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Original poster

Are my DH DS wrong/unreasonable re dog walker

92 replies

2dogs2kids1cat · 17/02/2017 13:08

Hi first world problem I know but still a little annoying. I use a dog walker on an ad hoc basis. She is meant to walk my dogs for 1 hour a day. Last year I used to pay her in advance because it was easier say 5-6 walks and then txt her the night before I wanted them walked but for no particular reason I wondered if they were being walked; so on two occasions I left the leads in an odd arrangement and they obviously hadn't moved but when I casually mentioned this she said she always uses her own. So I now pay her on the day, I leave the money on the side so I know she definitely comes to the house. Yesterday she was meant to walk them, my DH and DS got home from work first the money had gone but both dogs were busting to do a pee and more importantly weren't muddy, and there was no mud on the kitchen floor, we live in the countryside and it's currently very muddy here. When I got home from work they both started saying the dog walker is just taking the money and not walking the dogs etc. I defended her saying maybe she walked them round the roads.
I have tried to find other dog walkers but I work shifts and I often have to change at very short notice and therefore need a walker who is happy about this. The only other one I could find who would even remotely consider it wanted £35 for 1/2 an hour she promised me she was very reliable I'd be reliable for that kind of money.
The dogs are monumentally lazy by nature don't seem fussed, she doesn't charge a fortune and when I meet her when I'm out they rush over to see her wagging their tails so maybe my DH/DS are unnecessarily suspicious

OP posts:
ScrumpyBetty · 17/02/2017 13:56

Hide upstairs and update us! I'll bring the popcorn Grin

Wishiwasmoiradingle2017 · 17/02/2017 13:59

I will bring Wine!!
Even read the other week someone ordered a chaise longe for a parking thread so may need to up our game is this goes further. .

Sugarpiehoneyeye · 17/02/2017 14:07

Just shining a different light OP.
Is there any chance that she is putting your dogs in her car, and taking them elsewhere, due to the mud ?
I also live in a rural area, and this is what I do, on occasion.

CheesyWeez · 17/02/2017 14:12

Our neighbours had a dog walker come - she would load them into a van with other dogs already on board and bring them back two hours later... I like the recording idea. Even audio recording would do, you'd hear when she came in/out, whether she took the dogs or not...

WhereYouLeftIt · 17/02/2017 14:12

That sounds possible Sugarpiehoneyeye, but wouldn't explain why "both dogs were busting to do a pee".

expatinscotland · 17/02/2017 14:15

I'd hide upstairs.

Katy07 · 17/02/2017 14:30

Nannycam?

NavyandWhite · 17/02/2017 14:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Katy07 · 17/02/2017 14:56

Wait round the neighbours? Park up down the road and move closer once she's gone inside (assuming you know what time she's due)?
(I couldn't hide upstairs - my dog would give the game away!)

Original poster
2dogs2kids1cat · 17/02/2017 15:07

I hate distrusting people, she seems such a nice person too. One of my dogs is exceedingly low slung and she would have to have showered him off to get rid of the mud no sign of that. It's such a shame and it's not exactly demanding walking a couple of well behaved dogs in a nice area once a week (max). Im sceptical that she even let the put in the garden the older dog apparently was scratching at the back door and weed for a long time when my DH let him out. I think Ill download the presence app, hopefully my DH/DS are wrong.

OP posts:
chillx · 17/02/2017 15:11

Say nothing until you have more than enough proof.

Lindy2 · 17/02/2017 15:24

Not quite the same but I used to pay a gardener to do 2 hours gardening at a flat I let out. I trusted her until my tenant tipped me off that she was only doing about 15 minutes work.
Unfortunately I'm now much less trusting and it sounds very much like she is taking your money but not walking your dogs. Can you get a neighbour to spy for you?

Sugarpiehoneyeye · 17/02/2017 17:42

If she is doing this, it's disgusting. Poor dogs, desperate to go out. 😡

BaconMaker · 17/02/2017 17:47

I know what you mean OP I always like to think the best of people and I do think 99% of people are basically decent. It would seem a bit odd for her to come all the way to the house and not even bother letting the dogs go for a wee - if she's scamming you she's obviously useless!

On the other hand I would probably want to actually check she was coming. I'd probably do the hiding upstairs trick.

Giddyaunt18 · 17/02/2017 18:12

I agree that you know when they've been out even if paws cleaned and they wouldn't be busting for a wee. Can you ask neighbours to watch??

Slothlikesundays · 17/02/2017 18:19

We have a dog walking business. We always use their own leads as they got sick of loosing/dropping the dogs expensive one from home and having to replace them. So I believe that. I have never seen a dog clean after a walk at this time of year though. So I'd check up on them. Unless the agreement is pavement walks on the lead?

Slothlikesundays · 17/02/2017 18:19

Our own leads * not theirs

Owllady · 17/02/2017 18:22

If you find out she hadn't been coming I think I'd invite her round for a quiet chat and throttle her with the dog lead

TheHodgeoftheHedge · 17/02/2017 18:25

I was going to suggest one of the pet gps trackers you can now buy.

I don't think the leads thing is suspicious. Most dog walkers use their own in my experience. But most of them also post plenty of pics showing the dogs out and about

Foxesarefriends · 17/02/2017 18:28

I let my neighbour know that her dog walker wasn't walking her dogs. I didn't even know her but it was awful that the dogs were being let out in the back garden but not walked. She was paying £15 for an hours walk.

Silverthorn · 17/02/2017 18:36

My friend found out his dogwalker wasn't walking his dog when he installed a camera for home security purposes. Sacked the walker immediately of course.

WiddlinDiddling · 17/02/2017 19:06

Sadly I also have a friend who found out her dog walker wasn't doing what they were paid to do when she was home sick one day and forgot to cancel.

I would set up a camera, its perfectly reasonable to set up a pet cam anyway loads of people have them, and see what happens.

Leads left as they are isn't a big indicator, everyone I know who walks dogs uses their own equipment (and I know a lot of dog walkers) but bursting for a wee and shiny and clean definitely suggests no walk!

Merlin40 · 17/02/2017 19:23

Is it actually legal to film them? I'd be v wary of doing that. I often dog sit and would be mortified to find out someone was filming me (and I never do anything I shouldn't!).

An outdoor security camera sounds like a better idea

Merlin40 · 17/02/2017 19:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

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