The Babysitter Substitution

Why make it hard for yourself? I'm sure that even if he suspected he was being babysat, the rationalisations of making the place look more lived-in and the sweetener of having that flexibility with coming home (as well as the occasional dishwashing) would soften him up.

Then you could have it that he doesn't break his ankle, but his leg. Meaning he has to have help around the house, not just with the dogs. So you can have him pissed that he's unable to do simple things... You could have the replacement sitter being a nursing student, which is why she was sent and not someone else.

always fun when a simple idea spawns many streams...