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Question for dog owners
I know that there are a lot of pet 'parents' on this board, so I am hoping that someone will be able to help me.
We have some neighbors a couple blocks down that have 2 gorgeous dogs. The dogs are almost exclusively outdoor dogs. Our neighbors are going on vacation for a week, and have asked us to watch the dogs.
The dogs have outdoor igloo things that they hang out in, plus a covered kennel that they are free to go in and out of. In addition to a large, fenced in yard that they run in.
Neighbors want us to check their food and play with them daily. We are happy to help (I'm not much of a dog person, but DD LOVES these dogs when we go out for walks) but I have never done anything like this before.
I am wondering what kind of questions to ask them. What do I need to know? I already asked them to leave a list of what kind of food the dogs eat (in case their stash spills or something and I need to go get more) as well as their vet's info. But what else? Like I said, I haven't done this before, and just want to be prepared. Or am I over-thinking this?
When someone watches your dogs for you, what info do you leave for them?
Thanks for any ideas!
Also, might seem like a funny post to DD, but I probably will later.
Re: Question for dog owners
I leave:
Contact info for at least 3 people that know my dog that also have house keys: MIL, neighbor, my friend that does rescue in case anything happens and Rusty needs to go stay with someone else because the house burned down or something else happened (you never know...)
Vet info, emergency vet info, where the vet work is just in case the person needs his chip ID information or rabies tag numbers or something
Feeding information (I have everything in plastic containers, but I usually keep extra frozen and so I have instructions of how to thaw and portion out) and where the supplements are to put in his meals
Random details about Rusty: he likes socks and cloth napkins but he won't eat them, his favorite toy is the Kong Wubba, he has to sleep with a blanket otherwise he doesn't sleep well, his favorite treat is beef jerky, what tricks he knows, his usual routine (get up at 7, eat at 7:15, potty breaks, dinner at 5), etc...
I also leave his leash, Halti and any other dog stuff out on the dining room table or in plain sight so the person doesn't have to wander around the house searching for stuff
I also leave instructions for the dog park - Rusty has HORRIBLE recall so there's only 2 or 3 places that we go where we don't have to chase him down.
I basically leave the same info. I email it to the person watching the dogs AND I print it out and leave it stuck to the fridge in my house. That way they have access to a backup copy if they lose it/are away from the house and need the info.
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I leave basically the same stuff.
In addition, I leave very detailed instructions about what to do if certain things happen health wise (mine has some strange health issues). I also call the vet before I leave to give them a credit card number and who is authorized to use it while I'm gone.
Since they're outdoor dogs, you could ask them when they're are allowed/supposed to go in the house.
Tired after a long morning of hiking and swimming.
Agree with all the PP. Contact info for other potential dog watchers, vet info with a CC on file, our contact info in case of whatever.
We bring Moe's blankets so he has familiar smells and let watchers know we turn the radio and a light on for him (or else he howls all day).
Knowing what parks the dogs normally go to, walk paths, etc is a great idea...
A Little Bird and a Monkey Butt