ok

I've got an older German Shepherd girl who knew the other dog since he was a pup. He's a labradoodle.

give it to me

so

status quo is I think she is the alpha and is the sweetheart of one of the owners. The labradoodle who is so full of energy and excitement with new people is being very pushy for attention, which pushes the german shepherd out

they fight when she gets annoyed and she takes him down like a mom snapping at her pup, no real violence

but!

because the pup tries to get more of my attention, I think she is potentially overgrooming bc of anxiety or just boredom because she gets bulldozed by the other pup

okay so first of all important to know in this that alpha theory doesn't apply to dogs and was debunked decades ago. Won't get out of public mindset and clouds how people see decisions. Not lecturing just saying that's not what's going on because it's not really a thing that way.

ok gotcha

that said there is likely some resource guarding of attention or paining going on and anxiety/boredom could be in play. So could pain - again - because that causes over grooming too

since they're not yours I uh. Would legitimately contact owners and otherwise try to keep them separated just so shit doesn't escalate on your watch.:/

also dogs are hard and sometimes dicks and I love you

haha thanks

is definitely doesn't seem like a usual routine for them. it seems like with me in the mix, the pup is attached to me, and is creating a tense situation between the two dogs now ugh

something tells me if I was not in the room, they'd be fine??

yeah. I'd assume they're resource guarding you like they would anything else like food

except it's resource guarding you for attention so

:/

Side of caution would be one of them with you at a time because that does sound tense.

hmm ok... maybe I will try working in the bedroom and take the german shep with me to hang out and see if that.... does anything??

Yeah, I would try that one. if there are crates use them. if there aren't doors probably

also depends on how long you’re watching them + how long you’ve known the owner and what relationship you have with them too, like the rapport you have. i’ve been dogsitting since uh 2016? and some owners you can be more direct and casual with, but others it’s harder to like ask them something without them being weirdos? lol

I mean it won't be perfect but it might deescalate it

ok the german shepherd does have a crate and likes ot be int here. I can leave the room open for her

illusen uhm I think I can be open with them, the problem is theya re in london until monday, so I am stuck with the situation no matter what

is it just till Monday? If so just, yeah, separate. I mean I'm speaking as a trainer not a sitter but

for sure! i’ve been like friends with some of my clients more so than others, and some dog owners are chill while others are...not

If that's tense you don't want it getting worse before they're back or to get caught between two bigger dogs having a scuffle that escalates to fight

everybody here knows the not chill dog people hahahaha

i’ve been becky’s dog plurks 💗

so like. do your best and know that that’s all you can do, and that you’re thinking of that is you doing the work you’re there to do!

the gsd liking her crate is a very good thing too! def use that as a resource

gsds are my fave breed and they have very strong personalities for sure. some of them like to be with people more and others can be more aloof, so she may want to be around you more (i’ve heard labradoodles can be needier idk tho) but having a safe space of her crate as an option is good

yeah... I gave her some treats in her crate and let her be in there if she wished. she came back up instead of staying there, but I will keep an eye out

the dogs will be off and not their USUAL selves when their owners are gone and the usual dynamic isn’t there, as is my experience. it’s just how it goes!!

but that’s okay too, they’re like creatures of habit haha

she's got toys to gnaw on instead of her paws, so I'm trying ot give her stuff and not give the doodle extra attention

I asked a friend to come stay with me, so hopefully we can tag team the dogs and they can get anough attention between us

THANKS FOR YOUR HELP YALL

like you said, I can only do what I can

yeah i’d say like separate if you see something escalating

oh that’ll be good for them! it sounds like they both want attention for sure. if there’s literal separation, i’d recommend that you spend time with the gsd one on one since she’s older + she knows you (unless she knows your friend too, lol)

yeah that's what I'm hoping for... Im hoping the doodle is ike "OH NEW PERSON FUCK YOU CLAIRE" and then I can spend time with the german shepherd

hahahaha I HOPE THAT TOO!! wishing you all the luck, seriously. i know it can be hard to navigate when things go wonky and your client is especially so far away and in a diff time zone and such. but you clearly care and are doing the best you can and that’s what matters most!!

obviously the pups are getting love 💗💗💗

whenever i would bring my boyfriend over to houses with me, there would be certain dogs who LOVED MEN so much more and would GLOM onto him hahaha it was so stinkin cute 😭

so if the doodle is excitable and very social (as would be expected rofl), i bet that’s exactly what could easily happen!!

yeah

thanks for the confidence boost yall

here for you through the weekend too! just ping me if you need anything or got any random thoughts. i'm not a doggo trainer ofc, but i can give you advice on what i'd do in your shoes!

my family has only ever had GSDs too so i'm like...very particularly fond and at least know how a general layperson pet owner might react

UPDATE: we are all super fucking chill right now

I hope it lasts

both are sleeping, not just laying around

gsd isn't licking herself

I'm hoping maybe they've gotten over me, or I finally FINALLY tired them out with their last walk

thank you twas worryin

fantastic!!!!

so happy and glad to hear it!