To ask if you have, or know of, a dog owner who has had a bad experience with Borrowmydoggy?

[Hormonecure]

We are contemplating using BorrowMyDoggy to introduce us to people locally who might help us walk our gorgeous dog. Some weeks are crazy busy with work, and yet I don't always have after school child care. I thought it might help.

I'll be meeting and vetting anyone who shows interest, but I am nervous. Wondered what others experience of it was?

I've heard only good things - know three people who've used it as dog owners letting others walk their dogs.

That's good to know, thanks!

Watching this thread with interest Op, as we're in a similar situation!

I’ll be watching this but from the other side. We’d love to walk dogs and have registered with BorrowMyDoggy but too scared to take the plunge

I wouldn’t. People pay to sign up. The company wants their money. I don’t think there is any check on identity etc. And what if your dog was attacked or caused a problem when someone else was walking them?

I would definitely use it, and I’m a very responsible dog lover. I just can’t really own one because we aren’t at home often enough. We walk our neighbours dog and he gets a lot of fuss!

@WardrobeDoor what about the Cinnamon Trust?

wolfie I check their website regularly but there isn’t ever anything listed locally

Why not just pay a proper dog walker?

It’s a big, big risk to take. I’m sure the vast majority mean well, but shit is more likely to happen when you have inexperienced and unchecked people doing stuff for you for free.

Use a dog walker, with insurance and a reputation to lose.

@WardrobeDoor they only list their most urgent cases on the website. Apply to volunteer and get the paperwork sorted. They will contact you if anything comes up near you.

We do use a dogwalker once a week. Sometimes we've had to use her more than once - and she's amazing, we love her, and our dog loves her. But it's costly. And we can't always afford it.

I get the risk, but I also get that it can be a great service and lots of people are very responsible.

The Cinnamon Trust is for people who are ill or infirm or housebound, not dog owners who are just too busy to walk their dog! Pay a professional dog walker or rehome the dog if you can't provide adequate care for it. If you are leaving it alone for more than 5 hours on a regular basis you should not have a dog. It's that simple.

The Cinnamon Trust is for people who are ill or infirm or housebound, not dog owners who are just too busy to walk their dog!

Wolfiefan suggested the Cinnamon Trust to WardrobeDoor who said they wanted to walk dogs (ie they don't have their own).

Borrow My Doggy has worked well for several people I know - a colleague of mine found a wonderful family near her who looked after her dog regularly when she was on business trips.

It's inadvertently worked for us too in that I spotted a family I knew on there and they now look after our dog one day a week (and occasional overnights) - but it was easier as I already knew them so not quite such a gamble!

We don't have the lifestyle to commit to a dog but I want DS to grow up being used to dogs.
I registered but I thought it was quite expensive so didn't go any further.
I didn't see why I should pay to be a free dog walker

Is it free? If so I wouldn’t use. You just don’t know who you’re getting do you? Use a proper dog walker.

Do you have any neighbours that you get on with who have dogs?
I often take the neighbours dog out when I'm walking mine.

I'm really just interested in hearing from those who have used Borrow My Doggy or know of others who have.

I'm not that interested in hearing from people who have an opinion or judgement about what dog owners should or shouldn't do. Thanks.

I use it as a dog owner. Over a couple of years I’ve met some lovely people who have walked my dog, sadly stoped due to them moving away, too busy with work and other things, however now have had a lovely “borrower” walk her for over a year, she even takes her to stay for weekends (at her request). My dog loves her. Had no issues at all!

I used it as a walker. I am not inexperienced like previous pps assumed, but am currently unable to have my own dog (rented house and a requirement to be away a lot of weekends atm).

Met some lovely people, but am having a break as my previous dog owner has died and I need some time. I have met some great people doing it though and there are id and security checks. One of the reasons they make you pay is that it weeds out some of the time wasters. It sounds to me like Wolfie hasn't actually used the service, and is just making assumptions.

There is also no rush to let your dog loose with a stranger. Meet them first without the dog and then with to see how they get on. And you can accompany the walks for as long as you need to to feel comfortable.

Wardrobe have you got any greyhound rescues near you? They are always on the lookout for walkers , the dogs are used to being on a lead , walk nicely , usually in a group and will go at a walking pace unless they are in the secure paddock where they can go off lead.

Retired racers are gods amongst dogs .

If you’re working then a dog walker is just a part of the cost. I wouldn’t use Borrow My Doggy. Pay for someone with insurance etc.

I know a few people that use it and have only good things to say about it.

Two friends have dogs and use it for dog walking and dog sitting. My niece loves dogs and cannot have one so she walks and dog sits for a couple of dogs

We registered and had lots of interest, we use a regular walker on the date our dog can’t come to work with us. So we were interested for weekends if we wanted to go away for the day - eg a Theme Park, maybe the odd weekend. Several people met our dog but none became regulars.He went overnight with bone family who were considering getting a dog, they didn’t ask for him again, (suspect the black hair shedding all over their beautiful cream carpets decided the dog ownership issue for them!). Our most regular walker moved away, but actually I realised that initiative excitement of new places, people and experiences were enjoyable for my dog, walking past their houses just made him a bit confused. He was a foster anyway abd has been passed around a lot in puppyhood, so we now only lend him to friends or colleagues who he seems regularly. I think if you get someone committed who can’t have a dog it’s fine, but for us people just didn’t want him that regularly. He’s a lab and very well behaved so I don’t think he did anything wrong - apart from the shedding.

So many typos. Sorry.