Received Thursday, November 6, 2008. - Rant
I am not your Dog-$%&!-Picker-Upper! I am a nanny for a very nice family whom I adore. I have been working for them for about 2 months but I have been a nanny for quite a while. Recently (as in the past week) their dog has been sick. He has learned how to escape his cage (he is caged up from about 8-12:30 while no one is home; the back yard is not fenced in) and is eating trash, Halloween candy, and doing his business (including throwing up all the stuff he shouldn't be eating) all over the hardwood floor, carpets, rug, etc.
The parents have tried to remedy this by making extra sure he gets walked in the morning, fixing the cage, etc. But they don't reprimand the dog for doing his business inside, so now when I let him out at 12:30, he proceeds to pee/poop wherever he chooses. Since I have begun working for them, he has whined at the door when he needs to go out but he has completely stopped doing that. He just "goes" and I discover it when I vacuum the house. Now, he is a loveable dog, but I don't get paid enough to clean up dog $%@#! As appreciative as they are when I do clean up after the dog, how do I approach my employers about this? I would like to come to them with a suggestion as to remedy the situation, but I can't think of one... Help!
P.S. I have a contract, and obviously this is not in it. I just don't want to come to them with the "That's not my job and I'm not doing it!" attitude.
If the dog is sick he may not know when he actually has to go to the bathroom. I have seen this with cats as well. It's like if a child has an upset stomach and can't quite make it to the restroom. I would recommend leaving the dog outside until he is no longer sick. I would recommend that his parents take him to the vet because he might have a bacterial infection in his intestines that needs to be handled with anti-biotics. I would also suggest that his parents buy him pedialyte to help with his dehydration.
ReplyDeleteThe real problem here is not that he goes to the bathroom in the house but that he is getting into the trash. Don't yell at the dog when he messes on the floor inside. This will make him nervous. he needs to be detered from eating what he is not supposed to.
I feel bad for this dog. If he is crate trained and he keeps escaping the crate it is because he needs to use the bathroom and no one is around to help him. Imagine if you had to go and were trapped.
first take him to the vet to rule out any sickness, and then proceed to only reprimand him when he eats the garbage.
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ReplyDeletewould it be so hard to just tie the crate shut before you leave? if you're the one putting him in the crate before going out, it's completely your fault if you don't secure him appropriately. he may have mastered the latch, but a simple piece of twine with a couple of knots in it would be sufficient.
ReplyDeleteAnon, this is OP. I am not a live-in and am not there when the dog is crated in the morning. That has absolutely nothing to do with me.
ReplyDeleteI am appalled that every one is focusing on the nanny. The concern is the dog. Shame on all you selfish people.
ReplyDeleteOP since you are not a live in, try to show the family support and advise them of the things that I suggested. Think of the animal. He is sick. Try to imagine that you are sick and someone is locking you up in a room and not caring for you.
Please encourage them to take the dog to their vet. If there is nothing physically wrong, a session or two with a dog behaviorist will be able to help the family get the dog get back into focus.
ReplyDeleteFix em a poop sandwich! With a bit of nutella.
ReplyDeleteWe child proof the house for toddlers, and are vigilant about not leaving dangerous things around. Pets have to be provided safe environments just like children. Chocking hazards, and food that can make them sick should not be where they can get to them. The trash (chicken bones?), and candy are dangerous. Chocolate can be lethal for a dog. Talk to the family about this. It isn't the poor dog's fault he is having accidents, his system is trying to get rid of what he shouldn't be eating.
ReplyDeleteSuggest in a diplomatic way, hiring a dog trainer, that would put the poor dog on a schedule and train it to do its business outdoors.
ReplyDeleteI suppose doesn't cost too much or take too long.All will be happy in the end. You would know when he want to go because he would be on a schedule and let him out.
Some trainers also designate a place for them 'go' so he'll just run over to his spot in the yard, do his business, bury it and come back, everyone would be happy and you won't even see any mess.
BTW, doing it in the house is just NASTY. shame on the empolyers for letting an easy fix get so far.
I think this will be a temporary situation. The dog is very sick and probably will be for at least a week after eating crap. I have had to stay home from work before to care for my dog after it ate a pumpkin and on another ocassiona a bird seed suet bell.
ReplyDeleteBut, if you are the first home and the dog has gone in the house you pretty much have to clean it. Not because it is your job but because the only other alternative would be staying in a house filled with dog excrement! Gross!
I would ask the parents to either stay home w/ the dog while it is sick, take it to a dog day care where it can go out a lot, or hire a dog walker to let it out before you get there.
A temporary suggestion is maybe get some housetraining pads to put out in the house where he is likely to go when he is desperate. It won't stop him from going, but it will help make the clean up less gross.
ReplyDeletePets are part of the family. When you work for a family, you will end up taking care of their pets as well. This is difficult and frustrating right now but I think there have been some good solutions offered for the problem.
ReplyDeleteIf you don't want to do pet care, you should reconsider taking on a family with pets next time.
It sounds like the dog is sick and he should go to the vet asap. I wouldn't get mad at the dog. Can you let him out of his cage and immediately take him outside? If I were in your shoes, I would insist the dog go to the vet, even if it meant taking him myself.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry OP, but you're not going to get the answer you want on this thread. Most of the posters seem to want to keep telling you to have the parents take the dog to the vet as if the dog is your responsibilty. They seem to think that the parents wouldn't notice the same things that you have. Your problem seems to be that you are sick of cleaning up dog crap and they are refusing to acknowledge it. I'm not much help either with advice on how to approach the parents, but it seems unlikely that they haven't noticed the dog is poopping in the house.
ReplyDeleteI am in the almost same situation.
ReplyDeletebut I am a live in , so I have to feed and walk the dog, but he still poo in the house and I have to clean!!
Its not my job and I am not getting
paid enough to do that, they didn`t even ask me if I could take care of him, just told me to o that!!
By the way!! I was rushed to the Hospital yesterday by ambulance while taking care of the kids and the dog, I had a anxiety attacked!! and the doctor said in front of my Boss that it was because I was working to much!!
I personally think all household animals should wear diapers, like those helper monkeys you see on tv.
ReplyDeleteIf the dog continues do this, and is not actually temporarily sick (although it sounds like he is sick), the owners should buy a nice doghouse for him so he can stay outside while remaining comfortable during the mornings when no one is around. They can get a tether, sort of like a long leash, except there is some sort of pulley so there is no tangling, or they can get a fence installed so their property is fenced in.
ReplyDeleteIt is a health hazard when animals, or anyone for that matter, poops all over the house continually.
I had a similar situation. I suffered in silence until one day, when I started gagging and threw up on their dining room floor while cleaning the disgusting, runny...crap. That was it for me. I'd close off the area from the kids when it happened, and pretend that I hadn't seen it. The parents never mentioned it to me, but if they had, my "job description" would have come up. Sorry, I signed on to take care of your kids, not clean up dog crap.
ReplyDeletePassive agressive? Yep. But I didn't have to clean it anymore..and I was with them for 3 years.
Former Nanny is wicked awesome. If she can puke on command she's got mad skills. But not maid skills! Damn straight the nanny shouldn't be cleaning up any poop from some diaperless animals.
ReplyDeleteMy dear as I always tell people, if something is making you unhappy you need to address it. Please remember that if you keep these feelings bottled up it cannot only make you physically ill but can also transfer over into your relationship with your current employer's family and then you will be looked at in a negative way when you start to act out. If these people respect you, then they will understand your displeasure with this situation. Do not be timid but be respectful and professional. Don't beat around the bush just tell them that this situation is making you uncomfortable. If you do not like confrontation then write them a letter. My dear never sacrifice your happiness for money. There are people who will respect your honesty and appreciate you for it. Those people are the ones you want to be around. Good luck hon.
ReplyDeleteWhyCan'tISayWhat'sOnMyMind
ReplyDeleteHmmm. You remind me of Mrs. Doubtfire! lol
If the dog is eating Halloween candy worry not, it will be dead soon enough and all your problems will be solved.
ReplyDeleteMost candy, especially chocolate, is poisonous to dogs. Talk to it's owners. Allowing dogs to eat foods that can make them sick is animal abuse.