Dog walker couldn't recall my puppy

[AlphaBravoHenryFoxtons]

I hired a professional dog walker today to walk my dog as I have a very busy day. She's 6 months old and it's the 2nd time I've had her walked by someone who isn't in our family. When I discussed things with him, he said he'd probably walk her on a long lead the first couple of times he walked her. Last time it was absolutely fine (I have no idea if he let her off her long lead or not). This time I had a call to ask me to come across town to the park where they were walking to get her to come back and collect her (his service is pick up walk and drop off) as he said she'd spooked herself and wouldn't come back. She was in sight but would not go to him.

Normally her recall is truly excellent. We go to puppy classes twice a week and it's something we work on a lot. But clearly that's for me and DH, and the children walking her. She isn't very used to be walked by others.

Does anyone have any advice. She was clearly shaken when I picked her up. She came to me immediately and I picked her up and put her in the car. She hash;t left my side since and she is scared. He's nice and trustworthy, he runs a well-respected outfit but I don't know what went on to spook her as she's a confident little dog, very friendly and bombproof.

Also he had a small nip on his hand and he said she had nipped him as he tried to catch her and get the lead on her. This is totally unlike her. He was walking 4 other dogs at the same time.

Give her plenty of of reassurance and don't use that dog walker.

Why was she off-lead with a virtual stranger? As a youngster she'll still need lots of reassurance when out in the world. He also doesn't sound particularly savvy - grabbing a scared dog is a sure-fire way to get bitten and a terrible learning experience for your pup

SunshineandShadows - Thank you for your response. She is asleep next to me on the sofa. It makes me wonder what would have happened had I not been in. As he offers a service whereby he lets himself into your house, takes the dog out and then takes the dog home again. What would have happened if I wasn't available to trek across town?

Responsible dog walkers don't let other people's dogs off lead at all, or at least until they know them well and are really sure of their recall! I'm not his liability insurance will cover him if your dog comes to harm.

I also hope you aren't paying the single dog rate if he's walking 5 dogs at a time - he could be earning £50 per hour. Look for someone else.

Be very very careful. My boy didn't like his first dog walker but I didn't realise until it was too late. At nine months he would try to attack every dog and man that came near him. Now finally at two and a half he has settled and mostly the confident dog I used to have. Go with you gut

Whatever the reasons for her running off and nipping him are she clearly doesn't get on with him/the other dogs he walks/the area he walks them. I'd look for another dog walker or daycare set up if it that had happened to my dog.

Thank you all. I think it's probably best that I make sure to walk her myself. I love walking her. I just thought it was a good thing to establish for the odd time when there's a funeral or something unavoidable that means I'm unable to walk her.

I had no idea I was putting her in a position where she wouldn't be safe.

It's still a good idea, so do look around for an alternative if you can.

It sounds like she was frightened by the other dogs and he's folkish lay tried to catch her, while holding onto his other charges. He should have asked you to sign an off lead agreement that states that you are happy for him to let your dog off the lead and should also include a statement from him saying that he will only let the dog off if HE'S happy with her recall. I would never let a dog off until I knew it for quite some time and then only in a secure area for the first few times.

I also hope you aren't paying the single dog rate if he's walking 5 dogs at a time - he could be earning £50 per hour. Look for someone else

That's nonsense. The dogs don't all magically appear in his van. He could spend anything up to 1 1/2 hours collecting and dropping them off, so at most will be getting £20 per hour, less fuel costs, insurance, tax, etc. it can be a lovely job, but it can also be an extremely tiring and stressful job, depending on the dogs.

I have no quibble with his hourly rate. But I do need a dog walker who is competent.

Dog walker sent me a text to say he hopes she's not too traumatised. And that she's probably too young to understand the pack walk dynamics.

Can anyone translate.

I can translate that ,it means the dog walker is an idiot - avoid at all costs !

Did you say the dog walker was walking 4 dogs plus yours, I think that exceeds the max he's allowed to walk....which is 4! He will be invalidating his insurance.

It means he can't control one or more of the dogs he's walking, leading to a young dog being frightened so much she runs off and won't come back.

I am a professional dog walker and would never let any dog of the lead until I had walked it for at least four months, and only then in an enclosed space.

Is this walker insured?

I don't like the sound of this man - I would find someone else.

As floral says. There is no 'pack dynamic' with a group of I related domestic dogs that are burial strangers. This guy sounds like joker

Virtual strangers!

Yes, thanks. I thought the pack theory was old hat. Not that I'm a dog expert by a long shot. She is my first dog and I'm woefully inexperienced.

It was lovely today in the park. She comes whenever called and is very attentive. To test, DH went to way over the other side of the park and called her. She came immediately she was called, sat and he gave her a huge fuss. And then a while later I called her from a good distance away, on the other side of the park, again she came hurtling at top speed and sat at my feet. She's clearly not that enthusiastic about the dog walker though.