Dog Owners: Please Help

As a dog owner I would want to know, and I would offer to pay for it.
As a dogsitter, I would tell them about the incident, and if they offer to pay for it cool, if they don't I'd deal with it myself.

If my dog did this I would want to know--I mean it could even be a health issue--and I would absolutely want to pay for it! My dog is getting old and he wet the bed once too :(

I'm not a dog owner, but I have a cat so...... as the owner of a pet I would DEFINITELY want to know if my pet did something like that. I would feel terrible if I found out later that my friend had a dry cleaning bill because of my pet! Bring it up in a nice way. Hopefully they'll feel obligated to pay (I totally would!)

Please don't do anything passive-aggressive. That is, if you want them to pay for the cleaning and you will hold a grudge if they do not, then tell them what you want. Don't tell them what happened with the expectation that they will offer to pay because you might be disappointed and so begins a downward spiral in the friendship.
I was at the receiving end of your situation. I told the dog-sitter that I would pay for the cleaning and she said "no, don't be silly." I had paid her for the sitting and thought nothing of it. Years later, I heard from someone else that she was upset that I did not pay for the cleaning. UGH - I am not a mind-reader.
Anyway, as a dog owner, I would want to know. As an owner of only down comforters and duvets for many years, I wash them once a year without problems (only in a drum washer - nothing with an agitator), but you just have to dry them thoroughly as others have noted. Good luck.
C.

I used to work in a down shop. The label says dry clean for liability reasons. The dry cleaners know to wash it, but you can do it on your own. The best thing to do, if you don't have a large washer, is go to a laundry facility that has an over-sized washer (most laundries have a couple machines that are overly large), use a very gentle cleaner, and rinse a couple extra times. The key is to make sure it is completely dry (on low heat so you don't burn the outer part) or it will mildew. The tennis balls in the dryer trick mentioned earlier are a good idea. After the dryer, I always drape mine over furniture for a day or two and shake periodically to make sure the air can circulate.

If you don't want to go to all this trouble, the dry cleaners is an option. Also, pet stores sell a spray enzyme that is supposed to eliminate urine. I haven't tried this on my down, but it may work if you just want to clean the spot.

Personally, I wouldn't tell the dog owners. I would feel that I was responsible for the dog's whereabouts while watching him and therefore it is my responsibility to clean up his mess.

If he were my dog, I'd want to know. I'd also want to pay for the damage to your home if I could - just as if he'd chewed a leg off a dining room chair! I'd also be terrifically embarrassed, so I hope you have lots of good things you can tell the owners about their doggy, too.

honestly, considering these are your neighbors, and you actually like them, i wouldnt say anything. when having someone elses pet in your care, you are responsible for deciding where the dog can and cant go. never even leave them in a carpeted, or upholstered area for a second.

i guess you dont have a dog? put it this way, even when you have a dog that is trained, they still sometimes pee somewhere they shouldnt. this is especially true of bringing a dog to someone elses home.

he actually may like you so much he is marking your area as his property. sometimes dogs pee on beds out of spite, other times because they are showing their love.

just one work of advice, make sure it didnt get to your mattress. you also should smell the area of the duvet to make sure the smell is gone. even when you wipe up all the pee(even human pee), it leaves crystals behind which actually cause smells to reappear in humidity. i know the comforter said dry clean only, i would ask them about the pee and make sure they treat that area. months from now, on a humid day, you might notice a little scent otherwise. good luck, it really sucks!!!

That stinks but they cant really be responsible for what the dog does in your home under your care. I would close all doors from now on.

Animals don't really have any concept of getting even, or peeing because they're mad. Usually it's a stress response (either super happy, or super unhappy). Being that this dog's "people" are gone, he is probably afraid. He doesn't know his people are only on vacation and are coming back. As far as he's concerned, they've gone forever and have left him in a new place with new people, including small, loud people... it's stressful for him. As such, he shouldn't be left unattended on carpet, near furniture, or with the kids. This might be totally out of character behavior for him, or maybe he does this all the time at home (if so, they should have warned you). I would just tell the owners when they return, "Muggsy missed you so much! He got so sad that he even peed on my comforter!" That way you aren't blaming them, but it lets them know what happened. I'm sure they will offer to pay for the dry cleaning. If not, you can decline the next time they ask you to dog-sit.

I would say nicely: that the dog was great but he peed on your comforter and unfortunately you had to get it dry cleaned.. HOPEFULLY that will give the owners the step up to say that they will pay for it~

If I were the dog owner, I would WANT to know that happened. I would without a doubt insist on paying but that's just me.

When they ask about the dog sitting you can say "Everything was fine except you will never believe this! Fido, or whatever the dog's name is, (LOL) went pee on my brand new comforter and I had to immediately take it to the cleaners. Gosh and I have no idea what I'll have to pay until I pick it up." Basically repeat the story as you have told us on your post.

You know them best. How do you think they would respond to that?

Best of luck!!!

honestly, i am not sure i would bother to mention it...you took on the responsibility of watching the dog, and dogs do get on furniture/beds sometimes. if it was me i'd feel like i should have kept the dog out of the bedroom...but i don't think i could really expect them to pay for it. can you not just spot wash the comforter?

Oh, how upsetting. I'm so sorry you had this happen. I agree that the owners can't be responsible for what areas of your home the dog gets into – they're not there to control the dog.

Since you say the pee spot is small, try treating it yourself before you assume it has to be dry cleaned. Get some pet enzyme stain remover like Nature's Miracle. Put several layers of clean paper or an old towel under the spot, and blot the cleaner into it with a small rag. Then blot fresh water through to rinse. Repeat a few times if necessary.

By the time it dries, there may be no stain or smell detectable. I've known a few indoor pet owners who have success with this method for pee, and worse, in carpets.

Good luck.

I would definitely tell the owners. I would absolutely want to know if my dog behaved in that manner. I have heard, and agree with the fact that when dogs do that on your bed, they are not so much as marking their territory but being slightly aggressive. I think the dog is pissed! And if he were my dog, I would want to know that about him.

I hope they offer to pay for the cleaning, if not a replacement (I would and I would be highly embarrassed and feel really bad... I LOVE my bed and take great pride and pleasure making it my perfect place and I spend a ton of money on my bedding!!-I hope it didn't soak into your mattress?)...after all you are doing them a favor and nobody assumes that a dog is gonna jump up and pee on your bed. I would go into it with the assumption that they are NOT going to offer to pay but if they do accept and be grateful!

Definitely keep your doors closed, all of them, the kids' doors too! Make sure he is getting enough exercise and keep your eye on him...especially around your kids...if he is indeed upset you do not want there to be any trouble with him and your kids! Even the most well behaved dogs can lash out at people/kids if they are feeling abandoned and uncertain of their new environment!

I would tell the owners, they should (or I would) offer to pay, but i wouldn't nessecarly expect it. My husbands (then boyfriends) dog peed on my bedroom pillow when I first moved in with him. She was not very happy that I was there hehe. I would shut all the bedroom doors and maybe give the dog a little extra attention, sounds like he is having a hard time being in a new enviroment. maybe walk him if you are not already doing so. Sorry that it happened, I know it sucks when you are trying to do something nice and something crappy happens in the process. ((HUGS))

i would tell them, and it goes without saying that i'd do it nicely and without accusation. in their shoes i'd want to know and to make it right. if it causes tension you'll have to decide whether or not the relationship is worth keeping (sounds like it is) and perhaps compromise, but if my dog did this to a friend i would absolutely consider my responsibility as the dog owner to make it right. so sorry about your lovely new stuff! that....er.......stinks.
khairete
S.

Tell the owners-they need to be responsible for their dog! Try not to give the dog an opportunity to do it again. If you don't hold them accountable-it will slowly eat away at your friendship-yes, even a little thing like that...

Tell the cleaners what the stain is and tell the dog owner and be aware he has marked his territory. It would only be right for them to offer to pay. Shut your bedroom door and keep him out of there. Is he getting enough attention? He could just be pissed that his owners are gone and he is in a new home. Animals get mad too and they get even.

I wash my own down comforter (says dry clean) in cold, Woolite and dry with tennis balls in the dryer...it doesn't take nearly as long as some others have said--maybe mine is not as puffy?
BUT if I were the dog's owner I would want to know and would be mortified to know my dog peed on your new stuff & was unaware of it. I would INSIST on paying for the cleaning or a new O.--whichever you prefer.
(Keep the bedroom doors closed! This dog is obviously peed off!)

Tell the owners. I know that as a dog owner, if my dog messed up anything at our sitters house I would not dream of letting them pay to have it fixed, I would insist on paying. We just had to leave our dog with friends for 4 weeks while my husband had surgery in anther state. We did not get any reports like this, but if we had I would have reached for my wallet right away. Ask, and I am sure they will pay for the cleaning.

I would let them know just that it happened, but I wouldn't expect them to pay for it. As owners they will probably want to know that it happened and if there is any more inappropriate urination they may want it checked out by a vet. They will most likely offer and if needs to be dry cleaned maybe split the cost of it is expensive to clean or if it is not too much tell them not to worry about it. It looks like you have already gotten advice on how to clean it. I'm another nature's miracle lover and we buy it by the gallon, perfect for all kinds of clean up.

Lol... I love what momwithcamera said about animals getting even... So true.

Mention it and if they don't offer to pay for all of it, maybe ask them to pay for half of it. It's partially your fault for letting the dog in your bedroom (Though it sounds as though he kinda snuck in there while you were putting your kids down for a nap).

I would do both: tell the owners and be prepared to take care of it myself. Try the remedies others have mentioned. My dog has bladder issues (stones) but when she initially started peeing on things, I didn't know that. If i'd known, I could have avoided a $600 surgery + other related costs. So tell them, make sure they know it could be a health concern, but don't expect them to pay. If it was my dog, I'd offer to help pay to clean it if you couldn't do it yourself, and if you could, I'd just up your pay a bit. One time my dog got sick when we were on vacation and so I paid the girl an extra $50 (in our house). We have a Hyla, so when my dog pees on furniture or something that can't go in the washer, we use that. An upholstery attachment on a carpet cleaner would also work. You simply put the comforter on the floor, with a towel under the stained spot. You pour warm water around hte outside of the spot (NOT in the middle!-it will spread it out and make the spot bigger) and then vacuum up the liquid (with the carpet cleaner upholstery attachment), this time starting from the center of the spot. Make sure to vacuum several times to get the excess liquid out, and then let air dry. You can repeat it as many times as you need to get the stain out, and no chemicals are added to your comforter that may discolor fabric.

If my dog was staying at your house and you were doing me a favor I would pay for it. I would not expect for you to pay for it. In the future though keep the dog in one location "family room" with gates etc. :)

R they paying you to watch the dog?? if so use that money to help pay for the cleaning...if not then tell them what happend..hopefully (and they should) volunteer to give you money to pay for the cleaning since you DID help watch their dog while they were out. If they dont then I say suck it up and pay for the professional cleaning but then I wouldnt offer to watch their dog...I would conveniently be busy if they ever asked again

I have 3 dogs and always hire friends to watch my dogs in my house. I am gratefully that they do it for me and if my dog did somthing like this, I would absolutely want to know about it and would definetely pay for it.
In one instance, I had a friend get a parking ticket outside my house while he was inside feeding my dogs, even though there was not a single car parked on that side of the street and all the other cars were on the opposite side, he still parked on the wrong side and got a ticket. I could tell he was not happy about it and so I offered to pay for it and did. Even though, this was not something my dog did, but the dog sitter himself, I did not want to lose him as a sitter and have sore feelings between us. But in your case, the dog did it entirely and I am sure the owners will not have any problem paying for it. If not, I would just pay for the bedding to get cleaned and not mention it to you friends, its not worth the stress sometimes. Hope this helps and good luck.

Nature's Miracle will take any stain or odor out. Of course, if it's dry clean only and it was expensive, you would still be getting it wet so it could still have a water mark. Most of the comforters that I have inside of duvets aren't worth the cost of drycleaning so I would just go ahead and clean up with Nature's Miracle. Of course, I have a house full of animals and deal with this kind of thing all the time, I imagine it's a little more fretful for you if you aren't used to four legged friends and it was new! So sorry! PS: If you were watching my dog I would have it drycleaned for you.

As a dog owner and someone who dog sits on occasion. I think your bed is your responsibility. You allowed it on your bed and the owners had no control over that but you did. When watching other peoples pets or children you have to think what behavior may come from them being in a new unfamiliar environment. Think about taking the dog out more and give it his own place like a bathroom. After taking it outside give it some time to play in your home, but not the entire house. Then after a period of time put it on a little bed in a bathroom with a closed door or baby gate. Too much space can be overwhelming for a dog. Remember no one feels the same everyday . It may have been fine one day and insecure the next day. Give it a schedule and boundaries just like we do with our kids.

that's a touchy one.
Because it definitely could have been avoided by keeping rooms' doors closed.. where dog should be kept out.. We live and we learn.
I was pet sitting two dogs, my male cat was upset at us ( or perhaps just too afraid to go down to the litter box which was in the vicinity of the dogs ) and pee'd upon our bed, which is horrid (cat pee is the WORST) - Fortunately APPLE CIDER VINEGAR (1/4 cup in the wash) did it.
I just don't think its their fault.
Its very hard watching pets (as it is to watch children)
and I think maybe the caretaker is suppose to consider all risks when taking on the job. Sorry this happened to you honey , BEST WISHES

PS: one time I found a loose dog, and when the owners found my ad and came to get the dog, I'd mentioned that it got excited and dripped pee on the carpet. He sent a carpet shampoo company right out (but that's a little different, they were grateful I had found the lost doggy)

I would just mention what the dog did and mention that you had to have it dry cleaned. If someone told me my dog did that I would offer to pay without you asking. I'm sure they will want to know how the time went and just be honest. Good luck.

If you take your comforter to the laundry mat it won't take as long to dry..Riley is really dedicated to put in all that effort! I wouldn't do it...I'd either pay or take it to the mat...their machines are bigger so it's easier and faster to dry.

I would probably mention it to the owners, but don't be surprised if they don't offer to pay for it. Are they paying you to take care of the dog or is this a favor? If their paying you, I guess that cost could towards that, but if not, you'll just have to see. Maybe they'll split it with you.

If my dog did that, I w/expect you to tell me and offer to pay for dry cleaning. I might suggest you use the Dryel product in your clothes dryer. I'm not sure what the process is at dry cleaners but it might be similar and w/save a lot of money.

If I was the dog's owner, I wouldn't have a problem paying for the dry cleaning. Just get it cleaned, save the receipt and ask them if they could reimburse you. Just saying -- as a former dog owner -- it wouldn't be an issue for me. I would feel badly that he did that and it wouldn't hurt our relationship unless you asked me in a way that would seem very put out about it. It all depends on your relationship with them. If it would seem petty to bring it up, then I would just get it cleaned and not worry about it.

It's a typical reaction of a dog when it is upset about something -- probably that its owners are not around. I would shut him out of the bedrooms for the rest of the time you have him and crate him if you need to when you aren't watching him. Also, just in case you need it, the enzyme cleaners that they sell at pet stores (read PetsMart) are really effective for residual smells or, if for example, he pees on a carpet or couch.

I agree completely with Kelley A. and would also ask you the following question. Is it possible the dog had tried to get your attention to signal he needed to go out and you weren't picking up on his cues? You said you were putting the kids down. He might have felt like he tried to tell you, but you weren't getting it so he took care of his business. He might have known not to go on the floor, so the bed seemed like the best he could do under the circumstances. I have a friend who told me the story of her dog repeatedly trying to get her attention. She was trying to take a nap so she ignored the dog. The dog finally hopped up on her on the bed and peed on her. She hasn't ignored him since. Maybe you should consider yourself lucky:)

I would also mention what the dog had done and if they are upstanding people they will probably offer to have it cleaned. If not you should just take care of it yourself since these things do happen when you offer to dog sit for someone. They are animals not people. If you go to your local pet supply they many times have solutions that will take these stains out.

Tell them, but also admit that you shouldn't have had the dog in the bedroom unsupervised, so be ready to pay the whole price for the cleaning, but accept their offer to pay HALF the cost--if they offer. That way they'll feel better about something their dog did, but you'll come out responsible and covered at the same time. At least, that's what I'd do as dogsitter (and want to do as owner) on both sides of the situation. I'm sure they'd want you to sit again for them in the future. You'll be more willing knowing they'll take responsibility for their dog, and they'll feel good having you do it. Good luck.

Just to know... I wash my duvet every month... but I also wash all the down comforters in my house every 3-4 months (We have a total of 6 down comforters). They just go in the machine, and when you put them in the dryer add 3 tennis balls. The balls bounce around and restore the loft/ keep feathers from clumping and not drying properly. When you THINK it's dry, let it dry for 2-3 more hours. Done. Easy. Just time consuming. With the king down comfoter, it takes about 10 hours to dry totally. The twins dry in about 4.

(That's also how dry cleaners wash and dry down comforters.)

As a dog owner, I'd be more than happy to split the cost of dry cleaning or pay for it entirely (aka my friends would probably ask for half "Hey, I was wondering if you'd be willing to split the drycleaning bill ..." and I'd offer to pay all of it or launder it myself in my machine if theirs wasn't big enough, and they'd counter, etc. and depending on the friends, would determine whether I was washing it, paying for half, or for full), even though I know the same thing could be accomplished for a couple bucks added onto the electrical bill. They're doing me a favor by watching my dog, and saving me several hundred in kennel fees... so whatever THEY felt happiest with... I would do.

This is a hard one, but if I were in your position I would probably suck it up and pay for it myself. It is a hard call because you don't want to ask them to pay for it, but really you think that they should. Ultimately it is just a risk you take when taking care of other peoples animals and sometimes children:) You could tell them about it and be very light hearted about the whole situation and maybe they will just offer to pay for it. Good luck, sorry I couldn't be anymore help:)

I have dogs of my own, and I would definately offer to pay, so I would tell the owner. If they are good friends, I don't think you should have a problem. If you do, than I guess you know how much they value your friendship and help with the dog.

I'm an easy going person and if my dog did this to a friends bed I would want to know so I could replace it. I would say your dog was a joy to have and we'd watch him/her again but next time I need to close my bedroom door. Your dog likes beds and had an accident. Then wait and see what their reply is, I would hope they would offer to pay for the cleaning or buy another one for you. If they don't offer to a thing I wouldn't watch their dog in the future unless it's at their house where you go daily to check on it. I hope this doesn't ruin a friendship with your neighbor.

I would definitely tell them. You may also want to put him outside or close doors when you can't watch him. He may be mad at his owners and taking it out on you.

I would want to know and would be never mind paying to clean it or replace it if my dogs did that. Keep the bedroom doors closed he may be mad that his owners are gone our dogs get angry if we leave for just a little while so we have to close the bedroom doors they don't pee on the bed but they have destroyed many pillows and they have also peed on the one bedroom that is carpeted like they know it is more of a pain to clean that then the wood floor...ugh.

Krista C.

It depends on how close you are with your friends. Honesty is usually the best policy as long as you bring it up in a rather light manner. If you are already willing to pay for it yourself and not tell them, then you may as well, simply ask them for some advice on treating the spot. As dog owners they may have a few tricks up their sleeve for that and by asking in such a manner, it will let them know about the issue without you coming out and asking for them to cover the bill. They may turn around and insist they cover it. And by bringing it out in this way, it will keep from being an issue that festers in the friendship (unknowingly to your friends). On a side note, as a cat owner, I can tell you that an animal peeing directly on your bed is specifically trying to get your attention for some reason. Good luck.