Sensitive Pets and the Bonding Process Whilst Housesitting

Is separation anxiety in pets a real thing?

Pets are sensitive wee creatures and separation anxiety is definitely a thing. Since we’ve been pet and housesitting our way around the world we’ve come to really understand this. It affects pets in different ways but in our experience it’s easily managed.

In order to mitigate the anxiety in pets there are three must dos in the bonding process.

His name is Wuzza and he’s a rescue dog. There’s nothing unusual about that. Many of the animals we’ve cared for whilst housesitting over the past two years have been rescues.

In our experience it usually takes about 48 hours for the separation anxiety in pets we are caring for to subside and for a connection to be established.

Not this time though!

We were forewarned that Wuzza’s life prior to being rescued was a sad and lonely one as a caged breeding dog. His new owner had done an incredible job of rehabilitating this wee man and had specific instructions for us on how best to bond.

His daily routine was simple. Wake about 7am, outside to toilet. Breakfast is 8am, walk in the park between 8 and 9. Loved to be outside during the day, lying in the sun and barking at anything and everything. Inside about 4.30 — 5 for dinner. Then bed at 9pm in the porch with pyjamas and hot water bottle.

Easy peasy!

We were advised not to make eye contact with Wuzza, but to offer treats at every opportunity until the bond was established.

However, the reality of this process was not quite as simple. In that first 48 hours he hid from us, outside. Every time we approached him he scampered to another safe place.

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