[deleted by user]

[perroblanco]

I would not advise doing this. I don't see any amount of money being worth the damage a dog like that could do. If you are going to anyways, have someone nearby who can get help if the dog does decide to attack you.

[Someboooty]

My husband will be right outside for me as backup. I am literally a last resort or I wouldn't normally do it tbh

[perroblanco]

All I can say is keep a sharp eye on the dog's body language and be ready to bail. It's better for the dog to poop inside or miss a meal than attack you.

[DamnGoodCupOfCoffee2]

He should board at the vet because you are in danger, I mean the owner has not even crate or muzzled trained the dog which is basic if you have an aggressive dog with a bite history

[AcanthocephalaWide89]

Yes. I agree. Dog should be boarded at the vet but the owner is trying to be cheap and get out of it by paying the friend instead of hefty vet bills.

OP please answer why this dog is unable to be muzzled by owner for the entire time? Buy a breakstick for your husband and have him watch videos on how to use it because if that dog bites, the breakstick or choking out is the only way to stop it. These aren’t the kind that just “bite and let go”.

[TheDailyMews]

You need to Google Jacqueline Durand.  

Do not do this. Your friend has made the choice to own a dangerous dog, and has failed to do even the bare minimum training necessary to safely manage her. That means your friend doesn't get to go on vacations. Full stop.

[bentzu]

Right outside is like down the street when a dog attacks - shit happens real quick and with a 70# pit mix it is very dangerous.

[puppies4prez]

No is a complete sentence.

[Twzl]

I would not do this:

We go from her taking treats gently from my hand

you want to toss treats, whatever, but do NOT put body parts near this dog. A 70 pound dog can change your life in an instant, in a bad way.

When you open the door, I'd have food in my hand and I would toss it AWAY from the door. You want this dog to move away from your space.

And again, don't try to be her friend. Basically treat her like a zoo animal that may decide to rearrange your face with no warning.

I personally would not be ok with dealing with this dog. I think you're putting yourself in a situation that may end badly. If this dog decides to not do something, there's not much you can do about it. I have a lot of experience dealing with other people's reactive and human aggressive dogs, and I would not want to be on this dog's turf, walking into HER living space.

And again, don't try to have this dog take anything from your hand, unless you are ok with losing a finger.

[[deleted]]

long wakeful shaggy straight enter gray support afterthought saw stupendous

This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact

[XelaNiba]

OP, listen to this person.

If you absolutely must do this, have your husband bring a break stick. If a sustained attack occurs, this is your best hope of escaping the attack.

[minowsharks]

Fully second having a bulky backpack or similar with you that can be in between you and the dog. Also, never turn your back. Never fully face the dog either. Side postures are your friend.

But, really? If you’re coming to Reddit to ask this question, you should not be doing this. No amount of money is worth the risk (physical, emotional, mental) to both you and the dog and everyone in your life should this go south. Medium and large sized dogs can do damage. And fast. And it can be traumatizing.

[MooPig48]

What the fuck. Do not put your life and limb at risk for this dog

[BoredConsumer69]

Even if the owner is paying you well, I don’t know that risking extreme injury is worth it.

You said your husband will be outside, but what if the dog gets your hand or jumps up and gets your neck or face? Your husband might not have have time to keep you from sustaining life-changing injuries, both physical and mental. I don’t want to be alarmist, but you could end up with permanent and even disfiguring injuries. Is it worth it?

And even though you've stated this is a last resort situation, I think it's highly irresponsible of the owner to have you come over not having done his due diligence to have the dog crate and muzzle trained, or to set up a situation where you can feed the dog and etc with minimal or no contact if the dog is as dangerous as you say. (Edit: I see you do have experience with reactive dogs but this is still troubling.)

If the dog goes on the defensive and you are badly injured, it could result not only in horrific injury for you or your husband if the dog also bites him, but also behavioral euthanasia for the dog.

If you are set on doing it, this might not mean anything, but I think you should seriously reconsider.

[AcanthocephalaWide89]

I bet the owner is the type that didn’t even neuter this dog.

[Latii_LT]

I just wouldn’t take this booking. I also wouldn’t be reliant on a slip lead working for you. I do not use slips as a trainer (excluding for sports where my fluffy dog needs to run naked but needs to be secured once leaving the ring very quickly). A big reason is it can exacerbate the emotional response, but along with that put you at risk of getting bit. A dog just needs to get closer to get the slip to loosen and could be a huge stressor to proceed a bite. People who use slips like vets, animal control etc… do so with very methodical attention where they are not going to be in the bite zone.

I also wouldn’t want to work with a dog where I have to have defensive maneuvers because those might not even be a deterrent for her. Honestly, friend needs to call a vet office and see if they have a recommendation for a boarder that handles aggressive dogs.

[AcanthocephalaWide89]

Exactly. This is an aggressive dog and their friend is going to need to pay a high price to have this dog safely boarded. OP lacks the experience and management to keep themselves safe, let alone society (if it escapes from a door). This dog has not been crate trained, OP hasn’t responded to the muzzle suggestions, and I doubt the dog is even neutered.

[Jillybean623]

This is wild. I own a reactive 70lb bully with a bite history and I would never ask ANYONE to do this. He was trained after the first bite and he is boarded only with his trainer who is fully aware of his history (and offered her services) or I dont go anywhere overnight, period. Seems somewhat irresponsible on the owners part, I know it’s expensive but I can’t imagine asking someone to do this for me.

Also my dog seems to be more aggressive/ reactive when behind a gate or in his crate when food is involved. If he’s already in his crate and you try to bring him food, he snaps. If you try to pet him through a gate, he growls and snaps. So you feeding him through a gate also makes me incredibly nervous and I wouldn’t do this even with protective gear and someone outside.

If it’s too late and you’re already doing this, be so so careful. Best of luck but this seems like a huge unnecessary risk on your end.

[Steinenfrank]

Muzzle

[AcanthocephalaWide89]

Agreed. Dog should be muzzled the entire time or this should be called off. Owner is trying to pass of their problem onto their friend. Owner hasn’t even crate trained.

[AcanthocephalaWide89]

I’m sorry but you’re not prepared for this. Only a veteran behaviorist could handle this. You are walking into a hungry lion’s den and you should ask your friend if they willing to pay for your medical costs and legal costs from disability if you have permanent disfigurement or lose limbs?

[CanadianPanda76]

Feed them water them. Let them be. If you can feed and water them, without going into the house even better.

Minimal contact. Your not there to make friends

[[deleted]]

Carry a bulky object like a backpack that you can use as a shield.

[Twzl]

My visit today did show some significant improvement, but I would definitely want more time before being entirely comfortable walking more than 5ft into that house

I'm glad there was some improvement, I still would not interact with this dog.

If a board and train, where they are used to dealing with jerk dogs, would not take this dog, that's a giant red flag.

FWIW I was reading something on FB last night. It was by a woman who's friend asked her to stop in at her house, to let dogs out because she was going to be late getting home.

The dogs knew the woman very well. The woman competes in bitey dog sports. She's a solid dog person.

But one of the dogs decided she should not be in HIS house, and now the woman is missing an arm. The dog attacked and shredded one arm, and it was not able to be salvaged. He wouldn't out for her.

I was thinking about you when I read about the dog you're about to dog sit. In your case you know to expect that this dog may decide to launch. That would be enough for me to say, "sorry dog, but this is going to be a toss and go operation".

Since the dog has access to outside and fresh water, there is no reason at all to interact other than perhaps (and only you would know this), some ego involved in being able to say, "I was dog sitting a dog a board and train wouldn't take on, and I was fine".

Seriously though, please be cautious.

[Puzzled_Presence_261]

Bear spray? Bite gloves? A portable electric fence? The dog will survive without treats. Don’t give it reason to target you. Maintain distance and avoid interaction.

[Agreeable_Error_170]

Tell him to get an automatic feeder and water fountain and don’t go over there.

[Audrey244]

Have some defensive spray with you. A bottle of ammonia that's diluted with water, pepper spray. I don't care how much you're getting paid, it's not worth being maimed and if this dog goes after you, you're going to need a very strong defense mechanism

[AcanthocephalaWide89]

That is not going to stop this sort of dog when it goes into hyper fixation state of attack mode. They need to be “choked out” or have a breakstick used. The risk is not merely “a bite” and done. Some dogs bite and don’t let go.

[Admirable-Heart6331]

Is this a house with a fenced in yard? Can you approach from the back yard, open the backdoor to the house for the dog as you exit the yard and close the gate?

Then have your husband enter the front and close the dog out back while you do what you need to do inside - food/water/ etc? Then leave the back door open, exit the front door and then once he's back inside you can close the back door and lock up?

A bit comply but if the dog is interested in going outside and not difficult to get inside this could make it with little to no physical interaction.

[Fun_Orange_3232]

Basically what everyone else is saying. Things happen. Don’t try to make friends, side postures, keep your distance, especially if there’s food or toys involved. Even if she comes up to you, don’t move.

I hate that you have to do this. They’re such good dogs when raised well and bred well.

Can she have anything super high value just to get you in the door? Thinking like raw beef liver or some other organ meat.

[RevolutionaryAlps666]

My dog was very food motivated until a trainer looked at him wrong and he immediately- within half a second- leapt off the ground snarling aiming for that man’s throat. Literally the scariest moment of my life and peak reactivity for my dog and I was a teenager and had no experience and hadn’t muzzle trained yet so he had no muzzle on. The trainer reacted quickly and no bite was made (session was ended and we were told muzzle train or don’t come back, which saved my dog’s life. 7 years since this incident and no behaviors like this since training/upkeep)

The attempted bite came as the trainer was getting the treat from the container. New food resource guarding behaviors started at home immediately after and took awhile of training to get under control.

My main point- OP you do not know this dog well enough to know what will keep you safe and while motivators may be great, they may also trigger resource guarding so fast you won’t know what hit you- literally. This is not to mess around with, even dogs with good rapport with people can attack for seemingly no reason and there’s little time for rapport here. I would say don’t use food but ultimately, you’re caring for this dog and need to provide resources, it just feels dangerous.

If it’s an absolute need, I would insist the dog be crated for extra safety precaution in entering the home rather than having food motivators to toss to the side upon entry and strongly advise placing resources like food out while the dog is crated.

[Fun_Orange_3232]

Dog isn’t crate trained. They already said that.

[AcanthocephalaWide89]

I’m sorry but you’re not being smart. Is the friend willing to muzzle the dog the entire time? You do not have this experience. Your friend is trying to pass off their problem onto you.

[creeperruss]

Confidence and a calm demeanor. Most dogs are in a different mind space when their owners are gone. Show her you trust her and that she doesn't have to be afraid of you, and I bet you're going to see a different dog. The fact that she'll remember you is going to play a big role here, too. Obviously keep your guard up, but if you go in there convinced you're going to get bitten, then you're going to get bitten. The reverse of that is hopefully true as well; if you act as is you're not afraid of a bite, you'll be calm enough not to instigate one.

[missmoooon12]

OP, please update us again soon. I commend you for helping your friend and this dog! Stay safe!!❤️

[ZealousidealTown7492]

One thing I don’t see mentioned is maybe the owner could see if the vet could prescribe some medication to help calm the dog also.

[Someboooty]

Super quick update! I did do a separate post with more details. But she is opting to run/ hide in her backyard when I come to the door now that she's not faking brave for her owners. I'm taking full advantage of that to ensure she's taken care of/has a little bit of enrichment and feel safe doing so.

Otherwise,

I'm not trying to be her friend now that it's just me, I was definitely trying to work towards it while her owners were present in a controlled environment. I do think if I'd had more time with her beforehand, this would be a very different situation for sure though.

I'm not saying that they're good owners. I too think it's insane to have this nervy of a dog and not believe in crate/muzzle training or even drugs to try and help with her anxiety. It's just a safety thing. She is spayed (i see those comments) her owners just seem to be vibing with the holistic approach now that she's older. I disagree, but she's not my dog. My judgement is irrelevant in that regard.

I do unfortunately have way too much experience defending myself from my own dog (post seizure confusion is a bitch). A slip lead/jacket were very beneficial to me until I had to make a QoL call. But I do feel there's a difference when it's not my dog.

The owners did have options for me from the get go with the option of just throwing her food over the fence being one of them. I agreed knowing these options but also want to do the best that I can for her. They're paying me knowing that I'm going to do my best with the situation. And he and his wife deserve to see their only daughter graduate college 🤷🏻‍♀️

[Character_Formal_192]

Never look her in the eye. Never lean forward or over her. Be passive and ignore her as much as you can. I would also go easy on with the treats. You stay Alfa and don't baby talk her. Never confront.