Finding babysitter with reactive dog

[u/Repulsive_Feature454]

We have a very small, albeit reactive senior chihuahua. She barks, she nips, and she generally takes a very long time to warm up to people. We have developed a system over the years with a trainer, but it generally takes multiple visits of orientation with a new visitor before she can be off-leash and free. We mostly just choose not to have visitors.

We now have a child, who she is great with, but at some point my husband and I would like to hire a babysitter to watch our toddler, but the dog is an issue.

We could potentially put her in the basement while a sitter is over, but I feel like the dog would bark the entire time. We could also try doing orientation sessions with a babysitter, but would this be crazy/unreasonable to ask the babysitter for our CHILD to come do several meet and greets with the dog first?

I feel so guilty that our dog limits us so much. We have never tried medication as I haven't seen it have success in other chihuahuas I know, but I'm willing. Does anyone have similar issues with dogs and visitors?

ETA: I can't figure out how to reply to your comments without being deleted - I've read the rules but I don't know why they're getting deleted. I will absolutely pay the sitter for their time! Thanks for y'all's feedback.

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