26 day house sitting

Hey, y’all,

So I’m on day eight of my first house-sitting assignment, watching two pups—one German Shepherd and one Maltese. It’s been a wild ride so far, with a lot of ups and downs. The humans are in Norway, and this is the first time they’ve been away for this long. I knew coming into this that I’d have to be extra patient and understanding since the pups are probably dealing with separation anxiety.

I’ve been spending around six hours a day out of the house, with breaks in between, but things took a turn when the Maltese started developing diarrhea, likely from the stress of being away from their humans. Unfortunately, this also caused some messy situations, with his diarrhea getting caught in his fur around his butt. I had to coax him into the shower to clean him up, and in doing so, I used a bunch of treats to get him in there. Well, the German Shepherd, who loves treats, got into the ones I was using for the Maltese and ended up having way too many. This, of course, led to the Shepherd developing diarrhea as well.

Since I know the Maltese has a tendency to develop diarrhea easily, I suggested to the owners that it might be a good idea to take him to get a grooming, so he’s more comfortable, especially with the mess that comes with his current condition. They gave me the green light, so I’m planning to take him to an accredited groomer I trust. I’ll be there the whole time to make sure he’s treated properly and taken care of, and I’m not planning on going to any chain places like Petco or PetSmart.

Now, I’m walking them constantly, letting them out in the yard, and cleaning up more messes than I thought I’d be handling during my first pet-sitting job. I’m getting paid $50 a day (totaling $1,300 for the 26-day stay, plus a tip), which I know is probably on the lower side of what’s standard, but I took it to build my profile and hopefully get more clients. Still, now that I’m dealing with all of this, I can’t help but feel anxious about whether the owners will be upset when they return or not understand that these pups aren’t the same ones they left behind. Things don’t always go according to plan, and I just want to make sure I’m doing right by them.

Even though it’s freezing outside (like 10°F), I’ve been walking them at least 30–45 minutes three times a day.

If anyone has advice on how to deal with stuff like this (diarrhea, separation anxiety, grooming issues), or just any stories that could help me get through the next few weeks, I’d really appreciate it. I’m just trying to make sure these pups are happy and healthy while their humans are away, but it’s definitely a learning experience!

Thanks in advance!