I am a self employed dog walker and I have been gobsmacked by what this incident shows about what people think about dog walkers.
This tragic incident is so sad and my heart goes out to the poor lady who died, her family and friends and the owners of the dogs which have been detained who must be extremely worried and desperate for answers.
I think it is important to remember that as yet no details have been confirmed and it is not at all clear what happened.
I have been shocked at the vitriol towards dog walkers on social media TBH, and the amount of blame levelled at the woman who died especially given that we do not know what happened. I feel judged and defensive and daren't comment on social media for fear of being turned upon and getting negative reviews on my business account.
I accept that there are some irresponsible and unprofessional dog walkers and I would dearly love to see the industry regulated. However, it feels like there is an assumption that we are all irresponsible, money grabbing, inexperienced people and that really is not the case.
I take my job extremely seriously. I have taken numerous courses, and 2 years ago qualified as an accredited IMDT dog trainer, I read books, and have a formal mentorship set up with a local behaviouralist. Before I started I shadowed a local walker for 6 weeks and spent two days in Essex with a very experienced walker on a training course. I take a first aid course annually and am insured.
I know my limits and work within them. I walk dogs both solo and in small groups of up to 4 dogs.
I walk dogs off lead as and when I have confidence in our bond and their recall. Some dogs are not suitable candidates for off lead walks and that is absolutely fine.
I match my group walked dogs very carefully although every group walked dog is happy in company so it is a case of matching energy levels, size and temperament.
I never walk more than one young dog in a group- the specific age varies as different breeds grow up at different rates. I only walk dogs in a group which genuinely thrive in company and which enjoy the dynamics of a group.
I only introduce one new dog to a group at a time. Some dogs don't like to walk in a group, just like people they have varied personalities. It is important that dogs are not asked to walk in company if it makes them unhappy.
I have a strict induction process which includes taking a detailed history from the owner, walking the dog with the owner at least once, then walking the dog myself alone from the dog's home, then taking the dog out in my van alone, then taking the dog out with my own dog, followed by being in a group of 3 before finally being walked in a full group.
This is done steadily and we don't move from one stage to the next until or unless I am happy that things are going well. I don't take any risks at all- if I see anything that worries me about a particular dog then that dog would only ever be walked solo / on lead / not at all- or whatever is applicable.
We walk in out of the way areas where we don't see many other people. I always put every dog on lead if I see another person or dog. I choose walks which allow me to see clearly what is ahead so that we don't get surprised by bumping into anyone unexpectedly.
Sometimes we meet people who ask if their dog can play with mine. The answer is always a polite 'no' - these are not my own dogs and I am not happy for them to interact with any other dogs whilst in my care. Of course, not everyone respects that and I do have moments where people allow their off-lead or even on-lead dogs to get very close to mine. This is always awkward but I keep my dogs on lead, and have various tactics to get the unwelcome dog away asap.
I absolutely adore the dogs that I walk. I love them as my own. I know their likes and dislikes, the sound of their footsteps, their breath and their individual collar jangle, their favourite treats, whether they enjoy a cuddle, what motivates them, what worries them, how they feel about mud, water, squirrels, noise- I know them inside out and back to front.
I work within my limits. Some potential customers need a trainer or behaviourist rather than a dog walker and I am clear that isn't what I offer.
I have unfortunately encountered owners who aren't absolutely honest about their dog, it's personality and it's behaviour. This is a recipe for disaster which I mitigate by having a detailed assessment, observing the dog with the owner and taking time to carefully get to know each dog from the outset.
I do understand why people aren't always honest with me- but it is always a worry and over the years I have been glad that I have a rigorous process as it has most definitely avoided things going wrong.
As the law stands I am responsible for the behaviour of any dog in my charge. I think that is how it should be, but I would like the law to also look to the owner of any dog which causes an issue whilst being walked by a dog walker or by someone else. There should be provision to prosecute dog owners who have deliberately mislead other people by not disclosing the truth about their dog.
I am part of a local dog walking community and we do find that some of the dishonest owners flit from one dog walker to another desperately trying to find someone to take on their dog without being honest about its challenges or history. Some people seem to want us to exercise or even rehabilitate their difficult dog without any regard for how dangerous, or complex that is. These people need a behaviouralist and specialist help.
As a community we also know of numerous local dogs who are a real worry because they are very reactive and their owners act in an irresponsible way. We tend to walk in out of the way places which of course are the same places which irresponsible people exercise their reactive dogs hoping not to bump into anyone.
There are 4 dogs which I am extremely wary of and if I see their owners vehicle or the owner I will change my plans or end my walk to avoid them. All of these dogs have attacked other dogs without provocation. We have reported these people to our local Dog warden but for whatever reason they haven't taken any action.
I'm not sure why I'm posting this and I am worried about the reaction that I will get but I guess I wanted to speak out and try to explain that jumping to conclusions about what happened and dog walkers in general isn't fair.