Anyone used BorrowMyDog or similar?

[PippaFawcett]

I am a potential borrower, I work ft and our house is tiny and we have young DC so getting our own dog isn't possible right now. I have just looked at BorrowMyDoggy and it looks like it could work well - I could walk early morns/evenings/weekends with the children etc.

Has anyone used the site? My problem would be that my hours are erratic so the walks I offer should be on top of the dog's daily requirement which might not work for someone.

[lilwelshyrs]

Sign up! We lend our dog out and anything his second family can do for us is helpful :)

[PippaFawcett]

There is a £10 fee for to message the owners which is annoying. How does it work for you, lilwelshyrs? I thought it might also help my DC stop asking for a dog if we had someone else's to walk from time to time.

[TrionicLettuce]

Have a look at the Cinnamon Trust as well, there may be someone needing help with their dog in your area.

[Looseleaf]

I joined and paid and contacted several owners but no one ever wanted us or went through with meeting. So I gave up and help a friend having her spaniel once a week instead which is working brilliantly and she says much better than her dog walker who shes bonded less well with !

[lilwelshyrs]

It works really well :) the family take my boy three times a week. Two afternoons in the week and all day on a sunday!
The family dont have time for a dog of their own, and i now have a 3 week old DS so with DH back to work, i need all the help i can get!
Im very impressed though - they took him even in this weather! The kids really look forward to having him so the novelty shouldnt wear off too fast!
Its a shamr both owners and borrowers have to pay, but from my perspective, its saved me money in dog walkers so worth it for me... £45 for owners to put their profile up and contact people!

[PippaFawcett]

I think it is worth it for the owners to pay, it saves them dog walking fees. But, if like LooseLeaf it doesn't work out it is a pain to have paid for that. There are only 9 dogs in my whole area on there so chances are it might not work. I have signed up though and I will give it a go, £10 is still cheaper than getting a dog! I am contemplating putting a sign in our village shop, I am sure most dog owners would appreciate an extra pair of hands to call on.

[Hoppinggreen]

I am a borrower and for the £10 I also get insurance so I think it's worth it.
A lot of owners don't bother to reply and there are some piss takers as well but if you persevere it can work really well.

[PippaFawcett]

Thanks Hopping. No replies so far, and I have messaged all three possibles out of the nine on there and I can see they have read the messages. Looks like I don't need insurance anyway! Feels a bit rude to ignore someone offering to walk your dog/keep it company for free!