Ddog kicked out of dog walkers group walk. Advice please?

[TooOldForThisWhoCares]

And please, I really don't want a kicking over this. Dog is 13months a very excitable rescue we've had since she was 5 months. Been with well-regarded dog walker since August on a group walk with 5 other dogs. I was aware there were some issues with her being over excited in play (NO aggression from ddog) but it seems that this "negative" pattern has set in with other dogs turning on her and the dog walker no longer wants to walk her. Entirely her choice and I understand etc. I had already consulted a trainer (recommended by the walker) and given her the strategies recommended by the trainer. Ddog has improved a lot with us on walks re;other dogs and generally can be distracted past them or has a polite brief gambol about. She is fast and giddy and i think she irritates other dogs. Individual waljs are like gold dust around here and 20 quid an hour. I work 3 days a week. I don't want to regime her, we've got her now and want to make it work. There is another dog walker prepared to trial her for 2 weeks but I need a back up plan if it doesn't work. Does anyone have experience/idea I'm feeling pretty despondent. Thanks.

[cowfacemonkey]

Notes from the dog walker about ott behaviour is ridiculous! The only time we ever heard from mine was when the little sod decided recall was optional all of a sudden and he was playing a merry game of coming back but just out of reach of the dog walker! Had to send MIL out with a block of cheese to find them and assist!

[missbattenburg]

Some of the best dogs I have ever known were teenage delinquents. I had one many years ago that was kicked out of puppy classes and, quite frankly, he was the best behaved dog of the lot! The trainer was an idiot

Besides, 13 months old is prime time for being little buggers. Battendog is now 18 months old and it just feels like we are over the hump and starting to get better again.

Also agree notes about "OTT" reflect more badly on the walker than on you. I wouldn't automatically assume this to be a problem with all walkers. Those with bouncier, more energetic dogs already on their books may find yours a better fit for the group and so the "OTT" will be less of an issue.

[Nesssie]

Is there a walk that will do group walks but on lead?

I was told my rescue had the 'wrong attitude' for doggy day care. Made me feel awful! He just didn't have the correct socialisation so doesn't have very good manners.

My dog walker said she had to keep an eye on him and correct him if he got too much, but she would try and pair him up with a dog of similar boisterous behaviour so they could bounce off each other.

[TooOldForThisWhoCares]

Yeah I think she was poorly socialised as a tiny pup and just doesn't know when to stop! I'm meeting with the trainer again tomorrow for some more advice and practical tips at the local park. I'll also ask her if she knows anyone who does individual walks.

[TooOldForThisWhoCares]

Sorry I have to add to this. The dog walker has now started sending me captioned photos of ddog' s behaviour on walks. Why is she doing this now? She's already given me notice to stop walking. It's just stressing me out. I don't need to be sent photos in addition to notes left in the book!

[BiteyShark]

Just ask her to stop or bin them straight away without a second thought.

Why is she doing this now?
Maybe she feels she needs to justify why she doesn't want to walk her in case you find a walker that takes her with no issues iykwim. Or perhaps she is misguided and thinks they are helpful.

[Justagirlwholovesaboy]

How long are you out of the house?

[TooOldForThisWhoCares]

I'm not going to react again to them, Bitey. Initially she just sent a series of blurry photos of her apparently playing boisterously with another dog with "This is ddog today, I'm afraid" while I was at work. I hadn't seen her book note so wasn't sure if it was a proper fight or not!? So asked if it was a fight and said she should just keep her on the lead permanently and got snippy reply that she would have phoned if it was a fight. I stopped responding. I'm starting to feel this is her building up to saying she doesn't even want to walk her for the notice period she's given either.

Justagirl I'm out of the house from 8.15ish til 4.45 although dd is home at 3.15. I think it's too long for her to be left.

[spinn]

Do you work in a place where dog could go to work with you? (We have 2 dogs who come to work in our office)

[PoisonousSmurf]

Wow! Imagine how much dog walkers rake in! Six dogs maybe twice a day that's £120 per day!
No wonder our local dog walker swans around in the latest Range Rover.

[CherryPavlova]

Try BOrrow my doggy and get an individual volunteer to walk the dog or dog day care?

[CherryPavlova]

Advertise for a local person to walk the dog 121?
Ask to work later but take a longer lunch Break?

[Spudlet]

Some dog walkers offer home visits where they'll play with the dog in the garden and keep them company, but won't actually take them out. Is that an option?

[HoraceCope]

can you ask her why she is sending these photos as she has already given you notice?

[woollyheart]

See if you can find someone else to do the walk and start them with dog earlier than one month. It is going to be hell getting continuous school reports of your dog's (normal) behaviour. The walker is probably trying to justify ending it earlier.

If your dog is reactive, it will be difficult to manage 6 dogs. Your dog is behaving normally for its age by the sound of it. Maybe the walker should only accept geriatric dogs.

I sympathise with the annoying daily reports on behaviour- it reminded me of the frequent reports I used to get for ds. Yes, I know that he takes a long time to get changed etc. but not much I can do when I am not there and teacher is....

[TheCounter]

I've got a similar issue. Female Whippet that seems to attract aggression from all types of dogs.
She's very playful and can be a bit domineering with small dogs but is an absolute coward with anything the same size or bigger.
I've had multiple occasions where dogs walking past have tried to have a go at her when she's on lead and not even showing interest. Only last week had a six month old collie go for her twice while I was standing talking to its owner(apparently because she was standing too close to him) then a crossbreed walk past only to circle and launch itself at her from behind while she was on lead ten minutes later.
I could never trust a dog walker to keep her safe in a group walk so I use someone that takes her a half hour walk separately everyday for an extra fiver.
They're usually open to this idea. Just got to trust they'll not renage on the agreement and and includ3 them in group walks

[MillicentSnitch]

Try borrowmydoggy.com? I know several people who have used this site with success.

[sleeplessinsomewhere]

She sounds awful.

Your dog sounds great!

Worst thing we did was let our dog go on group walks. Fucked him right up into a reactive mess. So much better on lone walks, or calm sniffy walks.

I actually ended up changing my hours so he could be left. He was much happier with this arrangement.

He's just like me though I'd rather be alone snoozing than at a busy party!

[sleeplessinsomewhere]

Oh and there is such a misconception about dogs needing to play and be worn out.

There's a place for calm brain games and company too.

So if there's someone who can come in and let the dog out and provide company this would have been preferable for our dog. For his personality.

[HoraceCope]

i would ask for a walk at 11, on his own

[OhDearGodLookAtThisMess]

Don't care whether the council "allows" 6 dogs at a time or not, I think that's way too many and I wouldn't like my dog walked like that. Nor would I fancy meeting them when out with my own.

[sleeplessinsomewhere]

Agree @OhDearGodLookAtThisMess we saw one lady yesterday with 6. Ridiculous.

[sleeplessinsomewhere]

It's just crowd control. Not quality.

[mrsjoyfulprizeforraffiawork]

I also think dogwalker is trying to justify not being able to manage your dog. My dog was summarily "expelled" from dogwalker's group - I was texted at work to be told my dog had bitten dogwalker and been returned home (in a muzzle, apparently) and dogwalker was rushing to doctor's for treatment (no treatment necessary I later found out though I think she was prescribed antibiotics as a precaution). She could not possibly ever walk him again, she said. I was very shocked as my dog (an adult) was not one to ever bite humans (unless they were attacking her or me). I hadn't really taken to the dogwalker (she'd been walking dog for about a month or six weeks, can't remember). I apologised profusely, sent her flowers, etc and a letter or email of apology (all the time thinking, my dog doesn't "just" do this sort of thing - it has never happened before). She eventually replied and sheepishly admitted that IN FACT, she had taken my dog out with her own little staffie and had been bending over the dogs, twiddling with a lead or her shoelace or something and had FALLEN on top of my dog (she was a fat girl) and my dog had responded by snapping at and starting a fight with her own dog then she had actually accidentally (her word) got her hand bitten by my dog in trying to separate them. Did me a favour though as I was lucky enough to find a really lovely middle-aged lady to walk my dog (on her own) thereafter and my dog became much, much happier. Months later, I saw the original walker with a staffie (not hers) in the forest and it was really unhappy and nervous and pulling on the lead and she seemed totally unable to cope and unable to empathise with or even talk her charge. My own dog walked past her as if she had never met her and was very well behaved!

[AlpacaLypse]

I'm a pro dog walker. I can confirm that Cliverton, who are probably the market leader in specialist animal worker insurance, insure for up to six dogs per handler. With larger younger dogs we usually limit it to three or four though for safety reasons.

Since we have eight walkers including myself, we can usually find a group to suit every dog. However a one woman band like it sounds your walker is will not be able to do this.

I would imagine she thinks she's being helpful sending the photos, so that you and your behaviourist can see the problem. I regularly take videos for the two I'm walking regularly who are going to what I privately call 'delinquent dog school'. It's going really well actually, one is already much more of a team player and hasn't had to go on Time Out for nearly a month, and the other is definitely improving and managed a whole walk this week without a single Time Out. The behaviourist is in direct contact with me and sometimes comes along on a walk to see his doggy client and give support and advice.