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Original poster

Or does no one actually use "borrow my doggy"

121 replies

Goingslowlymad1 · 28/09/2017 23:13

That's it really - signed up as someone offering to walk/dog sit as I'm home during the days and fancied some canine company and the excuse to get out and have a walk.

Sent a few messages etc (am an experienced dog owner - just can't have one at this time) but zilch back... it's a scam isn't it Smile I was conned into a subscription by those lovely waggy tailed photos on Facebook ads

OP posts:
Oblomov17 · 29/09/2017 09:28

Signed up. Ds2 is dog mad. Nothing so far...Hmm

TuftedLadyGrotto · 29/09/2017 09:39

Anyone in Leeds needs a dog walking on a Thursday or Friday I could do it!

invisiblecats · 29/09/2017 09:47

Oh no! I was just about to sign up for this. I was happy to pay the £13 annual subs.

It looks like there are lots of dog in our area and plenty of premium members.

We were all really excited about this! Should I not bother?

PinkTiger · 29/09/2017 10:08

Goingslowlymad1

I had a paid membership for a while as a potential borrower. This is my take on it:

Overall it's fairly useless and could do with a big overhaul

Impressionistically, there are far more active users wanting to borrow than dog owners wanting to lend

As a borrower, it's like internet dating as a man - you send hundreds of messages, get very few replies and have no real idea whether they are reaching anyone live who is receptive

Typically the needs of owners and borrowers don't match In cities, most would be borrowers (who don't own dogs but want one) don't own a dog because they are at work all day. So they would be keen to borrow in the evening and weekends. Most owners want daytime walking.

I had a full paid membership as I said for whatever the standard period is (6 months? several months anyway) and in that time I met one dog owner and his dog. He worked and told me that he used it to get free during the day dog care and wanted to have his dog in the evening and weekends.

I had no joy anywhere else despite sending lots of messages.

So I wouldn't quite say it is a scam but I think it is a very very flawed site and it's a shame as it's a nice idea.

ConcreteUnderpants · 29/09/2017 10:10

I signed up earlier this year, and so far have had 2 lovely people to walk my dog. Unfortunately, one has her A levels and work experience now, so is busy, but I still get the other one popping in every week to walk.
Also had interest off another 2 people, but not got round to messaging them back yet.
I think it's great.

antimatter · 29/09/2017 10:12

I don't mind if someone takes my dog for another walk in the evening or weekend!
The more exercise he gets the better!

I just renewed my membership and am going to contact local borrowers.

PinkTiger · 29/09/2017 10:14

NotSuchASmugMarriedNow

Its a scam. No one uses it. I offered my services at dog walking for 50 pence an hour just to see and I still had no takers.

This is interesting - I wonder if it's because after early sign up enthusiasm most borrowers (well me anyway!) get totally disillusioned and just stop using it. When it became apparent I was getting 0 replies from my messages, I just gave up and let me subscription lapse. I wouldn't renew it as it seemed a waste of time for me.

Maybe when the site first launched/first had publicity there was a rush of people to sign up and thereafter it tailed off (!) as people realised it wasn't working.

Orangebird69 · 29/09/2017 10:16

A friend of mine has dog sat for several dogs over the past couple of years through Borrow My Doggy. It's worked out really well for her.

Soubriquet · 29/09/2017 10:16

Oh no! I was just about to sign up for this. I was happy to pay the £13 annual subs

£13?! Where? I am refusing to pay £44.99.

TheMadGardener · 29/09/2017 10:22

I'm a volunteer for the Cinnamon Trust and take an elderly lady's ancient Labradorite for a walk every week. Other CT volunteers walk the dog on other days. Anyone who can't exercise their dog through illness or disability should definitely sign up with the Cinnamon Trust. I also do some home assessments for them in my area - i.e. if someone has offered to foster a Cinnamon pet they need to have an assessment of suitability of the home done. If you sign up as a CT volunteer you will get a photo ID card which you can show when you first meet new pet owners. You do not have to pay anything to join or to have your dogs walked.

TheMadGardener · 29/09/2017 10:24

Labrador not Labradorite obvs - bleedin autocorrect! !!

ScipioAfricanus · 29/09/2017 10:24

So to send messages as a borrower or an owner you have to pay? I'm not going to pay just to see if someone wants me to walk their dog for them. It's ridiculous that the person doing the borrowing should pay - sure, I might think it would be nice to borrow and walk a dog but I think the owner is getting more out of it than me. I might sign up with Cinnamon Trust.

PinkTiger · 29/09/2017 10:53

sure, I might think it would be nice to borrow and walk a dog but I think the owner is getting more out of it than me

You think Scipio but it doesn't operate like that because in this market the "buyers" (borrowers) massively out number the "sellers" (dog owners) - so it's actually a sellers market and the borrowers are the ones competing to borrow a dog.

It's a very unbalanced and flawed site - but as I said above because the basic needs of each group are fundamentally different. Borrowers want to have a dog in the evening/weekend and the owners want their own dog then too. It's mostly daytime or longer holidays (a week full time) that is on offer.

Original poster
Goingslowlymad1 · 29/09/2017 11:05

@themadgarder is a labradote a dog that shins technology? That's why I'm not getting replies Smile

@thenewsateswoman will message you!

OP posts:
arousingcheer · 29/09/2017 11:05

Another recommendation for Cinnamon Trust, and a plug for the rescue our dogs came from. They are entirely volunteer-run and always need dog walkers. It means the world to the dogs, who can get very anxious, isolated and stressed without exercise. They have kennels in the Gatwick, Guildford, Chessington and Broxbourne areas.
Click on 'dog walking': www.rescueremedies.co.uk/support-our-rescue/

stripysleeves · 29/09/2017 12:15

£13?! Where? I am refusing to pay £44.99.

£!2.99 as a borrower. Are you a walker or a dog owner?

Soubriquet · 29/09/2017 12:16

Dog owner

MatildaTheCat · 29/09/2017 13:38

As a paid up owner I need walks in a Sunday. Really well behaved and friendly dog and we live near a fantastic park. I've had lots of interest and met several lovely people who want to walk him. We go on a doggy date so we can meet and I can check they are safe. Then...I've had a few walks then they fade away.

My take on this is that people are just busier than they really think and taking the dog for a decent walk takes most of the morning. My lovely new couple are taking him for a second walk this Sunday so fingers crossed.

BUT horror story alert. My ds and his gf were flat sharing with another friend. She joined BMDvand brought home a crazy dog while the owners went to the USA without even asking ds. Silly firmed left rag all day songs took him out and he badly attacked another dog. Nightmare and a mix of stupid owner and stupid borrower.

But for walks with trusted walkers I've found it quite a struggle. Super people who join but so far nobody's willing to do it regularly.

TenForward82 · 29/09/2017 13:41

Pfft. I signed up as a walker, no responses to messages. Then they renewed my subscription after a year of me not even signing in (signed up in a post-natal haze of PND). Then smarmily refused to refund me until I gave them both barrels. Wouldn't touch them again.

BitOfANameChange · 29/09/2017 14:03

I've never had a dog, but I think I'd be happy to sign up for once a week walking. But as a pp said, I work so would only be able to offer evenings. I guess this might mean I wouldn't suit most dog owners, but I was thinking it would be nice to help someone (and their dog) and give me a purpose in going out for walks to aid my weight loss.

ProfessorCat · 29/09/2017 14:26

Right, I think I'll contact the Cinnamon Trust then as I'm getting no interest in my dog on BMD. Thanks :)

Llamacorn · 29/09/2017 14:42

I would have to pay £45 just to message someone, which is a lot for me and quite a gamble if nobody messages back.
Sadly the cinnamon trust is nowhere near me, they sound great.
Anyone in Scotland want a crazy happy slobbery chocolate lab for an hour or 2 Grin

Cakefortea1 · 29/09/2017 15:01

My dog has 4 borrowers now! It's fab Smile

Yesyesyesyeswhatever · 29/09/2017 15:01

Where in Scotland? Chocolate labs are beautiful.

Llamacorn · 29/09/2017 15:32

I'm in fife, and he is a beauty (not that I'm biased!)

Or does no one actually use "borrow my doggy"