You're crazy!!!

Just kidding.

When I first got Turbo, I was hesitant to leave him with anyone because they might mess him up. How could anyone know how to take care of MY dog?

I've grown up alot since then, and ditched the control freak way. Life is SO much easier this way.:smile:

Do you trust your nephew to do exactly as you wish?

Will he feed them, water them, and take them out to pee and poop?

Can he keep them secure via leashes, or a fence if you have one?

That is all I really ask of people who keep my dog. If they want to play with him and throw a frisbee or ball, all the better.:smile:

Simplify!

Have all the meals made up in separate ziploc bags with each dogs name on it, that way all he has to do is dump it in the bowl.

All of the other command sequences will pop right back into shape once you are back in town.

It won't matter if Jethro only sits, or only walks nicely rather than heeling etc.

Other than basic manners I would not be worried about him keeping up with the intense training and routine you guys have going.

And what will really happen if they drool all over the kitchen floor and then eat right there after their food is ready...nothing!

I understand completely your anxiety, but agree with Michael, that with a few ground rules and someone you can trust to follow your directions - this can work. Paramount to me = NO yank and crank. I'd rather my dogs get away with something they shouldn't (with the nephew) over being corrected harshly or incorrectly. I'd also have him stay a night and see how you do things and get another opportunity to do them with you present. If you honestly don't trust him to do as you ask, I personally wouldn't leave my dogs with him. I'd go visit my MIL after my husband came home if needed, but I wouldn't leave my dogs with anyone I was the least bit hesitant about.

I'm out of town as we speak and mine are with my husband's sister and her husband who have the property next to ours. We are fortunate in that they know our dogs well. With that said, they are also agree 100% to our requests such as NO training - none. Feed dogs in seperate rooms. Crate at night, etc.. They agree/understand that their job is only to keep the dogs safe, fed, exercised and potty broke. And we trust them to do so.

 Quote: jennifer lee

Simplify! .... All of the other command sequences will pop right back into shape once you are back in town.

It won't matter if Jethro only sits, or only walks nicely rather than heeling etc.

I would so not lay any of this on any dogsitter. I don't want anyone interfering with my training, and everything will pop back back into shape when you get back, as Jennifer says.

I actually don't consider it a good thing for a sitter to "train" my dogs. Not just unnecessary -- actually a negative.

I would relax by about 97%.

I do remember being like that, and all I can say is that the faster you move from that to asking for nothing but responsibility and care, the happier everyone will be.

Trust an experienced old person.


ALL you really care about is responsible containment, knowing where the vet is and not to hesitate to call you if he thinks something is wrong .... and feeding and walking.

What we're all trying to say is, you're crazy.

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

.....all I can say is that the faster you move from that to asking for nothing but responsibility and care, the happier everyone will be.

My wife and I take this approach to a whole 'nother level and apply it to people keeping our kid, as well.

The only rules are no giving him cigarettes or beer. Besides that, have a good time and stay safe.:smile:

Here is a picture of my son at the neighbors. Tell me he doesn't have them figured out. http://i424.photobucket.com/albums/pp329/jmwise80/83e9ae2d.jpg

He loves every minute of it, and so do they. Win.

If he can recover from that kind of spoiling, your pups will be just fine.:smile:

 Quote: Michael_Wise

If he can recover from that kind of spoiling, your pups will be just fine.:smile:

OMG!!! I'm calling Child Social Services as we speak!!! That straw is definitely the wrong color and length-how DARE you!!

 Quote: Michael_Wise

My wife and I take this approach to a whole 'nother level and apply it to people keeping our kid, as well.

The only rules are no giving him cigarettes or beer. Besides that, have a good time and stay safe.:smile:

This is true at our house as well, I quickly got over worrying about everything being done right and learned to happily send him off with loving people to have fun.

Well actually I frankly don't worry too much at home about it either anymore, I just do my best to get some decent food in him and raise a well adjusted kid.

I once walked in to find my father (who was quite stern and serious with me as a child) wearing a scuba mask and a big black trash sack over his clothes tearing around the house with my son having a nerf gun war.
Dinner that night had consisted of popcorn and root beer floats

 Quote: Michael_Wise

http://i424.photobucket.com/albums/pp329/jmwise80/83e9ae2d.jpg

And we wonder why we have the men we have today. Hmmm. That's absolutely adorable and ohhhh.... so telling.