Warning for those who use walkers

[Doggydoggydoggy]

Please be very careful who you use.

In the interests of hopefully not being outed I am not going to reveal the name but I used to use this dog walking company and trusted them wholeheartedly.

A few months ago they posted footage that made me very uncomfortable.
In it, they threw a handful of treats into the grass while a group of (unknown to each other) dogs belonging to different clients descended, pushing and shoving each other to find the coveted treats.

I thought about questioning them on this regarding the risk of dog fights and introducing resource guarding into dogs that previously have no issues but in the end let it slide.

Today, they posted horrifying footage of an enormous retriever repeatedly pinning down and humping a tiny dachshund who was repeatedly showing teeth, warning the other dog off.
When the retriever finally stopped it gave a big stress shake off.

I will never again trust anyone to look after my precious dog.

Their lack of knowledge on body language and behaviour is just shocking, when questioned by, i am assuming another client, their response was ‘that’s how the golden likes to play’.
😱

Anyone who reads my posts often will know that my dog can be reactive with other dogs.

I know for a fact she would 100% roared at, quite possibly bitten this golden had god forbid he had done it to her.

I am just shocked and gutted at what I saw and wonder how many potentially dangerous situations my dog was potentially put in staying with them..

So please be really careful to make sure the walker you are using is reputable, with good knowledge of dog behaviour and how to keep them safe.

I think she means genetic/inherited behaviour problem?

Yes @Doggydoggydoggy - spot on! It was a rather long winded way of saying there's no such thing as a bad dog, only bad owners. 'Bad owner' doesn't necessarily mean cruel or even simply thoughtless, it can easily include inexperienced owners and, rather too often, victims of bad or outdated advice.

Oh ok then so my reply to that is Bollocks!

There is no "bad" dog but there are a lot of reasons a dog will have "issues" other than bad owners. That view is naive and is not one an experienced and qualified behaviourist would agree with.

yy. That's why I'm not describing myself as a behaviourist - although I probably will in about a year or two. I do maintain that all the dogs who have issues are ones that have gone through rehoming or rescue in their vulnerable teenage years.

Anyway over and out. It's been a frantic week and I am going to bed now as far as social media is concerned until sometime on Sunday...

I do maintain that all the dogs who have issues are ones that have gone through rehoming or rescue in their vulnerable teenage years.

I am not a behaviourist either - just someone who has spent 35 years around an awful lot of dogs - but honestly, this is not true. Early socialisation is so important too, but even with everything done right, sometimes dogs are just not 'wired right' and can be very difficult to manage. I'm not saying this is always aggression, just social skills and nerves.

Anyway, have said on many dog walking threads previously, I think anyone who trusts their dogs to these walkers who take groups is a bit naive really.

It is very difficult to properly control a group of multiple dogs even if they are your own dogs, let alone dogs from different households. Even IF the dog walker has control of their own charges (and many clearly don't), that does not take account of other dogs they might meet and dogs fighting or running in response to an attack.

OP I'm so sorry that you have had such a terrible experience with a walker who seemed experienced and trustworthy. It is clearly an accident waiting to happen and it's unforgivable.

I don't blame you at all for never wanting to use a dog walker again.

I'd like to say though that there are some trustworthy ones around. I'm a dog walker and I take great great care of every dog in my care.

Dogs are walked solo or in small thoughtfully matched groups which are introduced very slowly and carefully. I have a thorough understanding or behaviour and body language.

Last week I took on a client whose previous Dog walker had been witnessed several times by a neighbour just letting the dog into the garden for a poo for 5 minutes, when she was being paid for an hour solo walk! I was speechless.

I would love to see the industry regulated.

Reminded me of this:

www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-43380887

It really needs to be licensed IMO, for the safety of the dogs and everyone else. Pretty sure there would be less dog shit left lying as well.

IMO they tell you what you want to hear.
‘They’ll be walked alone, we’ll wash their feet when they’re home, they won’t be fed human food with us’ etc and then often disregard what you ask.
I am related to a dog walker, she regularly tells me how she ignores owners requests and finds it funny that they have no idea. Can think of four owner request examples off the top of my head.
It’s why I would never and have never used a walker.
Hope your Ddog has never been involved in anything you don’t know about OP.

In every industry there are good and bad practitioners. As a responsible Dog walker who listens to what my clients want and stick to exactly what has been agreed I feel I need to stick up for those of us who are reliable!

people I agree, but for my it put huge distrust in walkers. I would have trusted her with all my dogs, and recommended her untill she told me all this. I don’t any more, but I don’t doubt there are some trusting and honest walkers around!

I understand chris it's probably very very tricky to tell the good ones from the bad.

I'd like to think that at my initial meeting owners can tell I'm reliable and I know what I'm doing. But I can only get that far if they choose to meet with me.

The situation you describe is just unforgivable. Some things could be put down to a difference of opinion, but that is just downright dangerous and playing kamikaze with dogs health.

I'm sure this isn't what you do but so many customers just want the cheapest quote. Especially for cat feeding. My prices are very reasonable but I find it frustrating that people put a bargain above a good service.

Out of interest is there anything a dog walker could do to reassure you? I take photos and videos although I prefer to concentrate on the dogs rather than getting great images.

Whether it's an animal, child or vulnerable elderly relative you have to put your trust in people to look after them if needed.

All you can do is the obvious checks and hope they never break that trust. I hope and think most people are nice and do their best but unfortunately there will always be those that don't.

peoplepleaser1 I find reassurance when I am told when things are quite right iykwim. Mine goes to daycare and I get told if he's been a bit quiet, not eating etc as well as the usual pictures of him having a good time.

That should have said 'when things aren't quite right'

The thing that gets me about this is - I can understand that if you're looking after more than one dog there might be an occasional accidental lapse. But this walker evidently stood there filming unacceptable interactions (instead of intervening) and then posted the film (instead of being mortified) .... I mean, wtf?

Out of interest is there anything a dog walker could do to reassure you? I take photos and videos although I prefer to concentrate on the dogs rather than getting great images.

Correct priorities - maybe you could occasionally get a friend to accompany you and take some photos/videos?

I have to say that dog walking companies have ruined the area where I used to walk my two dogs. Walkers with 'packs' of 5/6 dogs (big and small) seemingly in some kind of control, some on the lead, some off. My dogs are slightly reactive and so to be confronted by these packs (there are several companies working my parks) is very unsettling for them. We've changed where we walk now...5 people walking 1 dog, in calm control is very different to 1 person have 5 dogs..

Thanks for the feedback. I really appreciate it. Getting someone else to take photos is a great idea. I never walk in 'parks'. It feels unfair on the general public.

It takes a lot of extra work to travel to good walks with few other people, safe parking, away from roads, and to keep dogs under safe control but for me it's all non negotiable. I also walk an absolute max of 4 dogs, all transported in secure crates in an air conditioned van.

Doing things this way means I can't make as much money as people who travel less far, walk bigger packs, spend little time resettling them back home, and have spent less money on their transport. However, I'm not in this to make money at the expense of doing a first class job.

I love my job, but the responsibility of caring for other people's pets weighs heavily on me, and I take it very seriously.

If I’m honest people I’m not sure.
The woman I know posts pictures, videos, always compliments the dog etc.
She also takes pictures of the dogs supposed to be having solo walks - alone, and keeps them out of the group photos!
I understand my view is negative compared to others but as shark said - honesty even when things aren’t quiet right are appreciated for me!

This is really scary! My dog isn't reactive at all and only goes out with his daycare person, so the dogs he's walking with are the same ones he spends the day with, but it's still scary knowing they couldn't tell you if anything was wrong

She takes solo walks out with groups? That is horrendous, dishonest and cruel, it's also stealing as people will pay a premium for solo walks and that's not what they are getting.

What is wrong with people?

Maybe it's worth booking a walk on a day that you are in and then watching what happens. A waste of a day off but justified to make sure the job is being done properly.

The industry is screaming out to be regulated. I'd be very happy for this to happen and also to be charged to be registered- as this would weedle out those in it just for the money.

My most recent client's neighbour reported that her dog walker was letting the dog into the garden for 5 minutes whilst charging for an hours walk. I have to admit I'm dying to know the name of the bad Walker. I worry about the dogs in her care, and I'm annoyed she's got customers that I'd like by undercutting me and giving awful service.

Exactly! She comments on how some of her clients are OTT for wanting feet dried or no treats etc.
Once we were at her house for a bbq and a clients dog was with her, had many items off the bbq.
I know I just know a douchbag, but it’s totally squiffed my view for life!