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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

My dog ate my visitors shoes 👟

113 replies

ClippyClopp · 01/08/2023 19:44

I work as a private tutor- mum and daughter just came for their appointment. I have a young rescue Viszla, I put him out the back as he can be boisterous especially when people visit.

on arrival they had taken off their shoes which was very courteous of them, but I hadn’t asked them to and hadn’t noticed as I had turned around whilst showing them into my teaching room.

During my lesson, the dog had been let in (by either DH or one of the children) and unbeknownst to anyone taken the shoes into the living room.

I wondered why the mum looked confused when it was time to leave and then noticed she wasn’t wearing shoes, I walked in to the living room and one of her shoes was completely demolished with bits of sole and laces all over the floor.

I was obviously massively embarrassed and apologised profusely, thankfully he hadn’t eaten the daughters Nike trainers. I offered to reimburse the mum but she said not to worry as they weren’t expensive. She did giggle but I realise she was probably just being polite.

What made it worse was it was raining and she had to hop to the car in her one remaining shoe, avoiding puddles.

Do you think she’ll come back? Is there anything else I should do to make this ok?

OP posts:
Qwerty21 · 01/08/2023 19:45

How about train your dog?!

primoseyellow · 01/08/2023 19:46

I would have given her a pair of crocs or something to go out in, if I had something that fit her obvs.

I think it's funny!🤣

HerRoyalNotness · 01/08/2023 19:46

I’d offer one more time. Then leave it.

this happened to me at a friend house,
dog ate my new espadrille. She looked at it and said oh you could glue those bits back in, be good as new. That was it, and they’re loaded, would have appreciated an offer to replace but at the same time would have said no no it’s ok.

HunterHearstHelmsley · 01/08/2023 19:47

I'd message and say something along the lines of.. "I'm mortified that Steve ate your shoes! I know you say they weren't expensive but please let me get you a new pair!"

I'm not sure if they will come back either way.. If you're a good tutor then it's worth them coming back.

primoseyellow · 01/08/2023 19:47

@Qwerty21 Its not that easy to train a dog not to chew, they don't know the diffrence between toys , shoes , their things/our things etc. She did shut it away also.

rickandmorts · 01/08/2023 19:47

Qwerty21 · 01/08/2023 19:45

How about train your dog?!

Did you not see the part where it is a young rescue? She probably is training the dog but it's not an overnight process and chewing is something they usually grow out of...

Changingplace · 01/08/2023 19:47

I wouldn’t charge her for this session to make up for it. My fig went through a massive shoe eating phase by luckily only mine!

Changingplace · 01/08/2023 19:48

Dog not fig 😆

TomatoSandwiches · 01/08/2023 19:48

I think sending a message for a free or 50% discontinued on the next lesson would encourage another visit.
I'm sure she won't be offering to take her shoes off again though.

Daleksatemyshed · 01/08/2023 19:48

I know it's not funny really but you've made me choke on my beer Op, you can always relay on your pets to embarrass you 😂

mybestchildismycat · 01/08/2023 19:49

Oh dear, that is rather unfortunate!

You did the right thing by offering to reimburse her there and then. She might have felt uncomfortable accepting your offer on the spot, so I would send her a text just to reiterate that you would like to pay for the damage. Or perhaps you could deduct it from the fee for your next session?

BillaBongGirl · 01/08/2023 19:49

I’d just reduce my tutoring invoice by £50 for shoe destruction.

primoseyellow · 01/08/2023 19:50

When I was a child we had an afghan Hound that ran past the estate agent valuing our house, with a bunch of grapes and nipped his bottom as she went past.

Meeting · 01/08/2023 19:50

I'd give the next lesson for free as an apology.

Chihowhow · 01/08/2023 19:50

Definitely offer to reduce the next session by the shoe amount. We have just got a new pup that is obsessed with shoes and I felt this viscerally. Sorry OP! Xx

NuffSaidSam · 01/08/2023 19:51

I'd refund her/not charge her for this session and apologise once more and then leave it.

Stuff happens, seems like she took it well. I'm sure she's judging you on the quality of your teaching and not the shoe incident.

Missingmyusername · 01/08/2023 19:52

🤦🏼‍♀️🤣 Why didn’t you give her a shoe lol

I’d offer a free lesson?

Womencanlift · 01/08/2023 19:55

Sorry OP but I wouldn’t be coming back if I was that mum

Nanna50 · 01/08/2023 19:56

You need to supervise your dog properly, if he can demolish a shoe without anyone noticing he can also eat something to harm or poison himself.

You should have offered to refund the lesson and insist she accepts.

LlynTegid · 01/08/2023 19:56

Offer one more time.

Find some homework for the dog to eat!!

ClippyClopp · 01/08/2023 19:57

I’ve sent her a message since apologising again and stating how terribly embarrassed I am, I have offered the next session free of charge. She’s been ever so polite and said not to worry about it but I can’t help feeling so bad. Maybe I’m overthinking it? Not sure, I’ve never been this embarrassed 😳

OP posts:
BMW6 · 01/08/2023 20:05

Nah, you've apologised profusely, offered twice to replace shoes, offered free lesson.

Draw a line under it now, make sure it doesn't happen again, but forget it.

Someoneonlyyouknow · 01/08/2023 20:07

I would offer again definitely. They may have been cheap or so expensive she was embarrassed to say. Do you have enough shoe left to reconstruct and work out the brand? If she still declines take money off your tutoring fee (and reassure her you will be taking extra dog precautions)

Mariposista · 01/08/2023 20:08

rickandmorts · 01/08/2023 19:47

Did you not see the part where it is a young rescue? She probably is training the dog but it's not an overnight process and chewing is something they usually grow out of...

THIS. Although don't worry OP, most people on MN assume dogs and puppies come ready trained. Yet are quick to dismiss children's tantrums as 'the learning process'.
This is actually quite funny. They shouldn't have taken their shoes off should they?

Anothernamethesamegame · 01/08/2023 20:12

I’d probably give a free lesson/ not charge for the lesson they used. Although an accident it was your dog so your responsibility and they were following a fairly generic social norms by taking of their shoes in your home