Unruly Dog

[Anonymous]

I posted here before about the new family I was working for and how MB and DB don't scoop the dog poop in the backyard. My charge and I are unable to play back on the swings because it's just that disgusting. I know they're aware that they don't stay on top of it, because when grandma was in town, they asked her to do it . I've just been taking my charge to the local park and staying out of the yard.

Today, one of their dogs came barreling into the house with her paws absolutely covered in poop. They have a doggy door, and free range of the house, so the dog just came running in. She jumped on the couch and stepped on some clean laundry that was left out for me to fold before I could stop her. I had to take the dog outside and then block the dog door with some furniture so I could handle the mess before attempting to clean up the dog's paws. I proceeded to spend the next hour disinfecting and mopping the floor, cleaning the couch and rug the best I could, throwing the living room pillow covers into the washing machine along with the now dirty laundry, and then cleaning the windows outside because the dog had jumped up there with her filthy paws. Meanwhile, I had to plop my 2 year old charge in front of the TV (which is only supposed to be watched when sick, but I didn't know what else to do) in a high chair so I could clean up without him getting into any poop.

It was a disastrous morning to say the least, and I know I need to have a discussion with MB and DB, but I hate confrontation. On the one hand, I know they couldn't really help what happened, but at the same time I feel like if they scooped the yard like they should, the dog probably wouldn't have stepped in poop in the first place. Not only that, but this is a fairly young puppy - not even a year old - and they didn't have her (or mention their plans on getting her) when they hired me. They're gone 50 hours a week, and the dog is not crate trained, so I literally have nowhere to leave her when my charge and I go out. She is destructive on top of everything else and every time we come home from being out, she has chewed up more of my charge's books.

The icing on the cake today was when I took my charge upstairs to change his diaper and found poop from a previous diaper change all over the top inside of the diaper genie. I'm not sure if it was an oversight, or if they left it there hoping I would clean it up. Either way, I am at the end of my rope and would appreciate any advise you have to give.

[Anonymous]

Gross.

I think you should just start looking for a new job - quietly, but quickly. Then give them reasonable notice and move on.

[Anonymous]

This would be an absolute deal breaker for me. I don't work for families with dogs in the first place, because I don't particularly like them and refuse to be in charge of dealing with a dog while working - but this is awful. I would start looking for a new job ASAP.

[Anonymous]

OP here, that is what my friend said as well. *Sigh* And the thing is, I love dogs. I have one at home, and I make sure his back yard is cleaned regularly because that is what a responsible pet owner does.

[Anonymous]

anonymously call the city health department on them for their feces filled backyard. They will receive a warning for it and if called again a fine. This will probably open their eyes to the issue.

I had a horrible neighbor I was fighting with do this to me and my yard was clean.

I would also start charging them a fee for every dog incident that happens.

Start looking for a new job too. They are not good pet owners.

[Anonymous]

While you are looking for a job, but a used crate and crate train the damn thing. Only let it out to use the bathroom a couple times a day and run in the yard for an hour.. If the dog is being loud stick the crate in the garage if it's not to cold.

[Anonymous]

OP : they have a crate (although I don't know where they put it) but told me the dog doesn't "like" it.

[Anonymous]

I forgot to ask, how could I work in a fee for dog related incidents? After naptime today, my charge and I brought all the books up to his room so the dog would not have access to them. I'm tired of cleaning up chewed up books!

[Anonymous]

Of course the dog doesn't like it. You train it to like it. I've crate trained a few dogs. You put the crate in one spot with comfy bed and toys inside. When you start training give it a kong toy with a treat inside everytime you put it in the crate. This makes the crate a positive space. Ignore the dogs whines. Take it out every two hours to pee/poop in the yard with a 15min play session then back in the crate for another two hours. You do this schedule for a few weeks and the dog will get used to the routine. I would flat out them you will look for another position if this dog is not trained.

[Anonymous]

I'd also recommend that they hire a poop removal service and hand them a list of companies that handle them. Tell them the yard is not sanitary. You got to stick up for yourself and control this situation. They are avoiding dealing with it. Since you're willing to quit than you have nothing to lose by being assertive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This would be an absolute deal breaker for me. I don't work for families with dogs in the first place, because I don't particularly like them and refuse to be in charge of dealing with a dog while working - but this is awful. I would start looking for a new job ASAP.

+1 I don't mind taking care of my own animals, but I don't want to be required to do so at work. So I try to find jobs in pet free homes. This stems from a family I worked for getting a puppy without even asking/telling me who I was expected to care for without any additional compensation.

[Anonymous]

Eek.

Gross.

You must have a strong stomach OP, because I feel really ill just by reading your post.

You have no choice but to speak to the parents ASAP.

Not so much so regarding the diaper genie thing unless it happens often, but more so the dog incident. Let them know about the huge mess you had to clean up and that it is just too much to have to clean up after both the dog while caring for the young child.

See how they react. Do they apologize, offer you more compensation for the extra work, then promise to start cleaning up the dog poop more?

Or do they simply brush it off like it is nothing too important?

How they react should tell you whether or not you want to stay in this job.

[Anonymous]

OP here - I let them know what happened and they very much brushed it off like it was no big deal. When I told them I washed the pillow covers on the couch they said "Oh, you didn't have to do that." Um, what was the alternative? MB asked the dog if she gave me a "big kiss" for cleaning up her mess.

[Anonymous]

Oh gross!

I wouldn't work in a fee, I would just find another job. I can't help wondering how often this has happened and how long it sat there before they cleaned it.

I would also call the SPCA. The dog is not living in proper conditions.

[Anonymous]

You need to be very assertive. Tell them that these working conditions are unacceptable and they need to train the dog or find a new nanny. You sound extremely passive by allowing them to demean your concerns. Start looking for a new job and give them an ultimatum