Dogwalker won't walk my dogs in the rain

[Dacquoise]

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?

Is she made of soap? You’re right to get rid.

I'm just going to defend the issue of an injured finger.

Imagine walking multiple dogs, some of whom may drag on their leads, whilst trying to hold on to different lead handles. Then try to do it with an injury to a finger of your dominant hand.

Of course, if it was a minor nick it's nonsense, but I've slammed my finger in a car for before now, broken the tip, split the finger open and had to have the nail drilled to release the pain. It was bloody agony for weeks - no way I could have walked a dog unless it was an angel on a lead.

I'm making reaches, I know, but I don't want to think of someone on here doubting a dog walker in future with a similar injury!

(I've already said sacking the woman is the only option!).

Rightsaidmabel 🤣😂😁😂🤣🌻⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Get rid. Sounds like one of the many dog walkers that are only doing it so they can claim to be ''self employed'' for the Tax Credits and other related benefits, rather than someone genuinely working hard to build up a viable and reputable business.

@Hanraa this is my antisocial hound

@PrincessHoneysuckle gorgeous!!! Just needs a whippet to snuggle up with

@rightsaidmabel

Brilliant!

TheMadHugger andShadenfreudePersonified
Thanks guys. I just love the horrified pug,Archie remonstrating from the sidelines.
This clip is from a dog walker in Glasgow.She said Toby is a "muck magnet" and responded to critical posts by pointing out that he loves it!
Apparently her dogs go out for 5 hours with her,come home worn out and happy.Can just believe it.
Now that's a dog walker!

She’s taking the piss. A pop in visit is entirely different to a walk and she shouldn’t offer both services if she’s refusing to do the walks in the rain.

Her sole job is to make sure the dogs are cared for which in your case means giving them a walk.

Absolutely right to get rid. I have two dogs and the walker is here without fail.

Yanbu. The only weather it’s not suitable to walk dogs is when it’s actually dangerous to them (eg burning hot pavements etc) but rain is a total CF excuse!

@rightsaidmabel

You can see Toby's enjoying it-if he wasn't he wouldn't go into the water.

My spaniels would be the same! They could find a mud puddle in the Sahara desert. And ice and snow don't worry them, either

These dogs are bred to retrieve game from water as well as on land, and their coats are pretty much water repellent - as long as they aren't clipped. If they are clipped it affects the texture and they lose their waterproofing. If they aren't clipped, but just kept well-brushed, water just pours off their coats when they get out, and they dry off remarkably quickly.

That is a dog having a good time.

The only trouble with spaniels is the snowballs they collect on their feathers-we used to have to melt them off with a hairdryer!

sueelleker

It's a fact! Their ears in particular get snowed-up.

We had the same when we had westies - under their little armpits and along their tummies was just Snowball Central. I tried the hairdryer but it seems to turn them into iceballs with a coating of water. My remedy of choice was a warm bath where I could submerge them. (They did NOT like it - they don't have the spanner passion for all things wet and wild!)

I’d far rather walk in the rain, keeps the idiots with untrained dogs away. My dog was just attacked by a gsd, apparently it was my dog’s fault because ‘he barked first’, nothing to do with 2 untrained mutts jumping on him as he was happily fetching his ball. Wanker.

Anyhow, you were right, OP, she’s taking the piss. My dog walker had a knee replacement and was back to work ASAP, having ensured she had people covering her clients meanwhile.

I was amazed at a friend’s dog walker, who had been allegedly walking her terrier for years. She told her she couldn’t find the dog one day (he likes to lie on the windowsill behind the curtain, dogwalker knew this). Turns out she wasn’t walking him. So cheeky!

@sueelleker My poor spaniel commiserates!