Dog Walking For Free

[Charliesunnysky10]

I walk for an hour each day after work along a traffic-free greenway, because I work a desk job for 8 hours in an office and need the fresh air and exercise. It occured to me there might be a dog owner locally who is unable to get out and walk him/her.
I've lived in the community for over 40 years having grown up here, raised 2 children and worked in the local school for a year before I got my job as part of the management team at the local shopping centre. So I know lots of people here, and am a familiar face out and about.

I'd love to have my own dog and I have looked after my brother and sister's dogs when they went on holiday. But my sisters dog sadly died and my brother now lives in London (we are Manchester). So we now have a much-loved cat, as nobody is home during the day to keep a dog company and our cat is a rescue who was turfed out of the original home and dumped at the shelter because her owner got a dog which she didn't get on with.

So I have plenty of experience with dogs and wanted to see if anyone could use my offer to walk their dog on a lead each evening.

But is this fraught with danger? I'm not CRB checked since my school DBS lapsed 2 years ago. And I'm not insured to do this. I walk in safe areas I'm very familiar with the routes, and in all the time I've walked and ran these paths, and lived here, never heard of a dog being stolen or attacked. But what if another dog off a lead DID attack the one I'm walking? I'd feel awful!

But I'd love to do it. What are your thoughts please?

[GeneLovesJezebel]

You’d need insurance at least.

[Monkeytapper]

www.borrowmydoggy.com/

[ForkedIt]

Contact the cinnamon trust - they can probably match you with someone.

[Floralnomad]

You could see if the cinnamon trust need anyone in your area , you will need to get a dbs but that’s not too difficult .

[sophienelisse]

What about the local rescues?

[fairylightsandwaxmelts]

You really need insurance if you're going to do it regularly - it's only about £6 a month but it will cover you incase, say, a lead fails and the dog bolts, or it gets a cut paw on some glass.

Alternatively volunteer with a charity or rescue - the Cinnamon Trust are always looking for volunteers and they'll have their own insurance too.

BorrowMyDoggy is also a good option and I believe they have insurance too, but you'll have to pay to contact people I believe, so it's not free.

[Charliesunnysky10]

Wow! Thanks do much for your replies. Post covid, both the greyhound rescue near me and the next closest aren't taking on walkers currently, but my name is down with them both.

I'll check out the Cinnamon Trust, and Borrow my Doggy too.

[vjg13]

I volunteer for the Cinnamon Trust, have done for about 15 years now. Also have my own dogs. They are a really good charity to volunteer for and I have made great friendships with the owners I have helped.

[Charliesunnysky10]

Thank you. I applied yesterday afternoon and they've already contacted my references. I might be a dog walker before the end of the month!

[TooManyAnimals94]

You need insurance and personally I think it's crappy of you to undercut other local dog walkers who do it for a living.
You will probably also end up with the problem dogs that the owners can't leave with anyone else.

[fairylightsandwaxmelts]

@Charliesunnysky10

Thank you. I applied yesterday afternoon and they've already contacted my references. I might be a dog walker before the end of the month!

That's absolutely fabulous!

[fairylightsandwaxmelts]

@TooManyAnimals94

You need insurance and personally I think it's crappy of you to undercut other local dog walkers who do it for a living.
You will probably also end up with the problem dogs that the owners can't leave with anyone else.

I am a professional dog walker and it doesn't bother me 🤷🏻‍♀️

My competition is not the person who is offering walks for free for an hour a day on their own terms lol.

If a professional walker is that threatened by someone trying to do a nice thing, they probably need to look at their business model and their self esteem.

[stevalnamechanger]

@TooManyAnimals94

You need insurance and personally I think it's crappy of you to undercut other local dog walkers who do it for a living.
You will probably also end up with the problem dogs that the owners can't leave with anyone else.

No it isn't !

Borrow my doggy is there for a reason!

[SirChenjins]

@TooManyAnimals94

You need insurance and personally I think it's crappy of you to undercut other local dog walkers who do it for a living.
You will probably also end up with the problem dogs that the owners can't leave with anyone else.

What a load of nonsense! Honestly, what a silly post.

OP - good luck, I hope you get matched soon. We use a professional dog walker for the socialisation, variety of walks and the training she provides, as well as walking our doggo ourselves obvs, but if we ever needed someone to do an occasional walk then being able to access someone like you would be fantastic

[rookiemere]

We use Borrowmydoggy in addition to a paid dog walker.

The arrangement is very different. The Borrowmydoggy walker is doing us a favour and I've made it clear that they should cancel if it's in any way inconvenient for them for their once a week walk.

It's great for both of us - they get to walk a dog without the financial commitment of owning one and we get a break from ubiquitous dog walking. Borrowmydoggy covers insurance for both parties for a small annual fee.

[Charliesunnysky10]

@TooManyAnimals94

You need insurance and personally I think it's crappy of you to undercut other local dog walkers who do it for a living.
You will probably also end up with the problem dogs that the owners can't leave with anyone else.

I'm volunteering for a charity to help someone struggling with ill-health and a low income, definitely not looking to undercut a professional dog walker.

[foxlover47]

OP you sound lovely and I hope you get a match really soon 😊

[clpsmum]

I would love it if you were near me and wouldn't expect you to have insurance etc

[Allsorts1]

Definitely do borrow my doggy! It’s fantastic. Our dog has both borrow my doggy borrowers and a professional dog walker, and it’s a totally different thing. Our dogs borrowers take her home with them and hang out with her, sometimes they’ll take her on a weekend day. Our dog walker has a set time 3 times a week and often will drop our dog back to one of her borrowers for the afternoon if we are working in the office. Both services are needed in our life, and our dog is lovely and definitely not a problem dog! Most dog walkers are completely full up so we need borrowers too

[Allsorts1]

Also you have insurance automatically as a member of borrow my doggy

[vjg13]

The Cinnamon trust will send you posters and leaflets to put up in your area to raise awareness and encourage people to get in touch if there isn't currently anyone local needing help.

[Charliesunnysky10]

Thanks everyone! I now walk a lovely doggy for an elderly lady who's having chemotherapy for the next 6 months and feeling exhausted. It's great to see them both each day and I really enjoy it. It was really easy to volunteer for The Cinnamon Trust and thank you for the recommendation!

[coffeecupsandfairylights]

Aw what a lovely update and you both look
so happy 🥰

[XelaM]

Awww OP you're amazing

[Iamclearlyamug]

Aww that's lovely, doggy looks like they're having lots of fun 🤩