Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Neighbour wants paid?

235 replies

kb16 · 10/07/2021 13:52

Looking for advice on wether this is cheeky or not
The boy across the road from us is 12 (or there abouts) year 7 in school.
We have a dog who has a dog Walker that we pay for when we are at work, the boy across the road has started in the evening in the last eeek when he's bored coming and asking if he can take our dog out for a walk. They are normally away about 15/20 mins. This has been going on for about a week now, however he has started saying we should be paying him and asking how much he's getting paid.
I've said in a jokey way that he's the one that Is asking if he can take the dog out as he's bored and not the other way around and that we already pay a dog Walker but it's becoming uncomfortable now,
Thing is I would have picked him up some sweets or something to say thanks but now I'm thinking should I be paying him? He's not really doing me a favour as I could do it myself. Again, last night he was at my door asking how much he's getting paid
It's becoming really awkward!

OP posts:
lactofree · 10/07/2021 16:06

Just tell him no ffs when he asks if you want your dog walking. Very simple

girlmom21 · 10/07/2021 16:10

@TheRebelle

Was 15-20 minutes even enough of a walk? I’d just tell him straight I’m not paying you, you asked if you could walk the dog, you didn’t say anything about paying you and I already pay a dog walker.
If she's paying a tenner a day I'd assume the walker takes the dog out for an hour so the evening would would be enough for going to the toilet etc - dependant on breed of course
Dohrehmee · 10/07/2021 16:10

Tell him you don’t want him walking your dog as you pay a professional dog Walker with qualifications and you heard of dogs being snatched by children dog walkers . Then end the conversation. If he still insists state your dog Walker is insured etc and you are no
Longer letting any non professional walk him. And you should repeat that conversation to the parents also adding could their son cope with guilt if was walking the dog and he was snatched

mygrandchildrenrock · 10/07/2021 16:29

I have a 14 year old who often knocks on to walk our dog. She’s out between 30-60 minutes and I occasionally give her £2 to get an ice cream but certainly not every time. I often give her a drink of squash and a biscuit but again not every time. She seems very happy with our arrangement and has never asked for anything.
I think he’s being cheeky but don’t feel bad about saying no.

pilates · 10/07/2021 16:37

Just say we have a paid dog walker and I can’t afford another one, sorry. I wouldn’t trust a 12 year old with my dog, he’s to precious to me to take any risks.

pilates · 10/07/2021 16:37

too

viques · 10/07/2021 16:37

Tell him you don’t need him to walk the dog in the evening any more, but that if he wants to come with you and the dog for a walk at the weekend sometime he is more than welcome as you know he likes playing with the dog and is good with him.

12548ehe9fnfobms · 10/07/2021 16:58

I don't think you should pay him.

He's pitched the idea as though you are doing him a favour because he's bored & has manipulated the situation to create a false obligation. This is rude & disingenuous. I wouldn't trust someone like this in case my dog came to harm.

Next time he asks to walk the dog, refuse & give this kid a wide berth. This is really odd behaviour.

I suspect this is a question of family values & his parents are fully aware.

starfishmummy · 10/07/2021 17:00

At 12 he's old enough to talk to. Id say that there are some people who do things for money and others who do them because they like doing them. That you thought he had asked because he liked walking the dog, but that if he wanted to be paid then he should have been upfront about it.

I'd probably say that he can have some pocket money for the times he has already been out with the dog, but that unfortunately you can't carry on as you already have a dog walker and that you cant afford any extras.

DoTheNextRightThing · 10/07/2021 17:20

Sounds like the time my cousin offered to cut our gran's grass then after finishing it asked her for £20 Confused children think they are on The Apprentice.

Just tell him he doesn't get to walk the dog anymore if he’s expecting money for it, or tell his parents that their kid is a CF.

littlefireseverywhere · 10/07/2021 17:29

I’d give him £10 for his efforts but say no if he asks again.

QueenBee52 · 10/07/2021 17:30

@RamItBunty

He’s a kid. 12yo the adult should know better,and she got a nice wee freebie .it’s a lot of front to let a kid walk your dog for free and think op is doing him a favour. Pay as a goodwill gesture and stop the arrangements

Rubbish

QueenBee52 · 10/07/2021 17:30

@RamItBunty

The op is a chancer too, free dog walking from eager 12yo Lesson learnt for both being, be explicit about expectations and remuneration As a adult I think the onus is on op todo the right thing,pay the kid a one off Kid need to understand how to be savvy and not to be exploited

Rubbish

QueenBee52 · 10/07/2021 17:31

@RamItBunty

Cheeky because op accepted the free labour,let kid walk her dog and wasn’t explicit that she somehow considered it a perk for the child. Sure the child should have been clear he expected remuneration, however the power imbalance favours the op. I expect the child hoped op would pay

now you're being nasty...

the kid ASKED if he could walk her dog...

that's not free labour.. it's a kid showing interest in a Pet.

QueenBee52 · 10/07/2021 17:32

@RamItBunty

An experience day is a clearly laid out experience that one undertakes and pays for. It’s a bookable event where one experiences some aspect of a role eg zoo keeper for a day. There is absolutely expectation of remuneration for being a zoo keeper for day

you're adding arms and legs to this situation..

do you always do this ?

QueenBee52 · 10/07/2021 17:34

@DoTheNextRightThing

Sounds like the time my cousin offered to cut our gran's grass then after finishing it asked her for £20 Confused children think they are on The Apprentice.

Just tell him he doesn't get to walk the dog anymore if he’s expecting money for it, or tell his parents that their kid is a CF.

He NEVER 🤣😂

SparklyLeprechaun · 10/07/2021 17:51

Cheeky sod, CF, chancer, rude - really? Is that how you people talk about your own children? He's 12, he wanted to earn some money, he didn't know how to negotiate (because you know, he's 12) and the OP obviously misunderstood.

Just explain exactly how you said it here, OP - "sorry, I thought you were bored and wanted to play with the dog, I've already got a dog walker." It was your fault to let him walk the dog again after he asked for money, that was the perfect time to say no, thanks.

Nothingyet · 10/07/2021 17:54

I wouldn't let a child take my dog out, she's too precious. Anything could happen- a thief could take him or the lad might sell him! Other kids might be cruel. He might let the dog try to cross a road. You are mad and careless.

RamItBunty · 10/07/2021 18:00

This child is being portrayed like a Dickensian crim. As if the op is the naive and being exploited by a shady child.

In fact the power imbalance favours the adult and op took the free labour and hasn’t made any attempt to make a financial remuneration. Allowed an unsaid expectation to form unchallenged. Only after the free walks when he spoke up to request payment did she make it clear she thought she was getting a freebie

He is a 12yo child, known to op for years. He walked her dog, and 12yo are not usually adept at striking verbal deals for a job done . Op has been sneaky and mean spirited

Lizzy1980 · 10/07/2021 18:07

When I was that age I’d often volunteer to walk neighbours dogs. It never crossed my mind to ask for payment, I loved spending time with the dogs as I didn’t have one of my own at the time. Bung him a few quid and don’t let him walk your dog again.
There’s no way in hell I’d let a Neighbourhood kid walk my dog, no matter how long I’d known them. No one except close family or friends are ever alone with her, she’s too precious to me

Original poster
kb16 · 10/07/2021 18:13

@RamItBunty

This child is being portrayed like a Dickensian crim. As if the op is the naive and being exploited by a shady child.

In fact the power imbalance favours the adult and op took the free labour and hasn’t made any attempt to make a financial remuneration. Allowed an unsaid expectation to form unchallenged. Only after the free walks when he spoke up to request payment did she make it clear she thought she was getting a freebie

He is a 12yo child, known to op for years. He walked her dog, and 12yo are not usually adept at striking verbal deals for a job done . Op has been sneaky and mean spirited

Wow you are really reaching now, he hasn't walked my dog since he asked for money. So im mean for letting him walk my dog when he asked because he was bored? As I've said more than once I had full intention to go out and get him some sweets. I just don't have spare £10-£20 to give him for him taking my dog on 2 15 min walks. Sorry but you are being ridiculous and massively over exaggerating.
OP posts:
Skysblue · 10/07/2021 18:15

Sounds like massive misunderstanding. He asked if he could walk your dog for you in the same way he might have asked if he could wash your car for you or mow your lawn for you. He knows it’s a service you pay for and he expected to be paid. Pay him then stop the walks saying thanks but we don’t need it anymore.

If someone’s done a job for you that you didn’t specify in advance was for free, then you should expect to pay them. You weren’t doing him a favour allowing him to walk the dog.

Also from a practical point of view you are going to have a VERY angry neighbour for years if the parent feels you exploited their kid. Pay!! Or expect all sorts of petty revenge over the next few years. This kid will be a teenager one day…

QueenBee52 · 10/07/2021 18:24

@Nothingyet

I wouldn't let a child take my dog out, she's too precious. Anything could happen- a thief could take him or the lad might sell him! Other kids might be cruel. He might let the dog try to cross a road. You are mad and careless.

crikey where do you live ????

sounds awful 😳

RamItBunty · 10/07/2021 18:45

@kb16 you’ve constructed this thread to your advantage. Neighbour? Neighbour suggests an adult He is a child
The thread has gathered a momentum unfavourably portraying a child as sneaky
Your the adult you should have been clearer and explicit from outset. You were not

TheOccupier · 10/07/2021 18:48

He's a kid, trying to be enterprising. I think to be kind you can say that if you want to do a service and get paid for it then you need to discuss and agree that clearly in advance. You are happy for him to play with the dog but you would not pay him for doing so because you already have a dog walker.

If you want to be extra kind you could suggest that he makes some leaflets offering dog walking, car washing etc at set prices and puts them through people's doors and even offer to help.