How Do I Keep My Housekeeper Safe From My Dog?
Housekeepers and other service professionals who may visit your home are at first strangers to your dog. Depending on how well-socialized your pet is, the meetings could be disastrous for both your dog and the housekeeper. Keep in mind that not everyone loves animals, and most professionals want to do their job effectively and quickly before moving on to the next client.
Wendy Nan Rees and Kristen Hampshire, co-authors of Dog Lover’s Daily Companion: 365 Days of Tips, Tricks, and Techniques for Living a Rich Life With Your Dog offer some great tips to ensure safe and comfortable dealings with housekeepers and other workers. Based on their advice, try doing the following:
- Be at home during the first few visits. You want to be there to introduce your dog and so that you can step in should there be a problem.
- If need be, place your dog in its crate, offering a treat and praise. Having your dog in its crate is a courtesy to your worker. Stay near your dog so that it knows everything is OK.
- Request that your housekeeper use dog-friendly cleaning products, and provide them if necessary.
- Give your housekeeper some of your dog’s favorite treats during the first visits. Having your dog’s favorite treats at hand will help him, or her win over your pet from the start.
- Vacuum cleaners and other noisy appliances can often scare pets. Keep your dog preoccupied during such moments first, which will help it realize that nothing scary or problematic is going on in your house.
- Provide your housekeeper with any special instructions about your dog’s play, feeding, and sleeping areas.
- When dogs bark and become anxious, they are often busy guarding you. If you are at ease, your dog will probably be too.
If your housekeeper is at all troubled by your dog, or if your dog doesn’t get used to this individual’s presence after the first few appointments, you probably will need to crate or otherwise contain your dog on cleaning days. Consider having a neighbor, friend, or other helpmate do this if you need to be gone for long periods during the day.
Article written by Author: The Dog Daily Expert
