First of all am not a pet sitter by profession, I don't work with pets or have dogs of my own. I'm dogsitting two small dogs for a neighbor. 1 is an 11-year-old smaller white dog (unsure of the breed) and the other is a 6 month old golden doodle the family has had for 3 months.
I dogsat only the older dog last year before puppy came without issue. This year he is so sad and depressed, I think because he misses his family and because the puppy jumps on him and takes his toys often.
When I first came he was fine and happy to see me but now it only happens when I first get home from work. At first he would come to me crying and I wouldn't know what he wanted, so I would pet him and love him and say things in a sweet voice, let him out, sometimes give him a bully stick. Now he just avoids me. Important, I of course have not hit or yelled at him at all!
He will sit in the other room far away from me and the puppy and sometimes cry to himself. Mostly he's quiet. When I come to check on him he will run away if I get close, hide under the table or in his crate. One time I found him hiding behind the radiator, and when I came over he ran and hid under the couch. So I mostly leave him alone, though I'm afraid he's so sad by himself.
His sister comes to cuddle a lot and he stares at her sadly every time like he wants it too, but he also won't come near me. I have tried shutting his sister in one room and having it just be the two of us to see if that helps but it doesn't.
When I let him outside, half the time he won't come in and I have to physically pick him up and bring him inside. He shakes uncontrollably sometimes. At night he has started banging on the bedroom door at midnight or barking, but if I open the door to see if he needs water or to go out he will just go downstairs and hide.
What should I do? I have little experience with dogs and I feel terrible he's so miserable. Do I let the family know? Any advice is greatly appreciated.
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from Pets https://www.reddit.com/r/Pets/comments/qrehwy/advice_for_petsitter_older_dog_is_so_anxious_and/
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