Should the gardener pick up the dog poo as part of their 'duties'?

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My DH works part time as a gardener for a couple of wealthy people with large houses and gardens - he does each of them alternatively every other week. This has been a good arrangement for the past few years and works well with us as the rest of the time he takes care of our small farm and woodland. the farm does not make enough for it to be full time work but with this extra work it works all round. The properties are close, so he can pop down check animals etc and we've always got on well. Recently one of the houses got two big dogs. They let the dogs run free in the garden and I don't regularly walk them, just let them out in the garden to play (their admission). They now expect DH as part of normal gardening duties to pick up the two weeks worth of dog poo on each visit? They think he is being unreasonable in refusing, he thinks they are being unreasonable in asking. The arrangement does work really well in terms of the other parts of our life, but I agree with DH that this is more than a bit much and not the gardeners role! What do others think?

I thought you were going to be moaning that your gardener wouldn't pick it up
No. And he won't loose the neighbours garden.
I don't have a dog, but surely with how hot its been this summer it must stink.

Yuck. There's no way that clearing up dog poo has anything to do with gardening. We have a gardener, and even move our DC's various garden toys (football goals, sandpit, slide etc) in order that the gardener can do his job properly. Your DH's clients are really vile.

No way I have a dog and a gardener, I make sure that there is nothing on the garden before the gardener arrives (not that our dog uses the garden to toilet anyway as she sees it as an extension of the house).

YANBU. The guy who mows my lawn told me that he doesn’t take on clients who don’t pick up dog poo as he can’t mow unless he picks it up first and that’s not part of his Gardening work.

Ffs why do people gt dogs when they cant be arsed to even do the basics?

If he paid for a set number of hours, it shouldn't matter what tasks are requested as long as it's garden related. I don't have a gardener but I've asked my cleaner to do a specific job in place of regular cleaning (eg oven or steam cleaning carpet). Personally I don't actually pick up, my dog goes in the undergrowth usually and being a large garden it just composts down - we only check it if kids are coming.

Yuck.
This reminded me of Bob Flowerdew (organic gardener, often on ‘Gardeners’ Question Time) - he was apparently strimming, and ran over a dog mess. Reader - it went everywhere, including his mouth. I can hardly bear to write it... This was years ago, but I’ve never forgotten it....
He vowed always to wear face protection thereafter.

I have a dog, singular. She looks at least twice a day, sometimes three times a day. She is a medium size dog. If I had a gardener I would absolutely not expythem to pick up her mess. It is my job. It’s a grotesque, stinky job but she is my much beloved dog so I do it. If I leave it for a bit it a significant amount of poo😖

I cannot imagine the amount of poo for two big dogs after two weeks. Actually, I can and if it’s been warm or wet, it’s even worse🤢vomit face.

Hell no! I don’t know if you guys have them but in Canada there are some services that will come pick up dog poo only. Not cheap but for some worth it! Maybe do a quick google and recommend it???

He is within his rights to say no. At the very least he needs to increase his rates and renegotiate the amount of work they expect him to get done on the actual garden.

On balance, I’d say they have more to lose than he does from terminating the contract.

Gross, no chance. it's not like they'd find anyone else to do it either!

That's rank. It's the owners responsibility to poop scoop their own pets.

What a cheek. I have two small cocker spaniels, walked every day, but they still inevitably poop in the garden. Its a large garden and I have to keep on top of it every day. Large dogs would be doing around 3 poos a day each so that's 6 x 14 days wow that's over 80 poos to clear up before he starts. Surely they've got to be joking! Its not just the job of picking it up, but if the gardens are large its searching for it as well. Usually discovered by standing in it.

We have a similar set up where I live. Two large homes share a gardener and the nearby cottage. It is really hard work and he simply cant take on any more. When I was working I would have loved him to do ours, but he simply has enough work. Lovely man who still tidies up the lower half of my driveway when he is leaf collecting etc. Believe me, your dh will pick up more work easily.

No way should that be your dh's job! They should pick up after their own dogs the lazy sods!

Another vote for no chance! It's disrespectful for them to even ask, they should be embarrassed! Good for him for sticking to his principles.

Yanbu.

What did they initially actually say to him? Have they replied?

That is disgusting & they should be ashamed of themselves for asking.

🤮 picking up your own dogs poo is bad enough, but someone else’s dog poo is far worse and two weeks worth? That's rank. No bloody way. I’m glad he’s telling them to jog on. IF one of you wouldn’t mind doing it daily & you want to keep the contract, you could offer to do it for £x DAILY - and make sure it’s at least double his normal hourly rate

They are CF saying it’s part of his GARDENING job. Just because something is in the garden, it doesn’t make it his job. Twats.

God no.

poster anniehm Sun 26-Aug-18 20:53:04
If he paid for a set number of hours, it shouldn't matter what tasks are requested as long as it's garden related. I don't have a gardener but I've asked my cleaner to do a specific job in place of regular cleaning (eg oven or steam cleaning carpet). Personally I don't actually pick up, my dog goes in the undergrowth usually and being a large garden it just composts down - we only check it if kids are coming

So, if you start pooing on the kitchen floor everyday, leaving it there until the cleaner next comes, you think she should clean it up?

Righty ho.

Your poor husband! Poor dogs!They are idiots! A good gardener is worth their weight in gold. I do most of the greening but about 4 times a year someone comes and helps me and spends a day - they never give much warning and I am always petrified they will find dog poo!

I can't see the point of having a gardener if you appreciate the garden so little.

That is Rank! He is DNBU! This is why I don’t have a dog, don’t want to pick up poo never mind for someone else 🤮

Even if he didn't mind doing it surely they'd have to either pay for longer or accept that some other things wouldn't be done unless they're expecting your dh to do it for free????
How dirty and lazy to not walk their dogs and to leave all their excrement building up. They shouldn't have got dogs if they're not going to bother looking after them properly.

I always do a poo patrol the night before the gardener comes, just to make sure. I forgot this week (first time ever) but thankfully we'd just come back from holiday so there shouldn't have been more than a couple, I was still annoyed with myself for forgetting.

Most definitely not.

I would never ever expect anyone else to pick up after our dog.

Your poor DH.