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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To expect dog sitter to....

114 replies

365BeachDays · 01/08/2023 09:57

Walk dogs daily, regardless of weather, to an extent of course.

Clean up dog mess from garden.

Send updates/photos etc.

Keep house in decent condition - I.e, the way it was before.

I'd be interested to hear your thoughts.

TIA

OP posts:
Nemesias · 01/08/2023 11:26

How do you know she didn’t walk them? If you can prove it I would tell her you aren’t happy and ask for a reduction, and I’d leave her a factual review.

if you can’t prove it then I think you have to pay and just not use her again

Cosyblankets · 01/08/2023 11:28

If the agreement was that she'd walk them, and i would think that should be a given, then i wouldn't be paying.
How do you know they haven't been walked?

Nemesias · 01/08/2023 11:28

Dotjones · 01/08/2023 11:24

Walk dogs daily, regardless of weather, to an extent of course.
No, she's a dog sitter not dog walker. The clue's in the name, the person is being paid to sit and watch the dog.

Clean up dog mess from garden.
Probably if the garden didn't have any shit in it when their period of service started. If you'd left your dog shit from previous occasions though it would be unreasonable to expect the sitter to clean up your mess.

Send updates/photos etc.
Not unless you'd agreed the frequency of this beforehand.

Keep house in decent condition - I.e, the way it was before.
To an extent. Fair wear and tear should be allowed. I wouldn't expect them to clean though - you should employ a cleaner if you want the place kept tidy while you're away. But obviously they should be making structural alterations or redecorating, should wash up after dinner etc.

Of course a dog sitter should walk the dogs - honestly why do people have to be so obtuse these days on MN. She’s being paid to provide owner level care for the dogs that includes walking them

Delatron · 01/08/2023 11:32

When we’ve had a dog sitter I’ve been very specific - so I’d say the dog normally gets 2 walks a day totalling at least and hour and a half.

Did you agree specifics? And how do you know the length of the walk?

She sounds rubbish but you’ll have to chalk it up to experience and not use her again. I’d pay but you could always ask her why the dog walks weren’t long. And express your displeasure.

yellowsmileyface · 01/08/2023 11:32

@Dotjones I disagree. I'm a catsitter. I'm not paid to sit and watch the cat. I'm paid to feed them, play with them and keep them entertained, give them cuddles if they want, sort out the litter, etc.

I disagree with posters saying that updates and such depend on what's been agreed upon. As a petsitter I would say that updates are a standard part of the deal. You might want to specify the frequency of them, but to send no updates at all is completely unacceptable. And there's no excuse for ignoring OP's messages as well.

In general I don't think there's any excuse for the poor job she's done, and I'd seriously consider reducing her pay. Agree it's a piss take.

heldinadream · 01/08/2023 11:36

I house sit and cat sit.
All necessary care of cats. If they were dogs that would definitely include proper walking.
All cleaning up after animals.
Leave the house clean and loved and everything in its place. Inform of any problems or breakages that occur.
I send regular updates and photos. Even if there's nothing to say - all is well, hope you're having a great time, the sun's been out and here's the cat enjoying herself etc etc.
Yes you totally have a right to expect everything you've listed OP.
Get yourself a new sitter. This site is UNPAID sitters doing it for the pleasure of a holiday, like me. Can't believe that someone who's being paid wouldn't go the extra mile, shocking.
House sitting, pet sitting, dog sitting in the UK - House Sitters UK

House Sitters UK

Pet and House Sitting in United Kingdom. We connect House Owners and House Sitters quickly, easily and affordably.

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RudsyFarmer · 01/08/2023 11:37

I would approach and say you werent happy with the service. Why do you feel you can’t do that?

Original poster
365BeachDays · 01/08/2023 11:39

Regarding the keeping the house in order point, I wouldn't expect things to be spic and span. I didn't go round with a dust glove or anything (!) but for example, the floor was covered in dry mud (presumably from those 2 walks!) and dog hair. They could have been hoovered up in 30 seconds and the hoover was out and charged in the hallway. I'm not expected her to clean our mess, but her mess, yes. It's just a bit of a final insult really. Saying that, had everything else been done, this wouldn't have really bothered me. It's on top of everything else when it starts to feel very disrespectful.

We knew about the walks because we have a security cam. External only. Wouldn't dream of having an internal one when someone was in the house.

OP posts:
ellebelli · 01/08/2023 11:40

Definitely should be walking the dogs at least once a day and picking up after them in the garden.
I would also expect the house to be left clean and tidy.
How do you know that the dogs were not walked?
If you have proof of this and you have other concerns then Definitely say so and leave a honest review afterwards.
It sounds like she took the piss, did as little as she could get away with and still expects to be paid.

Actiongirlalltheway · 01/08/2023 11:45

Blimey I wouldn't be paying the full whack at all! The dog not being walked is totally unacceptable. Basic level of care expected is for dogs to be walked at the very least on a daily basis.

Sarfar45 · 01/08/2023 11:52

I've noticed some pet sitter's charge for dog walks separately. But she should have been clear if they were included or not.
We paid £40 per day for dog sitting at our house, she's a dog walker so he was going out for long walks everyday. She sent the odd WhatsApp but I could also see most of that walks as she does the odd instagram stories on her walks. So I could see he was having a lovely time. House was clean and tidy when we got back.
I would pay her but I would make her aware you know the dog was only walked twice and not use her again.

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 01/08/2023 11:56

Dotjones · 01/08/2023 11:24

Walk dogs daily, regardless of weather, to an extent of course.
No, she's a dog sitter not dog walker. The clue's in the name, the person is being paid to sit and watch the dog.

Clean up dog mess from garden.
Probably if the garden didn't have any shit in it when their period of service started. If you'd left your dog shit from previous occasions though it would be unreasonable to expect the sitter to clean up your mess.

Send updates/photos etc.
Not unless you'd agreed the frequency of this beforehand.

Keep house in decent condition - I.e, the way it was before.
To an extent. Fair wear and tear should be allowed. I wouldn't expect them to clean though - you should employ a cleaner if you want the place kept tidy while you're away. But obviously they should be making structural alterations or redecorating, should wash up after dinner etc.

Don’t be so ridiculous, stupid comments.

I’d probably pay but because I hate confrontation. Never use her again and be clear what is expected from the next one.

Roughashouses · 01/08/2023 12:08

If we're going by Dotjone's reasoning they shouldn't have been fed or watered either 🙄

I'd expect proper dog walks - minimal twice a day - the garden cleared, updates and the sitter's mess cleared away. I think you should question the lack of walks to be honest.

caringcarer · 01/08/2023 12:24

I'd ask her how often dogs were walked. See what she says. If she lies and says everyday I'd ask her to come over to see security cam footage. I'd pay her this time, never use her again but I'd leave her an honest but poor review including only 2 X 20 min walk for dogs in a week.

FOJN · 01/08/2023 12:24

Was there any sort of written agreement about what you expected and what she promised to do or a discussion about the level of service she offered?

If she has fallen short of what she agreed to deliver then I would not pay in full and I would tell her why.

If you did not have a discussion making your expectations clear and which she not explicitly agreed to then I think you have to suck it up and pay her.

I understand you might reasonably have expected walks, picking up poo and leaving the house clean and tidy to all be part of the basic service but it will be hard to argue she failed if you did not make these things explicit.

StartSWagaintomorrow · 01/08/2023 12:27

Do sitter should pick up poo 💩 and walk regularly how much did they charge?

jods19 · 01/08/2023 12:30

In all honesty and in my own opinion, I wouldn't feel comfy having someone stay in my home to look after the dogs, luckily I know someone that does homebording and that's where they go when we go away. Maybe have a think about doing something like this next time? You can always visit the place they are staying and some even offer for your dogs to go over for a couple of hours to get use to the new environment and people 😊

ZeldaWillTellYourFortune · 01/08/2023 12:32

365BeachDays · 01/08/2023 11:08

They were fed and watered (I'm assuming) but in a week were very briefly walked for 15/20 minutes, twice. We will pay, I'm just not happy with the amount.

How do you know how often they were walked?

I'd just pay & move on.

tilestoclean · 01/08/2023 12:33

All depends how much you're paying surely? Don't think you've disclosed that?

MadeForThis · 01/08/2023 12:44

Ask her how often she walked the dogs. See what she says. Ask her if that fulfils the requirements of her contract.

I wouldn't be worried about some mud on the floor.

NuffSaidSam · 01/08/2023 12:47

I'd expect all of that apart from photos/updates, surely you can go a week or two without a picture of your dog or a daily update on what they've been doing?! I'd expect them to get in touch if something out of the ordinary had happened but updates like 'Rover ate all his dinner and did a poo in the garden' are not necessary.

Softoprider · 01/08/2023 12:51

If you employ someone to clean your home and do not tell them what you want you can only blame yourself if they fall short of expectations.
Similarly if you employ a sitter to look after your pets while you are away you must tell them what to do and if they don't agree then get someone else to do it.

I would be appalled if I paid someone to look after my beloved dogs and found out they had not been walked as this is so important. Never mind the rest of it - just walk my dogs !

Original poster
365BeachDays · 01/08/2023 12:53

@NuffSaidSam this is something she advertised - regular photos and updates. I think it's fairly standard now with sitters. If we hadn't agreed to that, then yes, it would be unreasonable for me to expect. Ignoring my messages surely can't be acceptable though.

@MadeForThis yeah, mud on the floor on it's own wouldn't have been a big deal, it just sort of cemented the whole lack of care and respect, given all the other issues.

OP posts:
dogsweetdog · 01/08/2023 12:53

I would expect a dog sitter to do all those things.

Have you discussed with her why she didn't walk them/clean up the mess?

I don't blame you for not wanting to pay her invoice, she's basically just lived in your house rent free, made a mess, and taken your dogs for two walks!

Willmafrockfit · 01/08/2023 12:55

how do you know the length of the walks?