I was referred to a pet setter by a dog-loving neighbor. When I contacted the pet setter, she told me she had moved to a neighboring town and was no longer working my area. She referred me to “the only person” she would let take care of her dogs.

I phoned the “only person”, who was free, and invited her to my house. I wanted my dogs to tell me if she was okay. She came and visited for over an hour, wrote down information about my dogs. She seemed well qualified, and my dogs gave their thumbs up.

As the date rolled closer for the sitter to pick up the key, I started worrying. I let my neighbors know I was going to have a pet sitter, and if the dogs should bark outside unreasonably, to please talk to them. They have a dog door out of the kitchen, and are prone to only barking when there is something to bark at.

The sitter came to pick up my house key. Again the dogs confirmed that they liked her, and I went through all the information regarding my dogs again, even though she had all the info in her file.

After she left, I sat down to watch some Animal Planet, but couldn’t focus. I had just given my house key and entrusted my dogs to a near total stranger for four days! I was supposed to feel relieved, not stressed.  Did I even know where this woman lived?? Was she who she said she was?? She could have the house, but not my dogs. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

I got back yesterday to find the dogs in good condition and glad to see me. They were a little clingy, but had fresh water and seemed happy. The pet sitter had left a journal of the times she checked on the dogs, what she did, what they did, and any cute anecdotes she had discovered about them. Whew!

As an aside, she came back today to bring me my key and pick up her check. She invited me to go with her to a dog show Sunday—YAY!!  You know, it’s nice to have someone to talk to about your dogs—someone whose eyes don’t glaze over—someone who can talk about her dogs—share cute stories etc. And I was worried about the pet sitter???

I don’t know what to expect, and Internet access is limited, but I will try to keep a log of my experiences at http://onlinedogcoach.blogspot.com

The vet said it sounds like anxiety. Over what, we don’t know. I tried looking up dog anxiety online, and all I could find was stuff on separation anxiety - like when we’re away from home. As far as we can tell, he has no problems when we’re gone. I think he just sleeps most of the time.

But we’re unsure of how to handle him when he’s super clingy. We don’t want to love on him - since that would reinforce the behavior. But you can’t punish him, either.

Anyone gone through anything like that? Any suggestions?

Once we have access to the new house, what tips do you have for easing her transition?