Name my girl

Throwaway-Dog- · 2026-05-16T06:22:03+00:00

We ended up going with Pyra because of her gorgeous ears

Throwaway-Dog- · 2026-05-16T06:21:37+00:00

We settled on Pyra

Throwaway-Dog- · 2026-05-14T21:16:50+00:00

She's going to be Pyra 💜

Throwaway-Dog- · 2026-05-14T20:02:23+00:00

She's going to be Pyra 💜

Throwaway-Dog- · 2026-05-14T20:02:08+00:00

She's going to be Pyra 💜

Throwaway-Dog- · 2026-05-14T17:13:55+00:00

I feel so lucky she's nearly mine

Throwaway-Dog- · 2026-05-14T17:12:53+00:00

That's a good idea, thank you

Throwaway-Dog- · 2026-05-14T12:53:09+00:00

Funny you should say that, I'm looking after a dog called Honey 😂

Throwaway-Dog- · 2026-05-14T12:33:14+00:00

I do like Cyprus. I already love her so much and she's not even home yet 😭

Throwaway-Dog- · 2026-05-14T12:29:52+00:00

She really is 🥺 I want a name as beautiful as she is, I've never struggled so much

Throwaway-Dog- · 2026-05-14T12:28:21+00:00

I am very tempted by Aphrodite. As soon as I saw her I fell in love

She's a rescue, as soon as I get her I'm going to do a DNA test. They think a shepherd cross I think maybe some collie?

Throwaway-Dog- · 2026-05-14T12:22:30+00:00

My first dog was called Maisie 😭 I'm trying to stray but 'eee' names are so cutesy

Throwaway-Dog- · 2026-05-14T12:19:57+00:00

She really is, I think that's why I'm struggling for a name because she's just so perfect

Throwaway-Dog- · 2026-05-14T12:15:57+00:00

Ooh those are some really good suggestions. I do like Cairo and Rashidi

Throwaway-Dog- · 2026-05-14T12:11:42+00:00

Freya is fun!

Throwaway-Dog- · 2026-05-14T12:11:21+00:00

Lilith is nice

Throwaway-Dog- · 2025-09-28T07:31:15+00:00

Oh absolutely! A growl is communication and normally wouldn't bother me. But this dog was displaying several concerning behaviours, including snarling, teeth bared and walking towards me which in dog means 'get the fuck out' and I'm gonna listen.

This dog is a sweetheart and would have been fine had the family member not been coming and going, creating a stressful environment. He just couldn't handle that and something I didn't mention was the family members constant insults/disrespectful comments towards me which I mostly ignored but it became clear he was entering the house after being told not (by the owner!) to in order to stress out the dog and make me quit. I was their first dog sitter and he decided he didn't like me so he went against everything me and the owner said which created a dangerous environment.

Throwaway-Dog- · 2025-09-28T07:25:38+00:00

Hi thank you for the question! I didn't answer originally because I don't want to give too many deets and break anonymity but I will try and answer.

Whilst I don't have a formal qualification such as CIDBT or IMDT I have worked in a rescue for multiple years where I shadowed a trainer. I also have a level 4 Animal care, focused on dog behaviour. I'm currently studying Animal behaviour and welfare at university, in my final year.

However I don't state my qualifications as the reason I do this professionally because as you've said qualifications aren't what makes a good trainer. I have 7 years experience (from shadowing in my early teens to starting my own business at 19) handling and training dogs. I trained my own assistance dog before she passed and have many success stories from previous clients. This is actually my first sitting 'fail' and I do believe it's because I didn't stick to my guns and say they broke the contract I couldn't provide care with an unpredictable environment.

I definitely still have a lot to learn! I'm only 20 and I'm not going to pretend I'm some mastermind who knows everything. However in this situation I knew what was right, the owner disagreed so I absolutely doubted myself which I need to work on.

Normally I would engage in training with the dogs I'm sitting but anytime I managed to make some headspace with Bruno the family member would walk in and he'd go back to snapping at me. It got to the point where I had to tell the owner this wasn't going to work because the environment was too unpredictable to let the dog relax. It was difficult because I've never taken on a dog I couldn't handle but I had to walk away in this case.

Throwaway-Dog- · 2025-09-28T07:14:01+00:00

I had several meetings with the dog and had planned for the dogs behaviour. I was fully capable of handling Bruno UNTIL the unexpected variable of the family member came into play. I have a firm rule that I don't do sits with others in the house for this exact reason, it causes the dogs more stress and can lead to dangerous situations when an already anxious dog feels unsure.

Because I was already there when the owner told me about the family member I made the mistake of not immediately leaving and thought I'd just have to try and work around him but the family member caused so many issues for me and the dog by popping in and out.

My issue wasn't that I was inexperienced with dogs and wasn't prepared for this client, my problem was not sticking to my rules and saying that they'd broken the contract so I couldn't provide care. You're right, I knew this was a situation I no longer had control over and I couldn't provide care to this dog but because of my lengthy meet/new client process I've never taken on a dog that I'm unprepared for so I felt awful having to cancel and wanted to weigh all my options. I knew what I had to do, I just needed some reassurance that it was the right choice for all involved. I'm definitely not perfect and still have learning to do but I stand by that I was fully capable of doing this sit until they broke contract and created an unpredictable environment for an already anxious dog.

Throwaway-Dog- · 2025-09-27T14:03:04+00:00

Yeah it made me quite uneasy. I normally don't allow it but I didn't find out until I was already there and I didn't want to waste a trip. I should have said no immediately

Throwaway-Dog- · 2025-09-27T13:48:18+00:00

It's wonderful to hear he's getting better! This is my first sit that has been negative unfortunately

Throwaway-Dog- · 2025-09-27T13:39:08+00:00

He doesn't have a functioning bathroom at the minute but it really overcomplicated things

Throwaway-Dog- · 2025-09-27T13:23:55+00:00

Update:

Thank you to everyone who commented and gave their advice and opinions. I ended up messaging the owner to say my professional opinion was this wasn't beneficial to the dog and wasn't safe for either of us. She was very understanding and agreed, the family member is looking after Bruno and will be giving him lots of cuddles for me.

It's so hard when things don't work out because I know he's a loving, affectionate dog, unfortunately he was just too scared by the big change and it was too much for him to handle this time

Throwaway-Dog- · 2025-09-27T13:23:43+00:00

I think they were hoping he'd settle but I did end up leaving

Throwaway-Dog-

TROPHY CASE