Dogsitting help?
My brother and sister-in-law have gone out of state for a week for a funeral and have left their 1 year old Maltipoo for me to dogsit. This is the first time I have met and interacted with the dog (it is in its crate). I have been instructed to feed it twice a day, and take it out twice a day. However, whenever I try to approach it, it starts aggressively barking not me, and I know it will bite me if I get too close (I tested this out by putting my hand next to the cage---it tried to bite me).
I know that you aren't supposed to approach dogs; they are supposed to approach you.
The dog is at my place and my brother didn't leave any treats or toys (just dog food). I can't obviously get close to it (because it is really aggressively defensive and it is really scared).
Its bowl is in its crate, but I'm afraid that it will bite me if I put my hand in there.
Last night I managed to lure it out by opening the crate door. However it ran wild (because it was scared); and obviously chasing after it was a bad idea, but I had to put it back inside the crate (it pooped/peed on the carpet).
I obviously can't walk it because it is too scared to get close to me, and I can't feed it because I'm afraid it will bite me (I know it will bite me if I try to get the bowl). I would love to just have the dog roaming around the house, but obviously I am a complete stranger (that and/or the dog is poorly trained to deal with strangers---it probably is considering the dog is usually at home alone in its crate----both of them work).
I don't want to let the dog out of its crate again (it will probably poop/pee again). And I can't get a leash on it to take it outside to poop/pee).
The dog hasn't eaten or pooped in like 10-12 hours. I'm scared and I don't know what to do. The dog is really defensive and apprehensive if I get too close, so I'm stuck right now. Help please.
4 Comments • Newest first
I'm not a dog trainer, but I know that food is usually the best motivation for dogs. So probably try holding a piece of food, I don't know what kinds, and just hold it near the crate until it sees it. HOPEFULLY, the dog will come towards it and lick it off. Then, do it maybe 5 more times until it knows you are the food giver. Also, if it starts being aggressive try to be calm yourself, I've saw videos stating that if the owner is in a calm state it helps the dog be in the same state, not sure if that works though. And before letting it out of the crate make sure it is not too hyper don't let it be too hyper.
Again don't quote me on this, it is just my speculation on videos. If nothing works, ask for help from the owner, maybe they left a toy somewhere.
@killeem: Well, I don't want to scare it. And I also don't want to get bitten. That would be a bad start to interacting with the dog. I don't know how long I should just leave the dog alone----I have managed to get the bowl and feed it/put water in the bowl. But it has not pooped/peed yet. So my only option is leaving in the crate---even if it poops/pees in there. I feel like that's just cruel though, but I don't want to release it in the living room again and run wild and scared again.
are u really this terrified over a maltipoo lmfao
give it time.. gotta let the dog trust u 1st
have u tried turning him off and on