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[quote=Anonymous]I recently started working with a new family, first time parents with an infant (now four months old). I started a few weeks ago, and MB has been asking me to send frequent updates and check ins to her via text. Mostly everything has gone well, so most of my updates are about his milk intake, walks we took, etc.

Their dog, a lab puppy (MB confessed to me that they went and bought an 8 week old puppy the week after she found out she was expecting) has been something of a challenge. I told MB and DB the day of the interview that the dog was the one thing that concerned me about the position. She isn't aggressive, but she is very active, barks a lot, and is just a handful. MB and DB assured me that she is going to start mellowing out soon (she's a year old now), and said I could put her in the backyard if she got too annoying.

Well she's always under foot; I can't put the baby down in his play mat or she either walks on top of him or will chew on the baby's toys, etc. When I try to leave her in the backyard she barks non-stop.  I don't want to take her on walks because MB has said she tugs on the leash too much and frankly I don't want to pick up the dogs poop, but really walking the dog shouldn't be my responsibility (their backyard is big, I try to throw her toys so she chases them in the yard but every time she brings the toys back it's a long tug of war struggle that gets annoying and I don't have time for that when I've got the baby to care for. Also I work a later shift, 11am-6:30pm, and MB had told me she would "make sure to take the dog for a long walk" before I arrive but the last two times I showed up she "hadn't had time" so she hadn't been walked and had extra energy).

Anyway, the last two days MB had texted me asking how things were going,  and I told her the truth: the baby is doing great (drank x ounces, etc) but the dog has been whining and barking a lot and woke him up from his naps early barking outside his door. When DB (who relieves me) arrived home yesterday he gave me a big lecture about how I just have to accept that she's a puppy and sometimes she wakes up the baby.  He asked me if I was "uncomfortable" working with their family because of the dog, and made a really big deal about it. Although I do find the dog frustrating it was never a deal breaker for me and I don't want to stop working for them because of her! If anything I had hoped my complaining would make MB realize how important it is to take her for a morning walk before I arrive. Their baby is so adorable and a happy little guy; the dog is annoying but not the end of the world.

I assured DB that I had just been trying to update MB (as she requested) with what was going on at home and that it wasn't that big of a deal to me and I understand she's a puppy, and I think still getting used to me, etc. He said okay, have a good night. On the way home I texted MB who was still at work to say I'm sorry if I upset her, I wasn't that upset about the dog and we're still getting used to each other, and so forth. I ended the text with "Can't wait to see you and DS on Tuesday, have a great weekend! :)" She replied with "That's okay! Thanks for your help."

I know I'm reading into this a lot but isn't it strange she didn't say anything like see you soon or see you Tuesday? I really hope they won't replace me because of issues with the dog or because they think I'm complaining too much?? Assuming that I don't get a text from them telling me we're not a good fit, next time if she asks for an update I feel like I should definitely not mention the dog and just pretend everything is fine even if it isn't. What do you make of all this? [/quote]

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