Live-in with dog problems.

[Anonymous]

I'm a live-in nanny working with a fantastic family with a beautiful 18mo, and have no complaints about my bosses or my charge. I do, however, have an issue with the family dog, an old poodle. I like dogs, and don't mind having her around. However, the dog stays in the basement where my quarters are, and at night she yelps and whines. It wasn't so bad at first -- a tap on the door would quiet her, and she didn't do it every night. But over the last few weeks it's grown increasingly irritating. Yelping every night, in the wee hours of the morning, and especially yelping when the parents are up on weekend mornings and haven't brought the dog up to feed her yet. Just now, as I'm typing this, she's been whining for fifteen minutes.

And she pees and poops all over the basement floor, and occasionally against my door. The parents clean up after her once every day or two, but I hate getting out of bed and stepping in a puddle of pee that's run under the door.

What are some ways I can bring this up to the parents? I don't want to have to quit this job over something so trivial, but the lost sleep is driving me batty. Particularly on weekends!

[Anonymous]

OMG it sounds like they aren't taking care of that dog! That's horrible If it were me I'd be annoyed but I'd probably be the one to do it because my heart would break for the poor animal.

[Anonymous]

Just be direct about it. Dog is doing xyz and the result is abc...sleep deprivation, steppin in dog pee, smell etc. Be honest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a live-in nanny working with a fantastic family with a beautiful 18mo, and have no complaints about my bosses or my charge. I do, however, have an issue with the family dog, an old poodle. I like dogs, and don't mind having her around. However, the dog stays in the basement where my quarters are, and at night she yelps and whines. It wasn't so bad at first -- a tap on the door would quiet her, and she didn't do it every night. But over the last few weeks it's grown increasingly irritating. Yelping every night, in the wee hours of the morning, and especially yelping when the parents are up on weekend mornings and haven't brought the dog up to feed her yet. Just now, as I'm typing this, she's been whining for fifteen minutes.

And she pees and poops all over the basement floor, and occasionally against my door. The parents clean up after her once every day or two, but I hate getting out of bed and stepping in a puddle of pee that's run under the door.

What are some ways I can bring this up to the parents? I don't want to have to quit this job over something so trivial, but the lost sleep is driving me batty. Particularly on weekends!

Another exciting perk of living-in:

Squabbling parents
Stomping kids
Peeing/Pooping dog at your bedroom door

[Anonymous]

Yes, this is an older poodle so she needs to be taken out more than she did as a youngster, she can't hold it as long (people totally forget this when their dog hits those older years)

she also might be getting a bit of senility, and will whine in the middle of the night (or outright bark) - sometimes this can be cured with a few nightlights, as it's sometimes because they are disoriented and "lost" in the dark. I know, sounds crazy, but we cured our ancient golden retriever of this with a nightlight in every light socket in the house.

But I'd be direct, and I'd expect that the dog would be better cared for. Period. Or I'd leave. Because I can't stand this, and I can't stand it when people don't take care of their older animals once they have children!

Or I'd also be part of the solution (although it would piss be off, pardon the pun). Because I couldn't stand it when she'd whine like that, I'd march up those stairs, open the door to the basement, and say that "Missy needs to go out, she's been whining" and then I'd open the door and let her out (if their yard is fenced). Or I'd expect that they would now do the right thing and walk the poor dog. BUT I'd only do this after I'd had an honest conversation about what's happening downstairs. And I'd look for and find another job.

[Anonymous]

I'm PP - There are many cute 18 month olds out there, it's the best age! But mistreating their older poodle wouldn't work for me. Period.

[Anonymous]

Make them keep their pet and shit upstairs.

[Anonymous]

Tell them you'll be wearing ear plugs at night because of the dog and if they need you, they'll need to physically come down and wake you. Hopefully they'll get the hint, but if not, maybe they'll come downstairs and step in the pee themselves.

[Anonymous]

Does anyone realize this thread was from 18 months ago?

[Anonymous]

I'd be direct and say what the dog is doing and what the result is worth regard to lost sleep, lost enjoyment of your space etc. I'd that didn't work I'd find another job. The PP is right about the light too. Try leaving a light on at night and see if that helps. The pooping and leaving us is unacceptable and I'd be very direct about that needing to change.

[Anonymous]

The dog should be put down. Horrible people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone realize this thread was from 18 months ago?

Yes, a bored poster has been resurrecting old threads. So annoying.

[Anonymous]

Good to consider some of the many so-called perks of living-in.