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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

its a dog walking one...

33 replies

HoneyImHomex · 30/05/2023 09:43

how many times is acceptable to be let down last minute (less than 3 hours and once at the time of arranged walk) before you find another dog walker?

not sure if I should be more accommodating for life's unexpected situations but obviously we have a dog walker as we're both at work etc

OP posts:
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lastminutewednesday · 06/06/2023 12:12

I see it all the time. And so many near misses when they encounter someone else with a reactive dog and then all the dog walkers dogs act as a pack and go on the defensive. The Walker has no hope of containing them and it's dangerous for everyone! I get that the more dogs you walk at once the more money you make in less time, but it's really not safe.

Softoprider · 06/06/2023 12:10

Apologies for my dreadful spelling

Softoprider · 06/06/2023 12:10

@lastminutewednesday You sound like one of the good ones ! Last week I watched a woman being dragged across a field near to me by six dogs and at least one of them was being pulleded along at the back. She had a customised van in the car park with cages for several dogs so she must be doing that sort of thing every day. This to me is not dog waking at all and it's not isolated either - I have seem others doing the same or similar.

Fightyouforthatpie · 06/06/2023 12:08

3.4527

lastminutewednesday · 06/06/2023 12:05

@Softoprider agreed. I very rarely walk more than two at once and even then two must be from the same family-and they all three must get on and be well trained.
I never walk more than three all together.

The worst thing about being a dog Walker is the totally untrained dogs. For £12 a walk I'm asked to wrestle with huge dogs that haven't been trained properly, so they pull and have no recall and aren't other dog friendly. I will do a certain amount of training with them but I've had a few I've had to say no to further walks for because they are so difficult.

I've just now got back from
Walking a huge very strong Labrador that hasn't got much lead training and my arms are aching from the pulling.
Luckily my next client today is a lovely mild, well trained cockerpoo!

Softoprider · 06/06/2023 12:01

At the end of the day OP She does not care one jot about your dog's welfare and that is sad. Any caring job has to be about more than the money no matter how small or trivial it may appear to some - your animal matters a great deal to you.
If I knew where you were I would walk your dog when I take mine out. I could manage one I am sure and would be pleased to do it. I do not like the idea of your pet - or anyone's pet be left all day and unable to wee etc.
I hope you find someone else and perhaps be prepared to pay a bit more money for the right person

lastminutewednesday · 06/06/2023 11:59

Herts x

Original poster
HoneyImHomex · 06/06/2023 11:55

@lastminutewednesday haha! where are you based?

OP posts:
Original poster
HoneyImHomex · 06/06/2023 11:55

she's a young girl and what i've recently found out is that she has a daughter, used to be a dog groomer but came back into dog walking.
shes made little facebook videos about walking our dog so seems to enjoy it?

So far;
no money for bus ticket (asked me to pay in advance o she could get here)s
sickness bug
partner been called into work last minute so no school pickup
child missing nursery (didnt say why didnt expect her to)
and lastly had something on the day she had to do, i messaged at 1pm as she usually walks at 12 and she said what she had planned is taking longer than expected so couldnt do that day (all of this on the day)

OP posts:
Softoprider · 06/06/2023 11:45

I think dog walkers or the idea of them is great. It means you can have a dog and work. I have thought about being a dog walker myself but the responsibility scares me. If I were to do it I would not be like the dog walkers I see locally, walking up to five and sometimes seven dogs all at once, some of them raring to go and the others being dragged on at the back. This is not what you want as an owner is it ?
It looks like money for jam to me when it is done badly and gives all the decent dog walkers a bad bane

WhatWouldHopperDo · 06/06/2023 11:44

Out of interest, what are the reasons she has given? (if it's not too outing)

WiddlinDiddlin · 06/06/2023 11:43

Asides from weather related cancellations (in which case I'd expect a 'toilet break and play' session offered instead), 2 x in a month would be it for me.

Is it possible she doesn't really want to walk your dog but isn't professional enough to say so?

lastminutewednesday · 06/06/2023 11:38

I'll do it if you are near me :)

Original poster
HoneyImHomex · 06/06/2023 10:14

just for a giggle she has cancelled again this morning.. now rapidly emailing 100+ dog walkers hahaha!

OP posts:
FourFoxSake · 31/05/2023 08:45

In 5+ years of having a dog walker, there have been two short notice cancellations.

I wouldn't be sticking with someone who cancelled 3x in a month. I'd be pretty unimpressed with 3x a YEAR, tbh.

Alphabeaters · 30/05/2023 21:12

In 2 years ours has cancelled once, when his van broke down.

tatteddear · 30/05/2023 20:27

I'm a dog Walker and the only time I cancelled my walks was when I was floored with covid and couldn't even get myself downstairs. People rely on their dog Walker so they can work and the dogs are fine-it's important to be reliable-it's not as if people can just pop home to let the dog out in most cases in the day, or they wouldn't need me in the first place!

Yellowdays · 30/05/2023 15:46

onefinemess · 30/05/2023 14:08

You're BVVVVVVVVVVU for having a dog when you don't even have the time to take it for a walk.

Oh do be quiet.

alwayssocomplicated · 30/05/2023 15:31

Definitely change. Ours has never canceled but if they canceled 3 times in a month - that would mean 3 days I would have to leave work and not get paid - and if it continued I would lose major income.

Our dog walker is there to make life easier not to create more stress.

I understand everyone has emergencies , but 3 in a month is extreme.

Original poster
HoneyImHomex · 30/05/2023 15:17

@CloudlessSunnyDays oh imagine 😂

OP posts:
CloudlessSunnyDays · 30/05/2023 15:15

@HoneyImHomex I hope you find one that's more reliable!!

you could always stop working so you don't need a dog Walker!

🙄🙄😂😂

Original poster
HoneyImHomex · 30/05/2023 14:46

@onefinemess you won’t get the reaction your hoping for so move along to another thread.

thanks for the replies, it’s annoying as their in place for a reason. I’m going to look for another one

OP posts:
loobylou10 · 30/05/2023 14:41

@onefinemess don't be a dick. Either answer the question or ignore - it's really not that difficult.

Girliefriendlikespuppies · 30/05/2023 14:32

onefinemess · 30/05/2023 14:08

You're BVVVVVVVVVVU for having a dog when you don't even have the time to take it for a walk.

Ffs why do people have to be such dicks?!

There could be a million and one reasons someone needs a dog walker.

Op I changed dog walkers for this exact reason. I need someone reliable and I don't think cancelling at the last min is okay when you're relying on them.

GimmeSleep · 30/05/2023 14:16

onefinemess · 30/05/2023 14:08

You're BVVVVVVVVVVU for having a dog when you don't even have the time to take it for a walk.

ODFOD - hope this helps

@HoneyImHomex I'd definitely be looking for a new one now, 3 times in that short a period doesn't fill you with confidence.