We're going away for a week in the summer and I've been looking for somewhere to have my younger dog. The dog training place we go to (which I've always found excellent) also does a pet sitting/ dog walking service. I thought I would use them because we've found them really good at the training classes and I have a lot of trust in the trainer.
Then today I heard something which truly shocked me. I was walking our dog with a friend who has just got a rescue dog. We were talking about classes and about holiday care/ kennels. I had recommended our dog trainers but she said she couldn't possibly use them. When I asked why not, she said her friend had employed them for dog walking (and also gone to training and agility classes there). One day she had been at home from work and popped to the shops round the corner. She was gone 5 minutes. When she got back the dog walker had been and left a note saying dog had had a lovely hour long walk, done x, y and z etc. All completely untrue as she'd only been gone a few minutes! They raised the roof and got a huge apology, flowers, dog gifts etc but the walker (same lady who runs our class and seems really genuine) couldn't give a reason why she'd done it or what had come over her (admitted pretending to walk the dog).
I feel I've lost trust in them a bit and not sure now where to look for for Poppy for the summer. I've had a couple of places recommended but the trouble is, dogs can't talk, so how do you really ever know how they've been treated? I'm sure people just recommend (as we did) because the people seem nice and genuine - but how do you know if your animal is just ignored once your back is turned? or badly treated? For all these people knew, their dog could have been going on these pretend walks for months.
I'm wondering whether to try and press gang and offer to pay friends or family rather than hand her over to what in essence are strangers. We don't have anyone who springs to mind - my parents have our older dog but they find Poppy too boisterous.
I'd be interested to hear the thoughts of all the wonderful experienced doggie people on here as I was really pretty shocked and am not sure what to make of it.
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The doghouse
Petsitters/ kennels - how do you ever really know what they're like?
7 replies
musicposy · 12/04/2011 18:41
OP posts:
Toughasoldboots ·
12/04/2011 20:14
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