Anyone used Borrow my Doggy?

[MothershipG]

I put my Mini Schnauzer up as, although we meet her needs, she would never say no to extra walks and extra fuss!

Someone has contacted us so I was just wondering if any one had any experience of it, from either perspective?

I haven't used it but I think it's really important to fully think through how you would feel if something happened to your dog whilst under their care. As I understand it the organisation doesn't provide insurance cover beyond the initial meeting and you wouldn't want to end up in any kind of dispute over vet fees or insurance excess. If I were a "borrower" I'd be quite worried about getting sued!

I agree with Spicypear. As a further aside I'd be reluctant to accept their checks as 'security' and would want to verify myself. Having worked in debt collection for a number of years in the past you'd be shocked at the sheer weight of people who hold addresses and phone numbers for the shortest of times and then change almost monthly. They can br so difficult to check. Those checks on registration are meaningless the following day. Sorry for being negative.

Thanks for the replies and good points.

Pepper stays with a friend if we go on holiday and I am comfortable with that and would have to get to know the borrower so I would feel comfortable with her. She's insured so that would cover any vet fees.

fanof Do you have any suggestions about what I should do to verify the borrower or do you feel it's just too risky?

I wouldn't trust anyone with my furry friend ,and he doesn't like other dogs so he doesn't want friends. Do you pay for this service?

I have never heard of this and have now signed up as a borrower - thank you!

I understand your reservations as owners though. Your dog is a part of your family - it would be like leaving one of the DCs with a stranger.

I think quite a few meet ups together as you get to know each other would be good.

From my point of view, this is a great idea. My DDs are desperate for a dog, but we can't have one because both DH and I work full time, and we travel in big chunks of time at least a couple of times a year. To have a neighbourhood dog that the girls can get to know, be friends with, take out for walks, play in our garden etc. is just ideal. They have so much doggy love to share, and it would be great for them to learn some responsibility too.

My brother had a dog-walking business when he was about 10 years old and this reminds me a little of that.

Honestly, I don't think I'd get what I'd be prepared to accept...at the very least I'd want to go to their house to drop off and actually know they were there but realistically I'd not want to leave my dog until I knee them well enough to consider them a friend if not a preofessional service.

I couldn't do it either. What if they stole my dog?

I think the idea of the registration process (apparently they do check addresses and phone numbers) is to help prevent theft but as fanof pointed out they aren't foolproof.

I suppose it's a bit like online dating, in that they provide the introduction then it's up to you to decide if you want to move towards a relationship.

I know people steal dogs for all sorts of reasons but my 8 year old neutered Schnauzer certainly has no monetary value and if any dog would do for their purposes I think they'd be easier ways than paying to join a website to get one.

I was part way through registering bit then it looked like they were asking for £8 per month!!
It wasn't very clear

It's was asking me for £35 for an annual sub as a lender, I don't know if it's different for borrowers?

Sounds like a good idea! As it happens my dh works from home so we don't need to source dog walkers, but if that wasn't the case I would certainly consider this option,

I barely trust my family to walk mine tbh, in case they bugger up my training, so a total stranger walking them would be an absolute non starter for me
Even more importantly, they might have less exacting safety standards than I do or allow my over friendly bouncy pup to barge up to all and sundry.
If you had an older, quieter dog, and are not a control freak like me then it might work out though, assuming you properly get to know them first and go on walks with the borrower until you are happy with their level of supervision and knowledge

I haven't offered my Affens as they are more delicate little souls and not really interested in people outside their immediate social groups and I'm not at all sure they would enjoy the experience. Not that they are Mummy's boys, oh no, not at all....

Pepper is anyone's, she loves anyone who shows a bit of interest in her, she is very confident and independent and I really do think she would benefit from this. As I said in my OP we don't need to do it, I just think she would enjoy it.

As I said above I was considering it until it looked like they wanted £35 off me to be a borrower.
We are experienced dog owners but are waiting for the children to be older before we own one. We will probably get a dog in 18 months to a year.
We would treat a dog we looked after as if it were our own ( probably more carefully if looking after friends children are anything to go by)
I work from home and DH does too often and we have a large garden and park outside our from door.
If we are typical of potential borrowers owners really don't have anything g to worry about!!!

Hopping - I've just signed up as a borrower and they asked for £7.99 for the whole year?
I'm looking for other energetic dogs to play and run with my cocker. He loves other dogs but we don't know anyone round here so I think it's a good idea for this sort of thing. Found 2 in my area already.

Oh, I read it as £7.99 per month!!
I will have a look again as there are a couple of lovely Cockers near us apparently and this is the breed we are considering.

Thanks

I am going to sign up as a borrower as soon as we move to our new house and it looks like it will be £7.99 a month. I would dearly love to have a dog but DH is allergic so this would be perfect. Another idea I had was to go and ask at the local pet shops/vets if there were any elderly people in the area who were having difficulty keeping up which the walks their dogs need. And I will sign up with the Cinnamon Trust to see if they need any volunteers near me.

Any tips on how to let owners know I'm trustworthy? We will be in our house quite a while as we've bought it but will be new in town at first. I wouldn't mind visiting the owners and dog several times, going out walking with them along at first, etc.

Oops meant to say £7.99 a year

I'd love a dog. DH would move out!
If love to borrow a dog!!
I'm planning to get both DCs in school then help out a rescue (danger is I won't come home empty handed) or register with Cinnamon Trust.

Well I have contacted about 6 owners in my area over the course of a month and only today got my first reply ( which unfortunately said they didn't want anyone with children - profile said the dog was good with children!) she also said that she hadn't seen my message as despite registering a couple of months ago she had only " signed up properly recently"
No idea what that means but suggests that the dog lenders on the site don't see the messages until they " sign up properly"?????

Interesting, Hoppinggreen. Sounds like most people who sign up don't pay and then can't see their messages. Good to know so I don't waste £7.95 for nothing.

Hearts or Hopping, roughly where are you? You sound fab and I'd love to lend my pup to someone like you. DM me if you prefer. I'm not100% comfortable with the borrowmydoggy ideas - I have signed him up but not subscribed to get borrower details as it all seems such a leap of faith. Wondering if it would all end up like freecycle with people not turning up etc.

Just come across PAWSHAKE, unsure how they work.
They may be worth a look.

OOPS... just came across Pawshake.

West Yorkshire, I can be more specific if you are close.
I think I'm resigned to having wasted £8 now to be honest.
Poor DD is very disappointed