Cooper was turned down by a dogsitter! :(

[Jenny and Cooper]

We just got back home from a dogsitter I found on dogvacay.com.  It was a nice family, but unfortunately it didn't work out.  They had two dogs, a senior Chihuahua and another small dog they were sitting for.  Cooper wanted to play with the two dogs and kept barking and barking at them to play.  We stayed there quite a long time and about half hour in, Cooper was just not taking no for an answer.  When they told us that they were going to be sitting for two other dogs the days we want to drop Cooper off and those three dogs were going to be tiny (5 lb and 8 lbs), I sort of felt uneasy about it.  I just knew Cooper would want to play and I would hate for him to keep barking at those tiny dogs.  So at the end of our meeting, they told us Cooper wouldn't be a good fit for them those days.  We completely understand and felt the same way too.

Now we are back to square one finding a dogsitter and we already have our hotels booked.  Hopefully one of my nephews can sleep over our house and dogsit Cooper for us!  He is trying to work out his schedule at the time.

Question:  When will Cooper stop his annoying behavior when someone doesn't want to play with him?  How can we stop him?  As soon as they took the dog inside the house, Cooper was quiet again.  Is there a away to stop him without removing the other dog?

Thanks! 

[Lori, Daphne, Lucy & Pippa]

Check out Rover.com. I have a friend who used them with good results.

[Jenny and Cooper]

Thank you Lori.  I will do that! Hopefully I can find one this weekend because our vacation is coming up soon on the 20th!

[Laura and Angus]

Angus used to bark at other dogs when he was younger. We were worried he wouldn't be able to stay at daycare because he was upsetting or annoying the other dogs. He eventually just got used to being around other dogs at daycare and wasn't as overly excited. Does cooper do daycare at all? Maybe it would help to just have more opportunities to be around other pups...

[Jenny and Cooper]

Hi Laura,

We take Cooper to the dog park about three times a week.  He used to go in the small dog area and for the most part he did fine.  He will respect the timid dogs who doesn't want to play. What usually happens is another dog will play with him and get tired, but Cooper doesn't want to stop playing.  So he would bark at them because he wants to play again.  Sometimes he'll quit and I believe twice we had to remove him from the dog park.  Since he has grown, we've been taking him to the big dog area where he does much better.  He doesn't bark as much and when he does, the other dogs will come running to him and then he'll chicken out and stop.  lol.  He has a friend both in the small and big dog area. So we'll go to the one where his friend is.  He LOVES to play wrestle and only VERY LIMITED dogs there would play that way.  He has found two dogs so far.  lol

So no he doesn't do daycare but goes to dog park.  Is there a difference??? 

[Julie, Eloise & Beasley]

You might try asking your vet for dogsitter recommendations, too.  That's how I got connected with mine and she is fantastic.  Sometimes the vet techs will also have pet sitting services on the side.  Just wanted to throw those out there as a couple more options. :)  Good luck!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Groomers often pet sit also.

[Missy]

I don't know how to stop the barking.  our pup gets frustrated that other pups won't play, but he doesn't bark at them.

have you tried locating doggie playcamps that also board?

We have access to a dog facility that takes daytime boarders (drop off and pick up dogs daily for day camp) and they also do boarding.  They are safe as far as requiring all dogs to be up on shots, etc. (inspect the facility before boarding)

The great thing is while our dog is boarded there, he gets to play with the other dogs twice a day. 

I am not familiar with your area but I would think there would be something out there for you..

[Jenny and Cooper]

Thank you everyone for your suggestions. I searched and searched. Found a very good one but no openings for July. I was really disappointed but I found another one that seems just as good or even better!

Lori, I the 2nd one I found is from Rover.com. He is a certified dog trainer. Sometimes during the day, he will train but he said that will take up only max of 2 hours. There will be two other dogs there the days I'll be boarding Cooper. They are Jack Rusell mix and playful. We're meeting him on Thursday and the two dogs will be there too! I'm so relieved. I hope it'll work out this time. I have a feeling it will though :)

Thanks again everyone for your help! I can go on my mini vacation soon! :)

[Lori, Daphne, Lucy & Pippa]

Oh Im glad you found something.! Training sounds great and I know those Jack RUssells have a lot of energy so it should be fun for Cooper! I wish you lived closer, I would gladly watch him.

[Jenny and Cooper]

Aaaww you're so sweet! That would be SO much for Cooper! :) we're on the opposite side of the US. Lol

[Lori, Daphne, Lucy & Pippa]

Did you ever find a dog sitter?

[Jenny and Cooper]

Yes!  The meet & greet with Franco from Rover.com worked out!  Cooper had a lot of fun there and he updated us with pictures whenever I e-mailed him. 

I don't know what happened there but before we went on vacation Cooper used to whine a little in the morning whenever he wakes up.  I guess it's him telling us,  "I'm awake now please come downstairs and get me! " lol  Ever since he came back, he doesn't do that anymore!  He would just wait in his crate.  I would hear him moving around but he now waits patiently for me to come downstairs.  Today he was awake for about 30 minutes before I came down to get him.  We put a webcam downstair in the family room so I can spy on him through my iphone wherever I go :)  I know he slept on the bed with the dogsitter one night and in his crate one night but in his bedroom.  Not sure how exactly that contributed to the change. 

Thanks for asking and thanks again for recommending Rover.com!