How to Pet Sit a Crazy Dog!

For the past four days I have been pet sitting (or dog sitting as I prefer to call it) for one crazy dog- a one year old Golden Doodle named Riley. I have no shame in writing this blog because I know that if his "mom" ever read it, she would agree with me 110%. He is out of his mind.

Being a very young and very big dog, he is completely different from my own little, quiet Eddie. You would think this would make for a terrible combination, but they get along surprisingly well. It must be true what they say about opposites being attracted to each other. Riley is absolutely full to the brim with energy, and no matter how long he is out walking or frolicking around, he still comes back inside tugging at the leash with his mouth, ready to run and play more! And let me tell you, when he wants to play, he can be quite bossy about it- getting about six inches from my face and barking as loud as possible. He is a very well trained dog (he knows sit, down, and stay really well), but he has very bad manners.

My husband, Craig, and I have been trying our hardest this week to teach him how to properly get attention from a person, and the art of personal space. It's pretty difficult in a strange house with another dog and in such a short period of time to accomplish these goals, though. Unfortunately, Riley returns home tomorrow and he'll be going back home exactly the way he came- a very crazy dog! And we'll go back to our normal routine with our shy little dog.

My best advice for those of you that happen to dog sit a dog that is the polar opposite of what you're used to: take lots of deep breaths! And although I don't feel this way now, I am sure when tomorrow afternoon rolls around, Riley will be missed just like all of the others that have stayed with us.