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Original poster

What to say to lying dog walker?

367 replies

oobeedoiwannabelikeyou · 07/02/2018 19:02

Sent home sick from work yesterday, still off sick today. DH messaged walker at 9am to say dog was fine (she had been ill last week)
Dog walker messaged back saying Perfect I'll be to take her out.
Comes to 12pm no walker, DH messaged again to say where are you?
She messaged back saying she'd been and gone from 8:45-9:45 and would be back at 2pm.
DH said that's not true and that I was at home.
Walker messaged back assuring him she'd been.
DH said he would be coming home to walk her as I was too sick to and not to bother coming back in the afternoon.
She maintains she had walked her.
SHE DIDN'T I WAS AT HOME WITH HER!
Anyway the trust is gone, Therefor she is going. How do I word this?
I know she's lied and doesn't obviously give a shit but I would like to hold my head up high walking past her knowing I was right and handled it correctly without flying off the handle.
Please wise women if mumsnet help me with wording a message.

OP posts:
Abra1de · 08/02/2018 17:49

May I ask where you are, OP? She sounds like our dog walker, who left my daughter, then st school, trying to sort out cover while we were away for a few days. My daughter came home to a terrible mess as the theee dogs had been inside for the whole day. The dog walker lied to us and to other friends and was caught out.

Pinkbendyman · 08/02/2018 17:50

I use the Dog Walk app on a regular basis and so far, have found it really useful.

Local dog groomers and vet practices are good places to seek recommendations for a reliable, trustworthy and caring dog walker.

Many Veterinary Nurses also dog walk, which provides added peace of mind to the customer.

MFY79 · 08/02/2018 17:50

Next time try to look for a dog walker on BorrowMy Doggy. Free walks from people who love dogs but can't have one. I was a walker for over a year and a half, I walked the same dog and I loved him. I saw many paid walker in the park and some of them stayed on their mobiles all the time instead of engaging, playing with a dog.

Dianag111 · 08/02/2018 17:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Wilburissomepig · 08/02/2018 17:54

This happened to us too. I had a dog walker who came three days a week around lunchtime when my working hours changed.

A friend of mine messaged me at work one day to say that she'd been standing talking to a friend across the road from my house when she saw the dog walker go in and leave again within a minute. When I went home the lead had been moved in the hall, but I knew that the dog hadn't been out because apart from my friend seeing her, I'd left a her cheque in the kitchen and it was still there when I got home. So I reckon she'd gone in and moved the lead to may it look like she'd been and left straight away.

I asked her about it and she lied outright and said that she'd been and taken him out (gave me the times), yet I had left work and gone home myself when my friend contacted me as I didn't want DDog to be on his own too long. She said she walked him when I was actually out walking him myself.

The dog walker I have now is fantastic, takes him for bloody miles as she loves him almost as much as I do. I don't know what I'd do without her actually.

WhatWouldOliviaPopeDo · 08/02/2018 17:54

Given you've generally been happy with her and your neighbour sees her regularly, I'm betting this was a rare occurrence and she was unlucky to get caught out. BUT she should be falling over herself to apologise for lying and providing an explanation as to why and offering you at least a month's free walking. The fact that she's not replying means she doesn't really care so you should cut your losses.

NutCase82 · 08/02/2018 17:58

I’m a dog walker and this angers me soooooo much. It takes so long to build up trust with customers and then you get goons doing this!! In future I would tell the dog walker (a new one of course!) that you have cctv and you hope that doesn’t bother them. I’d tell your current dog walker that their service is no longer required and if she asks why I’d tell her. I bet when you get another dog walker they’ll of heard horror stories about said walker - I got told stories (unnamed) about a man who’d done the same thing and left things in a state etc. I send photos or videos to my customers so they can also be confident their pets are happy because I leave their homes ‘as though I was never there’ as one customer put it 😂. Hope you find someone good soon!

DaisyFlower161 · 08/02/2018 18:00

suggest you keep it to straightforward facts, less emotive, something like...my husband messaged you twice, you stated that you had already taken the dog for a walk but this could not have been correct as she was with me all morning and you didn't turn up. As we can no longer rely on you to turn up when requested, and feel this is a breach of trust we will be terminating your contract as of today.

blaukop · 08/02/2018 18:01

I should imagine this isn't the first time by any means. Dispense with her services, and screw her over. Tell her that you were home all day. Poor doggy!

MichaelBendfaster · 08/02/2018 18:01

I'm not surprised she hasn't replied. She's been well and truly nicked.

I'd message again, say you won't need her services any more, then leave truthful reviews wherever she advertises. What if she does it/is planning to do it with other people's dogs?

Evan456 · 08/02/2018 18:02

A dog walker got caught with the dogs she was supposed to be walking in her car parked outside her house! Said she’d walked them apparently she’d been doing that every day

Original poster
oobeedoiwannabelikeyou · 08/02/2018 18:04

@BitOutOfPractice
Nope no reply at all.

@Pinkbendyman
She works at my local vets ☹️
This is part of the reason why I didn't want to just fly off the handle. I didn't mention it before as I feared it may be outing but as you've said many do it I'll happily say now

OP posts:
Maireadplastic · 08/02/2018 18:06

Before I run for cover, why do people have pets when they can't do the duties that having a pet involves? If, disabilities aside, you haven't got room in your life to walk your dog (one of the joys of having a dog- the exercise, bonding, meeting other doggy people), why have one?
I genuinely don't understand.

MavisPike · 08/02/2018 18:09

that's really poor oobe
bet the vet wouldn't be happy if they knew either
I'd change the lock

JustCatMumAtTheMo · 08/02/2018 18:10

I'm so shocked that you've still not had a reply! Surely can't be any responsible explanation!

RedHelenB · 08/02/2018 18:10

Why have children if you can't look after them 24 hours a day? What a silly post!

Pebble21uk · 08/02/2018 18:10

Maireadplastic you do realsie that dogs can live anything up to about 18 years don't you!? People's lives, health & circumstances can tend to change in that amount of time!!

Have a dog Biscuit

reup · 08/02/2018 18:11

You really genuinely don’t understand that people have to work sometimes? Should only independently wealthy types have dogs?

Housemum · 08/02/2018 18:14

maireadplastic my daughter has a dog and used to pop home at lunchtime to walk it on the days her fiancé was working a day shift. Due to a seizure after many years clear she has had to give up her driving licence until she is clear for another year. Should she also give the dog away as she now relies on favours from friends or dog walking services to do the lunchtime walk & wee?!

AnnieAnoniMouse · 08/02/2018 18:14

Still no contact from her?

I’d be like you, furious, but also confused & concerned. It’s just so odd.

Teeniemiff · 08/02/2018 18:16

So your husband text At 9am, she said she’d go at 12. Then at 12 he text & she said she’d been at 8.45-9.45? Despite the fact that you were in, by her accounts she would have already been with your dog when your husband text at 9am!

Butterymuffin · 08/02/2018 18:19

That's really weird, especially given her calling in extra times when your dog was out of sorts last week, and the timings. Do you know any other customers of hers?

Frillyhorseyknickers · 08/02/2018 18:19

I’m just confused as to why you think the dog can cope with less exercise on two days of the week?

mummy1234321 · 08/02/2018 18:21

I had very similar situation but with the cleaner. She used to be paid per hour and had keys, we were never home.
Once I wanted to catch up and came back earlier (about 15min before the end of agreed time) and cleaner nowhere to be seen.
We have CCTV and I discovered she was 45min shorter than agreed and paid (I left the money on the table).
I was horrified to discover she was doing that all the time (anything between 15-45minutes in the previous 4 weeks - that's how far the footage goes) and when confronted she went crazy accusing me about being horrible and that she had the right to leave early if she's finished.
I have a new great cleaner now, who never does that...although I did ask if it's ok that we have CCTV before she started Grin

Get a new dog walker and don't look back Flowers

AnnieAnoniMouse · 08/02/2018 18:22

It always amazes me, even after this many years on MN, just how easily some people are confused and how others genuinely don’t understand basic things in life.

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