Elements of Dog Sitting

If you should ever elect to take care of multiple dogs, be warned: three dogs create a lot of noise and a lot of gas. Today was my last day of unemployment (we'll see how things go this week at the new job...) and we gladly took some friends' dogs while they were in Wisconsin. Allow me to break down the phases:

1. Getting used to a new environment/system/dog/food. This is the most chaotic part. You have to expect accidents and some minor skirmishes to establish a clear hierarchy. (Don't lose hope - it'll get cute in short time.)

2. Jealosy from the home team. Our dog is used to having our attention all to herself. She's a sweetheart - until other dogs are attracting some of that attention, too. Luckily, she's a herder and not a fighter, so there's no damage even when it sounds vicious. (Actually, our guests play harder.)

3. The ever-lasting first night. When there are new sounds and all the tension hasn't been resolved, any creak, air from the furnace duct, shift in bed - anything triggers investigation. And barking.

4. Calm after/before the storm. The next day is fairly calm because nobody got any sleep and everyone is pretty much sorted out as far a heirarchy goes. We did our best to keep them from napping (so we could get a break on the second night) but it was fruitless.

5. Second night. Miraculously, everyone slept. The pooches are getting along and/or know their respective place.

6. Last day. Familiarity breeds pack mentality. The fun today is the two guests wrestling and our dog barking at them. This has been going on for more than seven hours now. I can't make our dog stop barking. Intermittantly, something will move or make a slight noise outside which causes all of them to band together and bark in unison at the common enemy. The three-dog chase in the back yard is priceless. (Until one misjudges a fence post and comes up limping.)

Some further notes: my headphones are not the "noise-cancelling" variety. The three-dog chase in the back yard is priceless. (Until one misjudges a fence post and comes up limping.) Also, it's funny when our dog drops a room-clearing bomb. It's unbearable when three dogs pollute the air at the same time. We've used a lot of incense.