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Original poster

Borrow My Doggy... am I missing something?

53 replies

WestEnders · 20/09/2022 14:51

I've only just found out about this and I've signed up, going to meet two pooches next week. I'm quite surprised this is a thing though? Am I missing something?

I'm not a professional dog walker I don't have insurance and I'm not hugely experienced with canines (so I'm obviously not selecting a big powerful rottweiler). I'm just a regular person who wants to enjoy my walks whilst being in the company of some lovely dogs, giving them some exercise too and hopefully helping people out in my area.

But although I know I'm a decent and trustworthy person the owners don't even know me. I've paid the premium of a tenner a year but that's just so I could message people and offer to help them. Is it really just strangers handing over their animals and hoping I'm not a nutcase? I wouldn't do this myself if I was the owner. They do realise I'm not professional don't they?!

OP posts:
rookiemere · 20/09/2022 16:50

We're on BMD as a dog owner.
We have a regular paid dog walker, so anything is a nice addition.
One lovely person has dog sat in our house a few times. Rookiedog loves her so much and it's great to know he is happy and cared for, and yes it does save a bit, but not a huge amount as I buy treats and a restaurant voucher.

VegetablesAreMyFriends · 21/09/2022 17:44

I borrow a dog regularly from BMD. Yes, it's free doggy care but I am not a professional dog sitter so not going to charge anyway.
It's the same dog for over a year now. We have her an afternoon or evening after school. Or half a day on the weekend. A day or two per week - depending on everyone's calendars.

We all love her and she's like family now. My kids are happy they have a lovely dog in their lives - there's no way I could have met the commitment of having my own. I'm getting a free dog session for my kids - so it works both ways. (The annual membership is nothing compared to having my own)

DameHelena · 21/09/2022 17:55

I've thought about being a borrower but I don't really get it; do you just keep the dog on a lead all the time? I hate the idea of its recall failing and it hurting a person/another dog, or getting hurt or lost itself, but if you have to keep it on a lead at all times then is it getting enough exercise? I have lurked on the site a bit and I'm always drawn to the greyhounds/lurchers etc, but although I think they're generally quite lazy at home I think they also need a good off-lead gallop daily, don't they? How does it work?

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VegetablesAreMyFriends · 21/09/2022 18:31

Well, for ours, the dog owner does a long morning walk with her dog everyday. So our walk is optional. For a walk, we have her always on a lead - long or short depending on where we're going.
She loves to fetch so usually the kids throw the ball and they all take off to chase the ball. It's great exercise for them all 😂

This is 1 year on though- not on day 1.

DameHelena · 21/09/2022 18:38

VegetablesAreMyFriends · 21/09/2022 18:31

Well, for ours, the dog owner does a long morning walk with her dog everyday. So our walk is optional. For a walk, we have her always on a lead - long or short depending on where we're going.
She loves to fetch so usually the kids throw the ball and they all take off to chase the ball. It's great exercise for them all 😂

This is 1 year on though- not on day 1.

Thank you; that makes sense, if the BMD person is an 'extra' rather than being in charge of giving the dog all its exercise.

Choconut · 21/09/2022 18:38

I couldn't get my head around why anyone would pay to be able walk someone else's dogs. Round here I get paid for it! I certainly wouldn't pay a website to set me up, I walked and looked after a friends dog and it snowballed from there - now walk and look after 6 or 7 (not all at the same time!). Also you just know a lot of those people are going to want to take the piss!

Floralnomad · 21/09/2022 18:44

I can see why it works as a borrower if you have dog mad kids and don’t want a full time commitment but there is absolutely no way I would use the service as a dog owner .

Woolandwonder · 21/09/2022 18:52

I've done it as a borrower although actually turned out I knew the person so was easier, I now dog walk/sit for them once a week, for me it gets me out for a walk and their dog has separation anxiety so needs a lot of company, she's pretty well trained and I'm pretty confident with dogs having grown up with them. My friends use it for occasional dog sitting, it's a lady and her daughter who don't want the responsibility of dog but enjoy it's company..they took it ^very slowly, met at their house, the borrower's house, went for walk's together. I think you can generally tell if someone is trustworthy and has experience/is sensible with dogs after a couple of meetings.

Woolandwonder · 21/09/2022 18:55

DameHelena · 21/09/2022 17:55

I've thought about being a borrower but I don't really get it; do you just keep the dog on a lead all the time? I hate the idea of its recall failing and it hurting a person/another dog, or getting hurt or lost itself, but if you have to keep it on a lead at all times then is it getting enough exercise? I have lurked on the site a bit and I'm always drawn to the greyhounds/lurchers etc, but although I think they're generally quite lazy at home I think they also need a good off-lead gallop daily, don't they? How does it work?

I let the dog I walk off lead in very safe places, I am cautious and she has great recall.

MissyB1 · 21/09/2022 19:04

We had a couple of bad experiences with it, people who seemed very keen but actually didnt really enjoy her because she needed exercise and attention!! Gosh who would have thought??!

One silly woman just wanted our dog to sit on the settee with her to keep her company.
We did stress to these people that our dog is young, sociable, loves being outdoors, and has great recall.

We stopped after the second bad experience and I would never try again, she actually goes to daycare now and adores it. Worth every penny.

EllaBella41 · 21/09/2022 19:07

People mostly don't want you to actually spend a lot of time with their dogs. They just want you to pick it up, walk it round the block and bring it back for free.

MarshaBradyo · 21/09/2022 19:08

We only did an hour to 1.5 with exercise in the park

So if the person is looking for longer then daycare is probably better

YelloCar · 21/09/2022 19:14

One silly woman just wanted our dog to sit on the settee with her to keep her company.
See this is exactly what we were looking for for our dog - literally a bit of home from home company, not exercise. (He can’t walk for long and I prefer to walk him myself.) We were turning down borrowers who wanted to go on great long hikes.

Username1234321 · 21/09/2022 19:23

We use it and it's been amazing. We have someone who walks our dog a couple of times a week and will have them overnight too when we are away. They love her and she loves them, and it has been such a huge help.

Brigante9 · 21/09/2022 19:31

A friend of mine basically gets free accommodation because she cat sits when she comes to the UK. She doesn’t know the owner and has someone cat sit hers whilst here. I’m assuming there are checks for this given they’re in each other’s houses.

Im not sure I’d use BMD. I had all sorts of weird offers when I was looking for a dog walker, including ‘I know what a dog looks like’ style responses. My dog walker has a DBS and public liability insurance. I don’t imagine you need that on BMD?

Original poster
WestEnders · 21/09/2022 19:38

I've made it very clear that I'm no dog expert, plus I don't want it to live with me whilst they go on holiday or whatever because only evenings and Saturday afternoons are suitable for me. I'm just someone who enjoys lots of long walks on certain days, times etc and if that suits the dogs needs and if they're the type of breed who would enjoy it too then I'm happy to take them out for a couple of hours. I've also made it very clear on my profile I don't feel comfortable taking them off the lead, at least not at first. As I say, I'm no dog expert so if I let them run wild and they for example got into a fight or ran off my knowledge on how to handle this other than shouting "Bruce! Get here now" is very limited!

OP posts:
mirandasma · 21/09/2022 19:40

I did this in London after I stopped work and couldn't have a dog in my rented flat. I love dogs and lived near Richmond Park so it was ideal. I only looked after a couple of dogs in the end, but I must say, I was treated like a free dog walker even being told when to turn up on occasion! I have now moved to the country and have my own dog thankfully. I am not sure I would ever let my own dog be "borrowed" however, not without a lot of careful screening anyway.

stevalnamechanger · 21/09/2022 22:56

Brigante9 · 21/09/2022 19:31

A friend of mine basically gets free accommodation because she cat sits when she comes to the UK. She doesn’t know the owner and has someone cat sit hers whilst here. I’m assuming there are checks for this given they’re in each other’s houses.

Im not sure I’d use BMD. I had all sorts of weird offers when I was looking for a dog walker, including ‘I know what a dog looks like’ style responses. My dog walker has a DBS and public liability insurance. I don’t imagine you need that on BMD?

As a pet business owner a DBS is pretty worthless ... just means someone has never been caught 😂😂

Frazzled2207 · 21/09/2022 23:01

Simonjt · 20/09/2022 14:58

The cinnamon trust may be better, they link dog walkers to the elderly/disabled, rather than those wanting free doggy daycare.

This. A friend had a very positive experience walking a dog through the cinnamon trust.

the elderly and not very mobile
gentleman was able to keep his ddog because my friend (and others) gave him the exercise he needed

Wolfiefan · 21/09/2022 23:06

I wouldn’t touch Borrow my doggy with a barge pole. No insurance. No references. No guarantee of the potential issues of the dog.
Cinnamon Trust do a great job. I’ve walked for them and now my mum has a couple of walkers. Proper contract etc.
Or volunteer at local shelter. I’ve done that too. It’s so rewarding.

Gilead · 21/09/2022 23:15

In my experience only cheapskates, who don't want to pay a walker use BMD. I'd never use it
I walked my dog five miles a day for years. I’m in a wheelchair now and on benefits. I’m no cheapskate, and my dog Walker, via bud has become a wonderful and valued friend.

MyDogTails · 21/09/2022 23:36

I didn’t like BMD. Too many dog owners wanted care when they wanted it: 9-5pm Mon-Fri and had high expectations like “must be okay with setting alarm system”. We met one nice dog and owner but it fizzled out.
Then after 11 months of not using it, BMD auto-renewed and took another year out if my account even though I’d long deleted the app!
Looking back, I would never use it for my own dog as you don’t know who you’re getting.

TheChosenTwo · 21/09/2022 23:51

I was always a bit tempted but never signed up to it. As it happens I’ve got a few local friends with dogs that I know really well and at times (such as this morning) I end up with a few free hours and really fancy a walk I call one of them and offer to take their dog with me. I love walking with a dog, it gives a solo walk some company within the need for small talk or any kind of mental effort whatsoever. It’s just blissful - until you have to pick up the shit of course. I don’t want a dog myself, they’re too much effort and I don’t have the time or headspace to want to share even more of me out to another living being. I enjoy being around dogs though and it suits me more being able to just call someone and ask if they’d be happy to loan me their doggy for a couple of hours. I never ever take anyones dog off the lead, I’d be far too worried that they’d run off on me!

GiveUsACoffee · 21/09/2022 23:53

We signed up for BMD and renewed recently because it's been great for us. We met a lady with three rescues, and have really become close to one of them. We love walking her, and even bring her home occasionally. It's always on our terms, with no wild expectations from the owner.

YelloCar · 22/09/2022 10:26

Wolfiefan · 21/09/2022 23:06

I wouldn’t touch Borrow my doggy with a barge pole. No insurance. No references. No guarantee of the potential issues of the dog.
Cinnamon Trust do a great job. I’ve walked for them and now my mum has a couple of walkers. Proper contract etc.
Or volunteer at local shelter. I’ve done that too. It’s so rewarding.

There is insurance. There are also references if you only choose dogs/owners which others have used before. But you are right that the onus is all on you to take it slowly, ask the right questions, be sensible.

There are all sorts using it so you need to select the kind of person/dog carefully and not just jump on the first person who contacts you.