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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

If someone looks after your dog for free is it reasonable to complain about something?

77 replies

AnotherDoggy1 · 02/09/2022 17:54

Looked after ex husband's dog for two weeks (also DD's dad) whilst he was away on holiday with DD and his wife and their kids. For free obviously, just asked for his food and bed.

Anyway he's pissed because I've not walked him much.

I had every intention of doing so but he is TERRIBLE on the lead. Yanking and pulling the whole time and frankly I just grew tired of trying so he's only been on a walk a few times whilst here. He's had the run of my large garden the rest of the time. He's seemed happy enough. I WFH so never really been on his own.

I know it's not ideal but it hasn't done him any harm and it was a favour. I just feel like saying train your flipping dog if you want other people to walk them!

OP posts:
Littlemissprosecco · 02/09/2022 17:55

I agree, no harm done

Bernadinetta · 02/09/2022 17:56

How does he know how often you’ve walked him?

Original poster
AnotherDoggy1 · 02/09/2022 17:57

Bernadinetta · 02/09/2022 17:56

How does he know how often you’ve walked him?

Because I told him when he got back. I've not hidden it. He asked if I'd been on any nice ones and I told him he was horrible to walk so I've not really taken him.

OP posts:
QuebecBagnet · 02/09/2022 17:57

He wouldn’t have been walked at most boarding kennels either. Most let them have a run in a paddock/yard but not actually walk them. It’s fine. He’s a twat to complain.

gogohmm · 02/09/2022 17:58

To be honest if someone agreed to have my dog I would assume they were willing to walk daily. My parents always walk my dog. Just say no if you can't meet all the dog's needs

Suzi888 · 02/09/2022 17:59

It’s not your fault the dog is terrible on the lead- he could’ve paid for a dog walker once a day. No harm done - dog had the garden, I’d rather that than kennels any day.

Longdistance · 02/09/2022 18:01

Tell him to put the dog into kennels next time as you won’t be doing it again

MsVestibule · 02/09/2022 18:01

I'd just be really glad I had somebody looking after my dog for free - as long as he had the run of the garden, I wouldn't really care. We do walk ours every day for about an hour, but it doesn't do them any harm to not be walked for a week or so.

Cruisebabe1 · 02/09/2022 18:02

Longdistance · 02/09/2022 18:01

Tell him to put the dog into kennels next time as you won’t be doing it again

Exactly this!

TrashyPanda · 02/09/2022 18:03

Dog owner - wouldn’t bother me at all. Dog was outside, having exercise. What’s there to complain about?

biggreenhouse · 02/09/2022 18:04

I'd be annoyed if it was my dog I guess, as I would have made alternative arrangements if it meant the dog got a walk.

MondayMoan · 02/09/2022 18:06

He's free to pay for board next time.

NoSquirrels · 02/09/2022 18:07

How old is the dog? Young, presumably, if you’ve not had him before now?

As PP says, at a boarding kennels the dog wouldn’t be walked either.

As a dog owner TBH I would be disgruntled if you hadn’t walked my dog but a) she’s a sweetie and very easy on the lead and b) I’d have discussed expectations before and been really clear about if she absolutely needed a walk. And if you’d encountered a problem whilst I was away I’d be happy you solved it (no walk) and kept my dog safe.

giveovernate · 02/09/2022 18:08

gogohmm · 02/09/2022 17:58

To be honest if someone agreed to have my dog I would assume they were willing to walk daily. My parents always walk my dog. Just say no if you can't meet all the dog's needs

But why wouldn't a run in the large garden meet the dogs needs?

YANBU OP!

Hugasauras · 02/09/2022 18:08

I wouldn't care. If the dog was happy then it's no issue. We don't walk ours every day either. Some days she's just out in the garden with DD all day and comes in knackered Grin

Hugasauras · 02/09/2022 18:09

Oh and my parents always look after our dog and never take her on a walk. They have an enormous garden with a stream that DDog has free run of. She always comes home far skinnier than when we left her Grin

Chesneyhawkes1 · 02/09/2022 18:09

I wouldn't mind. My Mum dog sits for free for me. She walks the small 2 dogs but she cant walk the big dog. And nor do I expect her to.

He has the run of the garden and she throws a ball for him.

Choconut · 02/09/2022 18:11

He'll know not to ask you again then if he's not happy. He can pay instead.

SisterAgatha · 02/09/2022 18:13

You always get people like this…

You are not doing that favour for me quick/well enough. Do it better next time, slave. Or I’ll have to pay for it and take the time out of my day to make you feel guilty at every moment.

FirewomanSam · 02/09/2022 18:13

My dog is a terrible walker (working on it!) and very often just doesn’t want to go. He plants himself on the pavement and refuses to move. When someone looks after him I always say to walk him if they can, but if he’s being difficult then not to worry about it. There are plenty of other ways to give dogs the exercise and mental stimulation they need but some people get very fixated on the need for a daily march on the lead.

SisterAgatha · 02/09/2022 18:16

As a dog owner TBH I would be disgruntled if you hadn’t walked my dog but a) she’s a sweetie and very easy on the lead and b) I’d have discussed expectations before and been really clear about if she absolutely needed a walk. And if you’d encountered a problem whilst I was away I’d be happy you solved it (no walk) and kept my dog safe.

again you can happily have all this. For a fee. For free and as a favour you should accept you aren’t getting a platinum service. Basic needs met, desirable needs not met. Pay for the luxuries if you have expectations.

Undermearmour · 02/09/2022 18:16

If someone is not happy with the service they have been given (free or paid) then they are always entitled to use an alternative service elsewhere.

HikingBoots · 02/09/2022 18:25

When our dog goes to my mum I don't care if she gets walked once. All I care about is that she's safe and alive when I get home. A break from her routine for a week or two won't do any harm at all.

Original poster
AnotherDoggy1 · 02/09/2022 18:38

NoSquirrels · 02/09/2022 18:07

How old is the dog? Young, presumably, if you’ve not had him before now?

As PP says, at a boarding kennels the dog wouldn’t be walked either.

As a dog owner TBH I would be disgruntled if you hadn’t walked my dog but a) she’s a sweetie and very easy on the lead and b) I’d have discussed expectations before and been really clear about if she absolutely needed a walk. And if you’d encountered a problem whilst I was away I’d be happy you solved it (no walk) and kept my dog safe.

He's about 2 I think. He's not been on holiday since they've gotten him, abroad anyway so I've had no reason to offer before. Well not even offer, he asked I didn't offer although I was happy to take him.

He's a nice dog, but he pulls horribly and is quite large (German shepherd cross of some sort). I've not minded having him here at all and have played with him (even let him sleep in my bed lol) but drew the line at being yanked around for ages every morning and evening 😂

OP posts:
PugInTheHouse · 02/09/2022 18:43

I really can't see the issue, it won't hurt the dog at all and it was clearly fine with not being walked and was obviously entertained enough otherwise you would know about it. I have a similar breed, probably a bit bigger and he'd be fine not being walked. He is an arsehole on the lead at the moment so I get where you're coming from. It's fine for me as I'm used to him but crap for someone else.