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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Dogwalker won't walk my dogs in the rain

90 replies

Dacquoise · 09/09/2019 14:33

My dogwalker has been off the last six weeks. Two weeks were her holiday but for the last month she's had something wrong with her finger which has meant her texting me to say she needs another week off, then another week off etc. I have accommodated her as my daughter is off from uni and able to help out with the dog walks but there have been days when they haven't been walked due to our schedules. I am able to pop home at lunchtime but not enough time to walk them before going back to work.

Today, first day back, she texts to say she wants to change the day because it's raining. I said it's not convenient. First time I have challenged her about this. It has happened before. She refused to budge which has led me to fire her. Mixed feelings as I have used her a long time but she is unreliable at times and I feel like I am fitting around her, not the other way round.

Was I right to sack her?

OP posts:
cowfacemonkey · 09/09/2019 15:11

I would be concerned about just how much walking your dogs were getting when she did show up to be honest.

zxcvhjkl · 09/09/2019 15:11

You're more patient than I am and YANBU in the slightest.

SchadenfreudePersonified · 09/09/2019 15:13

Blimey!

I wish my 3 spanners would accept rain as an excuse.

Greyhound22 · 09/09/2019 15:15

What's the point of swapping her to another day? Surely the whole point of having a dog walker is walking them when you need them to?

My hound is the wimpiest wimp ever and doesn't like the rain. My dog walker despairs of him. I often text her to say 'just take him to the loo don't get soaked' and he's happy with that but most dogs (that aren't greyhounds or whippets) happily go out in the rain. I love a walk in the rain myself. My old dog walker would pick him up and take him a drive in the car and back to her house to play for a bit 😂

I think you need to trust a dog walker 100% - they've got the keys to your house and are in charge of your dog. My old dog walker was fabulous - I burst into tears when she came round to tell me she was retiring - I then used someone else - they never let me down but I had an uneasy feeling and started to hear a few stories - I was told about another one and swapped - she's brilliant - it was a bit awkward but at the end of the day you're employing them to do a job for you. I think you absolutely did the right thing.

Eeyoreshouse · 09/09/2019 15:16

Sympathies op. I have had nothing but trouble with dog-walkers of late which has lead me to be very lacking in trust! (And I'm not a particularly difficult or demanding client and I am prepared to pay slightly above average wage for a good service!) Last one was clocked sitting in his car with my dog for 45 mins smoking Shock

flowery · 09/09/2019 15:19

Her business is not sustainable if she won’t walk in the rain, how hilarious!

dowehaveastalker · 09/09/2019 15:19

my dog walker is brilliant - she has a little doggy pram for the dogs who refuse to walk in the rain ( one of mine is like this) you were right to sack.

HollowTalk · 09/09/2019 15:21

She's got something wrong with her finger?! What kind of reason is that not to walk a dog?

flowery · 09/09/2019 15:27

Has she not got 9 other fingers? Or perhaps 7 other fingers and two thumbs?

Celebelly · 09/09/2019 15:30

I can't imagine a dog walker who won't walk dogs in the rain and is based in the UK has a very solid business plan!

It was pouring here this morning but our dog walker collected DDog as usual and brought her home damp but happy after being towelled off the in van!

doginthemanger · 09/09/2019 15:31

She's ridiculous and won't make much of a living as a dogwalker.

Hope you find someone totally reliable and trustworthy who won't melt in the rain.

missbattenburg · 09/09/2019 15:32

Bloody hell you're well rid, I think. Won't walk in the rain. Ha!!

My dog walker has a waterproof onesie and wellie boots for rainy walks.

Cancelling because of a dodgy finger would put me off too.

berlinbabylon · 09/09/2019 15:39

Well in our area there are thousands of dog walkers (slight exaggeration) so you wouldn't have any problem finding a more reliable one.

toadabode · 09/09/2019 15:41

Totally reasonable

Howlovely · 09/09/2019 15:41

What a joke! She sounds pathetic. Please tell us she wasn't expecting you to pay her for all those weeks she wasn't walking your dog?
You did the right thing by getting rid. She's taken the piss long enough!

HeadintheiClouds · 09/09/2019 15:43

You’d have been very unreasonable not to call a halt to this nonsense.
Tbh, it sounds as if she no longer actually wanted to work for you, but hadn’t the manners to actually say so. Time wasting twat.

HeadintheiClouds · 09/09/2019 15:45

Your dog has wellie boots, missbattenburg?! Please post a picture!

Buddytheelf85 · 09/09/2019 15:51

That’s outrageous OP. As many PPs have said, and as any responsible dog owner knows, dogs need exercise and company rain or no rain!

GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman · 09/09/2019 15:53

Sore finger and rain? Ah bless. I might let her off about the finger if she broke it and your dog is a 60lb demon, but the only excuse for not walking in the rain is if she would dissolve.

Lunafortheloveogod · 09/09/2019 15:56

Two of mine firmly believe they will perish if they get mildly damp.. they have rain coats, one has wellies (he has skin allergies and rain aggravates it with pollen in the water we assume) I look like a massive waffle walking them. But they’re dogs, they need exercise, they don’t use the loo.

Imagine the postman called off every day it rained etc (I get some outdoor jobs need decent weather but not all)

CarolDanvers · 09/09/2019 16:00

She doesn't want to work for you anymore but doesn't want to say it. Also you are probably the hardest work client so she's letting you slide - no offence meant there but I used to be a dog walker and he most inconvenient or demanding ones were always the ones I gave notice to first if I was trying to drop clients. She should just tell you straight out though.

HotChocolateLover · 09/09/2019 16:00

Something wrong with her finger yet she can text but not walk the dog.... I smell bullshit.

Annabk · 09/09/2019 16:01

I would bet £100 rain isn’t the real reason. That means she is a liar and should not be trusted!

AsahiGo · 09/09/2019 16:03

'Fair weather' dog walkers' are pathetic. Find someone else!

pooopypants · 09/09/2019 16:06

YANBU

She's a CF and deserves sacking. Cheeky mare!