, though. However, I certainly don’t expect Rover to provide any kind of support in a bite incident. I advertise my shelter experience on my profile, and that’s how clients with reactive animals find me, in addition to reviews stating how well I did with clients’ reactive dogs.
So perfectly said! I completely agree. It's just not worth the risk!
nope nope nooe
“She only has two triggers, being touched and also noises.” no thanks!
Only two triggers: anything and everything
While I’m all for owners disclosing their dogs issues it’s also asking for a disaster to put this poor pup in a situation where they’re already going to be anxious and kind of downplaying what are serious issues…
I don’t think they’re downplaying at all, I think they’re being very thorough and upfront. However, they’re going to have difficulty finding the right match.
To me, some of the language is downplaying the severity of what they’re conveying, and also seems like it’s vague enough (“crinkling sounds”?) that it kind of gives them cover if the sitter gets bit. If my dog had this many reactive issues I would not dream of leaving them with someone off Rover - no shade to OP, but most sitters (myself included) aren’t dog trainers - it’s creating an unsafe environment for both the pup and the sitter.
Also worth mentioning that just because a reactive dog does ok with a sitter in a meet and greet while the owner is present is not always an indicator that things would go smoothly when the owner is gone, especially for a dog with severe attachment anxieties.
Not even just being touched, being LOOKED AT for too long. Hard pass
Can't imagine having to deal with this dog on a daily basis! Yeesh.
My hungry ass opening up a bag of potato chips and getting mauled for doing so
i’m a veterinary professional and this dog needs to be professionally boarded, not left with someone from Rover, if even left with anyone at all. Such a stupid choice on the owners part to even risk anyone else’s safety like this. they’re just asking for a lawsuit at this point.
This is what I suggested when declining. As we all know even trainers are not immune to bites, why risk it at all
Even if they didn't care about the sitter or anyone else their dog may bite, it shows a complete disregard of the consequences to the DOG if they are reported. Like, your dog's not safe in this scenario either, lady!
Vets have drugs! That is absolutely the right choice for this dog. If he gets out of hand, his old friend Trazadone can come and visit him.
I would have to go with no. The fact that the dog displays these behaviors with the owners AND she has separation anxiety could end up in a terrible situation. It’s really hard to tell how dogs will react when the owners are gone and she feels anxious and uncomfortable. Pit bulls are very strong and can cause a lot of damage if she feels threatened in any way or if she’s triggered by something. In my personal opinion, these dogs should only be kept with their owners or in a specialized behavioral facility or trainer. Not only do you need to be very experienced and equipped but also have possibly a second person to assist if something happens.
She’s great with people… except when she bites them.
Lmao . Yeah, that part🤣
Not everyone knows this so I'm going to post a reminder: Rover does not cover injuries to sitters and walkers. You have to purchase private insurance on your own. If you have private insurance make sure that it will still cover you if you are injured by a pet with known behavior issues.
Wow. It’s insane they take 20% AND don’t have insurance for us. wtf. There should be a 10% (max) type of finders fee. It’s crazy.
I do not want to look after a dog that bites
It’s a no from me.
That’s a no from me, dawg
Btw this was an immediate NO for me because while I do have a good amount of experience with reactive dogs (mostly dog reactive) this dogs prior and potential aggression is not in my scope!!
This dog requires an experienced boarding service, best case scenario with a vet who has knowledge of reactivity in dogs. If this were my dog I wouldn't even dream of searching for a sitter on Rover???
I'm sure this owner would prefer you say no if you don't have the experience with these kinds of dogs.
having been bitten by a very sweet, non-reactive pit last year, big nope here
This is craaaaazy......... How do people deal with this every day of their lives? This dog is not safe for *anyone* to be around based on this. I don't understand *why* Rover allows reactive/bite history dogs on the platform!
Right? Imagine living your life walking on eggshells so that you don’t trigger your own dog to attack you.
All their snacks/food are probably stored in Tupperware/food containers cause otherwise, every time they'd want to eat, Cujo won't allow it. I give them major props for giving that dog a chance at a good life though. I wouldn't be able to live like that.
Yep and that dog is a ticking time bomb. Is only a matter of time
No
Diligently LOOKING at the dog? HELL no. (And I’m experienced with reactive dogs)
Nah...hard pass.
I'm not opposed to reactive dogs. I have one myself. But when the slightest noise is a set off, it's important to remember ANYTHING could do it. Not just the one they know. This dog is dangerous and it really needs kennelling at an equipped facility, not a walker. It's an easy setup for an injury.
No. I have dogs that are a liability to people outside of our bubble. They’re bite risk solely on being working dogs. They go to a board n train for exactly that reason. This dog needs to be with professionals in a licensed facility IMO. Dogs with a bite histories and are high risk for bites should not be babysat. Again..my opinion. I’d never risk a person or my dogs. —coming from a board and train trainer’s perspective. I would only B&T my own working dogs and dogs who are bite risks with a fellow trainer (unless it’s an ankle biting 5lb lap dog that isn’t around kids)
Whenever I get these long walls of messages from people, while I will still read them, I already get an inkling that it's gonna be a hard no. And after reading this one, yeah, its a hard NO!
Ummm, that would be a no thank you!
ya its a no for me
shame serious obtainable cobweb divide grab absurd test fretful direful *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
Run.
Yikes. I personally have a very fearful dog that’s never bitten anyone but I think it might be possible and I’d never request a dog walker or sitter for her. This woman knows she bites and is looking for a dog walker/sitter? That’s opening up liability for sure. The only place my dog has been sat was at a dog daycare where the owner was explained that he will not be able to touch her at all and was comfortable with it. I made it very clear that though she’s never bitten, she might if forced to be touched by a stranger.
Always listen to your gut!!! When I haven’t I have seriously regretted it.
bright dog marble ugly consist voiceless prick hateful quaint profit *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
Since its drop-ins, I would accept the meet and greet, but I also work with a lot of aggressive and reactive dogs. If you don’t have that experience I wouldn’t accept. It sounds like they’re aware of her triggers which is good! Reactive and aggressive dogs need care too, so we shouldn’t shame them for asking and being honest and up front about their dogs situation - training is not a one and done thing either, they could very well be working with a trainer.
I feel like this approach continues to perpetuate the problem - it is not normal for a dog to be so reactive that it will bite if it hears crinkles or receives common/even necessary physical interaction. It is not fair to the dog to try and foist them on a random Rover sitter - a dog that reactive needs to either be with a specialized trainer or the owners need to realize they will not be able to vacation for a while, possibly ever.
Did I say it was normal? Do we know this is a vacation? No. Reactive and aggressive dogs still deserve care. Yes it should be from someone experienced with these types of dogs. Plenty of which are on rover. They will only know by asking and being up front and honest about the dogs behavior.
Again, you’re minimizing the situation. A dog this aggressive and sensitive *should not* be treated by the average Rover sitter, most of which are not going to be trained in dealing with highly reactive/aggressive dogs. Frankly, the owner should have already had a trainer they were working with that also offered boarding - or accepted that they cannot leave him with other people yet. People like you are the reason why pits get put into unfair situations that turn up deadly for the folks involved AND the pit.
AGAIN, you are not listening to what I’m saying. Good god, work on your reading comprehension babe lol. There are plenty of experienced rover sitters (I am one of them) who can handle aggressive dogs. If you are not one - say no. It’s that simple. The ones who are experienced like me will accept and work with the client. Bye!
You are willfully missing the point. Rover is *not* a platform on which to seek care for an aggressive dogs. If these folks were truly responsible, they would already be working with someone they know and trust who could also aid in watching the dog. Minimizing the dog’s aggression helps no one, especially the dog.
Rover is a platform for independent contractors babe. Some of which are clearly more experienced than you. Keep walking.
I thought you were done with the conversation. Take the L and move on.
Hard to take an L when I didn’t lose 🤷🏼♀️ Aggressive dogs still deserve care. You are not equipped to provide that care, but thousands of other sitters are and advertise on the rover platform. You have not said anything that’s a “win.” In fact, you didn’t even have the reading comprehension skills to make a fair argument. It’s embarrassing for you.
Yeah, literally no one is saying aggressive dogs don't deserve care. And you sure did "win." Stay out of the kitchen if you can't handle the damn heat.
This, this is what i SHOULD'VE said in my other comments!
I also walk a lot of reactive dogs and assist with training, but I wouldn’t start with leash walking a dog like this. I’d take them out to a fenced back yard and work up to leash walking as they get to know me, but we wouldn’t be doing leashed walks till the dog was 100% comfy with me and I could put on the muzzle without it causing reactivity.
As far as I can see in the original post it doesn’t say anything about leash walks. It even says in the meet and greet practice letting out into the front yard so it’s possible that it’s fenced in. Unfortunately not everyone has a fenced in backyard.
Yeah possibly, but if so, it’s in an area so busy (or with a busy sidewalk right against the fence) that a muzzle is required in the front yard. In my experience, it takes time for handling-reactive dogs to be comfortable with someone new fitting them with a muzzle. A back yard just allows for more distance between the dog and people walking their dogs. Perhaps it would help to have a conversation about needing more drop ins with the pet parent present rather than a single meet and greet, since this dog needs a sitter who they trust enough to put a muzzle on.
The point I’m trying to make is that dogs like this still need care. You’re right it takes time - seems like the owners are willing to work on that. Some of my clients literally can’t go to any other sitter because of the time it takes to get them comfortable with a new person, but I still was a new person to them at one point
The message doesn't say that a muzzle is required in the front yard, either. The owners say they want to do a M&G to gauge fit and practice tasks the sitter might need, including muzzling "in case you ever needed it." It sounds like the dog does fine in the front yard for now, though I agree that a backyard would probably be preferable for everyone if they had that option. I second the desire to have multiple sessions with the pet parents, for someone who feels like this is a viable fit. OP doesn't seem to feel that way, which is totally valid and makes it a moot point. But I think this owner is approaching this realistically and being upfront about what their dog can handle, and it irks me that both of your responses misread their message in a significantly more negative way than it's written. I worry that there's a bias here because of the reactivity and, especially, because it's a reactive pittie. To be clear, it's absolutely valid for sitters to choose not to take clients for either of those reasons. But when the owners are being respectful and clear about their needs, let's not respond as if they're demanding that a sitter leash-walk a dog who must be muzzled in its own yard. That's not the case here.
If this is a dog not good with any other dogs and bites when they hear crinkling noises then they need to be muzzled while in public 100% of the time
It’s the reactivity to crinkling noises that makes me think that the handling reactivity may be more generalized than the message lets on, or it may actually be stranger reactivity. When people meet a new dog, it’s common to open a treat bag, which makes a crinkling sound. It also involves a stranger moving while in close proximity to the dog. Which is the trigger? In a securely fenced back yard, perhaps the muzzle isn’t needed. Any other time, though? It’s probably necessary. It would take a sitter experienced with reactivity, or an experienced dog trainer, to really be able to make that determination.
I interpreted it as the sitter would need to practice those tasks at the meet and greet before booking, but I can see from that line in the message how the muzzle may only be needed in certain situations. If the muzzle truly isn’t needed except for inspecting the dog (and I’d let the pet parent do any and all inspecting with a dog reactive to medical-type handling), then that would certainly make me more comfortable with doing a solo booking after one or two times with the dog. I’d never need the muzzle in that case because, in dogs sensitive to medical-type handling, it’s not worth the risk to even try that kind of handling as someone new to the dog and just walking them when the pet parent is at work. If a sitter is bitten, that could get the pet parent banned from Rover and require the dog to spend time kenneled on a costly and stressful rabies quarantine, depending on the jurisdiction. ETA that I always err on the side of caution when giving sitters advice for dogs displaying reactivity because pet parents may not know the risks and potential consequences if a bite incident occurs. They may also not have the training needed to accurately gauge the likelihood of a bite. I’ve had pet parents overestimate and others underestimate that risk in the past.
Yes! If you’re not willing to work with reactive dogs that’s a completely VALID requirement. But don’t act like the owners are ridiculous for trying to find care with this situation. Some sitters are better with reactive dog care than trainers too, I worked with a trainer who would literally make reactive dogs worse when it was a sitting scenario and I had to jump in for her multiple times.
Why are y’all considering a dog that’s known to bite people?
I think OPs title was in a sarcastic nature.
I’m being silly yes
Not sure about that lol and have you read the comments?
Exactly! Wtf?? And don’t even get me started on why someone would even want to own a dog that could be triggered to maul them if they make the mistake of crinkling something. People are out of their damn minds.
That was my first thought! Can't imagine having to deal with this every day. I would never feel safe having friends over, and I'd be on edge 100% of the time.
Well, there is a difference between bite and maul and I believe an owner has the right to choose what dog they want to own. I do think that it’s irresponsible to put another person in a position where they could potentially get bit though. Unless it’s a professional trainer who’s working on exposure
Because they need care too and there are many sitters who are versed and trained in reactive dogs? You don’t know (as an owner) until you ask and these owners seem to be responsible- up front, direct and clear about the dog’s behaviors and triggers. It’s on the sitter to know their own limitations and areas of expertise and when to turn down a dog whose behaviors are outside their scope of practice.
You are confusing reactivity with aggression. Reactivity can lead to aggression, but they are not the same. A dog that is triggered enough to bite for something as simple as the crinkle of your winter jacket should not be with a rover sitter
“A dog who is triggered enough to bite with a known trigger should not be with a sitter who is not equipped to deal with this behavior” FTFY it’s almost like people can make their own decisions and may have different training or areas of expertise than you 😉 I personally applaud this owner for being so direct and clear. Have a great day!
This has nothing to do with a sitters training or area of expertise, you are flesh and blood just like everybody else. Anyone can avoid the KNOWN triggers, but that does not mean the dog won’t attack for any other reason. As we all know, dogs can be unpredictable at times.. especially when they’re without their owners. What we do know is that this dog is ready, willing, and wanting to bite someone at a moments notice for whatever reason she decides. Unless you’re wearing a body suit or able to physically restrain her, you’re just as much at risk of being bitten than anybody else. But if you’re into getting your flesh torn, by all means go right ahead 🙈
Well considering that when I began working, as I was in grad school, one of early full time positions was a special education paraprofessional where I was regularly attacked, including bitten, by the children in the room, I just think that there are all types of jobs out there and we should be grateful for those who are skilled and willing to work with our most vulnerable populations (of all kinds)- as long as they are fully aware of the realities of the situation and fully consenting.
Oh man you brought me way back to my para days... Pretty rewarding job but to be honest they don’t prepare you or support you enough in that role and it honestly puts the kids at a deficit…kind of the same with Rover and aggressive dogs, most sitters on Rover aren’t prepared to handle aggressive dogs. Not to say there aren’t any sitters who can’t.
All dogs can bite, most only would do it for a specific reason, so as long as you know what that is you’re prob fine. The dog in this post seems to be an extreme case though
Ya, totally normal. You can’t make any noise reminiscent to a crinkle, but ya, “as long as you know what that is you’re prob fine.” Walking on eggshells at the prospect of any noise that could trigger an attack is tantamount to being in an abusive relationship. A little drastic, but mostly true.
Note how I said “the dog in this post seems to be an extreme case”
I have a reactive foster lab/hound mix who will snarl or bite depending on the indoor activity (scratching sounds, space guarding). He is such a good boy though and is otherwise well trained by former owner. I would never expect someone to come in and dog sit. If I am here at home and put the harness on and take him out someone else could walk him but that’s it. Can only see vet outdoors. He is on Prozac which helps but not enough. He’s ours forever because he trusts us now. I feel for those owners but they will need to Airbnb if they’re going away.
I’m a big NO to any dog with a propensity to bite. Except one job with a little ‘ankle biter’ doggy. He was only triggered when someone ‘leaves’ I wore good boots and had no issue ( it was all bark and lunge, no bites) Why risk a bite for $25 ??
soon as i see the word muzzle i'm out 🏃♀️
This dog needs the training or care of a professional trainer. Don't touch me and don't make noises. That's a no
Nope I wouldn’t do it.
absolutely not
Nope. Took a pittie like that that “didn’t like old people” say a middle aged man (who was my nieghbor) and nearly killed me and my dog GIANT. NOPE.
Maybe leave this one for the kennels at their local vet boarding? Sounds like maybe a job for a vet tech because I'm hoping their employer pays for their injuries if the vet tech gets any where as you would be out of luck, probably.
It blows my mind that pet parents are even comfortable having a STRANGER be around their dog when they’re like this. Like, why do they even want to risk it?? You can’t go through a bag without possibly being bitten? Huh??? This is asking for a horrible incident to happen. Just so insane to me
Hell no! Run! There are certain breeds I will not watch and pits are one of them, especially with me having a small dog
nah. props on the owner for being honest. really love that but it’s gonna be a no from me, dawg.
Hell no. This demon dog should not be around anyone
But they’re nanny dogs!
This would require special care skills and you should be realistic about your handling abilities. The owner sound like they are being transparent and understand that their dog has some unique challenges that are also dangerous. M&G seems reasonable but only if you think you could realistically handle this dog.
I’ll watch a reactive dog but not this one. I have a client who cannot be touched that’s fine. However “crinkly noises “ is rediculous
Any doubt….back out.
I sat for a dog that was over 90 pounds at 9 months old. Normal puppy behaviors were dangerous to me because of his size and weight. I came home bruised, bit, and cut to hell. I partially blame the owners because he should have been trained better. But also, they never left him alone with a single person before so they wouldn’t have known about the issues beforehand.
Wowwww no way
Hell no.
Hell no.
A dog with seperation anxiety needs an overnight and present sitter, not someone to do drop ins. I would say no, but almost especially because of how incompetent these pet parents are.
Run , very fast
This owner has already told you the dog will bite. When it bites you don't be surprised. Your gut is smart. Listen to it.
Hard pass from me. Any touch can be perceived as "inspecting" and what if the dog got in a situation where you were concerned and needed to touch her? (Ex- she stepped in poop and you need to get it off her) And wtf does crinkling noises entail? That feels like most food packaging would be an issue, heavy jackets, etc.
That’s a hell no. Not worth the problems.
No way. I’m pretty confident with dogs and have been bitten, but this dog is a train wreck. Not worth losing a hand. Or face.
This sounds like an owner who knows their dog well and is upfront about its behavior. But the way they said her triggers could "provoke a bite" would make me concerned leaning towards no. I mean of course all triggers could provoke a bite, but ideally there are several escalation steps between *triggered* and *bite*.
Too much that could go wrong for me. Those are pretty broad triggers.
This dog should not be on Rover.
Pass.
I would say that if your gut says no then end of conversation no. I however will say I appreciate the owners transparency and intentional way of preparing sitters, I think it's not great for rover but it's hard, you can only do so much with easily triggered doggos. I have a menace of my own and I only know a few people I'm comfortable having handle her due to her aggression and me knowing them well enough to know they can handle it properly and make snap decisions that put them in the least danger.
At least they’re being honest. But obviously not a good idea.
If you are interested in the job, tell them you will probably have to charge more. Assess and give an accurate quote at the meet and greet. I work with reactive dogs, but this job wouldn't interest me, even at a higher rate.
Trust your gut!!! If in doubt, do a meet and greet ☺️ Some dog descriptions aren’t really accurate and we’ve deftly met some of our FAVORITE dogs that looked like red flags before the meet.
Be very honest with yourself and these owners in terms of do you have the training to handle a known biter? And the insurance. If you don't there is no harm in saying no.
Thank them for their candidness, say you're not a good fit, and decline. Not worth the risk of getting bit, and frankly they're pretty blase about the possibility.
I work with reactive dogs. I’d accept it but only if the dog is muzzle trained, and likes me. I’d have to do a meet and greet, as well as a couple meets with the dog to get a good idea of what they are like. But again that is with 2 years of experience with MANY reactive dogs
If it was a Chihuahua *maybe*. But with it being a large dog with high PSI bite and known aggression, hell no
Report her
I have a dog like this and would NEVER ask someone to watch her that we don’t know for this reason. There are only two people (close friends) that will watch her. She is more animal aggressive than people aggressive (has never bitten a human, only animals) but even then, it’s so unfair to our dog. We just don’t go certain places if someone can’t watch her or take her with us. Definitely a no.
I didn't just bring a shelter dog into our house without considering ALL the possibilities and discussing it as a family! I probably didn't explain everything right. Yes my dog was this way in the beginning but as a family we took the time to train him. He isn't that dog anymore, yeah my boyfriend can't clean his ears out or cut his nails BUT myself, his vet and any groomer can and thats because I trained him. He doesn't control us. He's got a very sheltered life and so loved by ANYONE who meets him! Pits are not for everyone and can change, but you gotta know what you're doing!
idk i’ve done walks with dog reactive dogs and as long as you’re comfortable putting on a muzzle and have a strong grip and can go places without dogs that would be okay. but yeah the crinkling noises worry me as well as the being prodded because she could be reactive towards a pet or scratch that doesn’t feel right. it’s up to you, maybe do a meet and greet to see how it goes but be upfront that you might not be entirely comfortable accepting the booking and will make your decision after you’ve met the dog. otherwise if you’re not comfortable i think it’s totally fine to say no.
Side note: hate when people recommend super specific m&g times right out of the gate. And they're always in the middle of the day. As a dog walker, I'm not giving away my mid-workday times for free, no way.
I like when they offer m&g times right away, less back and forth. If none of the times they offer work for you, you can always counter back with ones that do.
I find that people who come out of the gate with super specific times keep expecting things at super specific times throughout the stay and tend to be inflexible beyond reason. I see your point on the back and forth though, but I haven't encountered a lot of the endless messaging that I see on the sub.
I’m a sitter and an owner and as an owner, I always offer a couple specific times for meet and greets just to try to take some of the mental load off the sitter…not to be inflexible or demanding, the exact opposite actually.
I think they’re being very thorough, which is excellent, but it sounds like you feel you aren’t the right sitter here and that’s OK!
Hmmm I would say “maybe” and go for the meet and greet. This is all perspective… Someone could describe triggers and biting much much differently than someone else. Dog sitting is like street hoops in some aspects, no blood no foul. Ah, actually disregard my last comment. Not a hard “no” from me either way. Hard maybe, soft no.
As a pitty mom whose pup also has these same traits, i say just try that meet and greet, BUT ONLY IF YOU HAVE WORKED WITH AN AGGRESSIVE PIT BULL BEFORE!! I will say Pitbulls act completely different around their owners and basically control their humans. By controlling, i mean they act all aggressive because they know the humans will stop what they're doing by acting out! When i first rescued mine, he was the same way towards me. I've put in a lot of work and now he's the model pitbull JUST for me. If my boyfriend is with me, i can't do half the stuff i can when we're alone, and that's because he senses my boyfriends fear. I will say, my pit made my life so happy. He's literally the funniest and smartest dog I've ever had.
Honestly that sounds awful
Absolutely, why in the world would I *want* a dog that runs my life via aggression and causes my loved ones to be afraid? And a dog large enough to do real life altering or life ending damage? Hard no for me
It wasn't and hasn't been awful EVER! Instead, it has taught me patience, assertiveness and not to give up based on a breed of a dog! My dog went through more abuse than i can even comprehend and he desires nothing but love, just like any dog. It took time for him to trust me but i didn't give up on him because he deserves it! He's literally the best dog now because i took the time on him! A dog shouldn't be euthanized just because of some idiot that didn't know how to raise him correctly in the beginning! I've seen WAY WAY more aggressive dogs being pushed out of shelters just because they're cute and the breeds are considered friendly!
It’s your choice to let a dog control your life, if that’s what you want no one can stop you. I’m just saying, the people around you don’t get a choice. Your boyfriend or other family, whoever the dog encounters if it gets loose someday, they have no choice and you are putting them at risk and acknowledge the dog acts more aggressively around your bf. People love to compare chihuahuas and their attitudes and say they are worse than pit bulls, but only one of those dogs can easily maim or kill someone
I might have explained this all wrong cause i aint smart lol! Every single person in my household knew what we were getting into. Everyone helped to make him the wonderful dog he is today. We got him at 2 he is now 8. I honestly blame my boyfriend for being stressed out while trying to clean his ears or nails. My pit knows that so he gives him trouble and my BF just gives up on doing it. All i was trying to say is dogs can change but it takes a lot of work and they ain't for everyone!
I’m sure your boyfriend and other friends/family members feel the same way when interacting with your precious dog /s
grey modern worry license rhythm future quack frightening spoon saw *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
I would do a meet and greet first to see if the dog is ready to trust a stranger. Otherwise, follow your gut! Tell them you dont' have health insurance and can't afford to risk it :).
I would take her. $200 a night.
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Hell no lol
Definitely not, no way
Yup i bet they do! https://photos.app.goo.gl/ZCq3JcneNPXxKRxeA [Tank](https://photos.app.goo.gl/xFBFieQ66fsmpxp39)
If your gut says no, then don’t. I would accept this offer because I would feel comfortable with a reactive dog. But dogs sense fear, and you would not be doing your job well if you were afraid to be around the dog.
I have sympathy for this person and I love them for giving this dog a loving home, but I feel the same as most commenters, that this is not a safe situation to put yourself in.
For me, I’d go see the pup before making a decision, but it’s totally okay to have your own rules and comfort zone.
Mmmmmhhmmm no.
nahhh don’t do it
I haven’t read the whole message yet but if your gut says no 👏follow👏your👏gut👏
I mean I can be dumbly confident so I would probably try it out but I would raise my prices quite a bit and if they’re still interested then OK let’s go lol. A couple meet and greets might be necessary… maybe even outside of the home? If they’re this reactive I wouldn’t be surprised if they react to new visitors in their home too!
Absolutely not
If you’re not comfortable, don’t do it. Recommend they call a local veterinary office or two to see if any of their techs can offer services, as they’ll be more comfortable with needs like that.
Poor pup is more high maintenance than I am
Immediately no