⚠️ The Sit: What Went Wrong
The dog looked small and manageable on the profile — a Jack Russell x Toy Terrier. But within days, the situation escalated into something dangerous:
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Resource guarding: Food brought out the worst in him. While he and the cat normally shared a bed peacefully, he became aggressive and territorial when food was involved. He would hunt the cat out of the kitchen, patrol the doors, and block re-entry, escalating tension in the home.
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Physical dominance: When he got up on the sofa next to me, he would throw his front paws at my chest with full force. He was small but surprisingly strong, and the behaviour felt like a show of dominance — not affection.
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Territorial aggression: He rammed my bedroom door at night. I had to barricade myself inside and monitor the hallway with a camera to feel safe.
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Unstable temperament: His response to commands was unpredictable — at times accepting, but just as often reactive or resistant.
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Concerning signs: I discovered sticks and a tennis racket in corners of several rooms — likely tools past carers used to fend him off.
Despite the owners being overseas, I contacted their emergency backup, secured the home, and informed the house-sitting platform. I also documented everything clearly to protect future sitters and my standing as a reliable carer.
What I’d Ask Next Time: Pre-Sit Questions to Spot Risky Behaviour
Even experienced sitters can get caught out. These are now non-negotiable questions I ask before accepting any sit with a dog:
1. How does your dog behave around food (yours and theirs)?
Listen for signs of:
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Resource guarding (growling, lunging, chasing other pets)
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Food anxiety or obsessive food-seeking
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Aggression when people or pets approach during meals
Some dogs are sweet most of the time — until food enters the equation. That’s when dominance or fear-based aggression can surface fast.
2. Has your dog ever shown aggressive or dominant behaviours?
Ask about:
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Jumping up with force or using their body to control space
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Blocking doorways or positioning themselves to “guard” people
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Bullying or chasing other pets — especially around high-value items like food or toys
Note: Dominant behaviours aren’t just bad manners — they can reflect a dog’s perception of who’s in charge. Dogs that don’t recognize a clear leadership structure may escalate their responses.
3. How does your dog respond to correction or commands?
You’re looking for:
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Volatile or reactive behaviour
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Resistance to redirection
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Whether commands are respected, ignored, or challenged
Trainers often point out that dogs like Jack Russells need clarity around who’s the teacher, and who’s the student. A treat-based response doesn’t always build respect — and with some dogs, affection doesn’t equal compliance.
4. What’s your dog’s usual routine around food, people, and pets?
Helps uncover:
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Whether the dog guards food bowls or people
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If pets are fed in separate areas or kept out of the kitchen
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Signs the household has developed workarounds for unresolved tension
5. Has your dog ever injured, frightened, or threatened someone?
You can follow up with:
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“What would you do if that behaviour happened again?”
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“How do you usually manage that behaviour?”
Bonus Tip: Trust the Clues in the Home
If you arrive and find:
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Items like sticks or tools in corners,
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Pets avoiding each other during key times (like meals),
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Closed doors or off-limits spaces without clear reason…
Pause. Observe. Ask. These are red flags that the environment may not be what was presented.
Final Thoughts
Leaving a sit is not failure — it’s the strongest boundary a sitter can set when safety is compromised. The more we speak up, the more we protect each other.
Let this experience be a guide to help others spot risks earlier, ask better questions, and enter each sit with the confidence to walk away when something isn’t right. You’re not there to fix it. You’re there to stay safe.