I’ve been a Dachshund sitter for 10 years. Whereas I sometimes watch different small canine, I select to specialize on this particular breed.
Why?
Properly, there are various causes, however it’s primarily as a result of:
- I’ve been a Dachshund proprietor for over 20 years and I’m obsessive about the breed
- Dachshunds and have distinctive behaviors and traits that I perceive and cater to willingly
- I perceive that Dachshund homeowners usually deal with their canine like their “infants” and anticipate an nearly human degree of care.
Dachshund homeowners are sometimes very apprehensive about leaving their canine with a sitter and are nervous that their canine is doing okay with out them whereas they’re gone.
I get it. I’ve needed to depart my Dachshunds with a canine sitter occasionally once I journey.
Frankly, it’s excruciating.
I waffle between worrying they’re having a horrible expertise and inflicting a variety of frustration and envisioning them blissful, frolicking, and having fun with each minute of their “sleepover”.
The truth is someplace in between. I do know this as a result of I’ve watched round 100 Dachshunds over time.
I prefer to suppose mine are particular. That they’re higher adjusted than most. That they’re completely behaved and don’t let a unique scenario throw off their routine.
However I do know that may be a bit delusional.
I’ve had canine sitters report that “they had been nice” once I know my canine.
Truthfully, they don’t seem to be even nice all the time at my very own home with me. Ha, ha.
Whereas I completely get the will of canine sitters to present homeowners the impression that their Dachshund had a good time and a seamless expertise – as a result of who desires to go away their canine the place they’d a foul expertise final time? – I additionally suppose it’s crucial to be trustworthy and set reasonable expectations.
So there’s a actuality verify on some issues that your Dachshund will probably expertise at a canine sitter’s home that your canine sitter could also be leaving out of the dialog (probably omission, not deception).
Sure, Your Dachshund is Pressured When You Go away
Whereas some Dachshunds are solely anxious for about quarter-hour, most are confused for the primary few hours, and even the primary day, they’re away from you.
That’s regular, particularly when you spend the vast majority of your time with them, work at home, take them with you wherever you go, or they’ve separation nervousness.
The worst case I’ve skilled lasted nearly per week. However the Dachshund regularly grew to become much less confused every day.
It wasn’t that the Dachshund was a nervous basket case the entire time, he simply didn’t fully settle till about 7 days in.
Your Dachshund Might Not Be Enjoying With Others
I get it – I prefer to envision my Dachshunds enjoying and having a grand ol’ time with the brand new associates they meet on the canine sitters.
Or possibly you’ve seen movies of canine enjoying with one another at your canine sitters home, so that you assume that your individual canine has “joined the celebration”.
The factor is, the inclination of a canine to play is exclusive to their character.
Some canine don’t play with different canine in any respect, some will play provided that the opposite canine’s play type matches theirs, some gained’t play with one other canine till they’ve been in the identical home with them for a minimum of per week.
As a result of sitters solely watch a canine for per week at a time, many Dachshunds are folks oriented and aren’t inclined to play with different canine, the prospect that your canine is enjoying when you’re away is lower than 50%.
In my expertise, solely about 20% of the canine that I watch repeatedly interact in play.
Your Dachshund Might Not Eat For the First Day or Two
When a canine is confused, they’re unlikely to eat. Even when they’re extraordinarily meals motivated.
About 30% of the Dachshunds I’ve watched flip their nostril up on the first meal that I provide them.
As a result of there are a number of canine in the home, I can’t depart the dish of meals down for them to graze so I choose it up and provide it to them once more later.
If a canine nonetheless isn’t fascinated about consuming the second time that the meal is obtainable, I attempt to make it extra fascinating.
I’ll attempt to hand feed them.
It’s stunning what number of canine will take meals from my hand however not eat it from the dish.
I’ll add some sprinkles of dried lung, liver, or meat-based canine treats that their dad and mom despatched with them.
In the event that they nonetheless gained’t eat their meals, I provide real-meat treats all through the day in order that they a minimum of have one thing of their abdomen.
Virtually all canine will eat on the second day they’re right here as a result of they’re hungry.
Your Dachshund Might Change Their Potty Habits
Whether or not or not it’s on account of stress, or confusion a few new home format or yard, some Dachshunds gained’t go potty for the primary day, even once I know they should go, or they might have an accident in the home.
It might sound gross – and I’ve been requested by homeowners how I’d really feel if their canine peed in the home – however I don’t care if a Dachshund has an accident in our home.
I imply, in fact I do however I’ve additionally accepted that it’ll occur. It’s not a giant deal and I simply clear it up.
Generally, it’s partially my fault anyway.
The indicators a Dachshund provides when they should exit could be very refined. And they are often very distinctive.
Till I’ve spent a while with a canine, I’ll miss their cues that they should exit.
And since my home is new to them, they might not perceive the place the proper” door to “sign” at is positioned.
We Can’t Observe Your Actual Routine
Considered one of my “specialties” is following a Dachshund’s regular house routine as intently as doable.
However that isn’t 100% doable.
My home is totally different. My routine is totally different.
As a result of I’ve 3 Dachshunds of my very own, I’m managing 4-5 Dachshund personalities at a time.
I can’t level out each element that can range however some frequent ones are:
- In case your Dachshund free-feeds at house, that gained’t be doable at my home as a result of I can’t depart meals down all the time.
- In the event you ship your Dachshund’s favourite toy, they might not get to play with it as a result of 1) I don’t need any fights over it and a pair of) I don’t need the opposite canine to destroy it.
- Their regular time for dinner might change, as a result of I’ve to strike a stability between my schedule, when my very own canine anticipate their meals, and while you usually feed your canine.
Whereas it’s probably that your canine sitter will do all the things they will to maintain your pup’s routine the identical, particularly since that can make their job simpler, do know that all the things can’t go precisely the way in which that you just do it… and your canine will probably be okay.
Closing Ideas
Like I mentioned, your Dachshund sitter probably isn’t leaving these items out to be misleading.
It’s simply that there are various causes these subjects might not come up or that the sitter desires you to really feel like your canine’s keep was straightforward and pleasant.
I get that. I at all times lean in the direction of a “good report” once I discuss to homeowners after their Dachshund stays with me.
Nonetheless, I additionally suppose it’s essential to be trustworthy and clear a few canine’s expertise in order that an proprietor could make a extra knowledgeable determination sooner or later or tackle any points that got here up.
In the long run although, there’s most likely nothing {that a} educated, skilled Dachshund sitter can’t tackle in order that your pup has an excellent expertise.
In different phrases, know that there will probably be an adjustment interval to your canine and the sitter, however that your canine will probably be completely high-quality while you’re on trip.