Borrow My Doggy - anyone use/d them?

[SirChenjins]

Good or bad experience? I like the idea but I’m a bit worried about the safety side of it.

It's just like dating for your dog. You meet the people; you decide if you trust them or not, it's not down to Borrow My Doggy. They don't interview people or test them for trustworthiness.

I've used it a lot, but not taken up everybody I've met who wanted to borrow my dog.

My daughter and her family borrow a dog, he is lovely, very lively and bouncy and always very excited to see them. And he is very good about being recalled. They went to meet him in his own home a couple of times before they had him on his own. It seems to work well for both sides.

Yes we have a couple of borrowers- both fantastic. One comes to our house when we are on holiday.

From my experience it's easy to weed out anyone you feel uncomfortable with and I'd always go out on the first walk with them to make sure they were confident about what to do.

I found a dog to borrow through this website.
I met his owners a couple of times ( they only live 2 mins walk away)
He is adorable, all the family love him.
You have to prove your identity and address on the website I seem to remember.
I am aware he's not mine and do feel that extra responsibility but I look after him with a lot of care and I know his owners are happy with me taking him out regularly.

We used it during lockdown, everything was shut and it was something to get get dc running outside in the rain, wind or snow

The two dogs were cute and they must have liked us as we saw them out in another park and they bounded over to say hi

We did ball throwing and a long walk around the park

Yes I've used it as a borrower. I've met two people off it and borrowed their dogs. They were both lovely.

We always met with them and their dog together at first. I think there is a leap of faith involved, but I imagine after a few successful sessions you'll probably feel more confident about the person taking your dog.

This all sounds really positive - thanks so much. I’m definitely going to sign up and look into it further.

We’re signed up as borrowers but no takers yet (one enquiry but it didn’t work out as they wanted the dog to be able to come to our house, which isn’t possible at the moment for the reasons we don’t have a dog ourselves). Hoping we do meet someone who just wants walks soon.

I would love to use it, as it's free dog care! But ai'm so nervous someone could steal our dog, as he's incredibly friendly and such a sweetheart.

How can people be sure the borrower won't steal their dog?

I'm*

You meet them, as much as you want, get to feel whether you trust them, see them interact with your dog. Essentially, you interview them, and decide whether or not to give them responsibility for your dog. If your dog is going to go home with them, ask to go into their house.

That was my concern too. I’m hoping that if it’s somewhere in our local area I would know them or know of them. I’d really just be looking for someone who might be able to take him for the odd walk, perhaps if I’m on a call at work, or if we need to get to an appointment, that type of thing.

No way would I hand my dog over to a stranger, but my daughter and her boyfriend borrowed dogs via the site when they lived away at uni. I was always amazed people would just hand over their dogs to them.

Well, it's a lot cheaper than using a professional dog walker.

I would never ever let my dog go with someone from a website. I can’t speak for other dog owners though.

I already use a professional dog walker and wouldn’t use this as an alternative - more of a supplementary thing if needed.

It’s moire casual than a paid dog walker ime

The owner appreciated it I think but I didn’t feel we were replacing anything people would pay for

it was more for us, or dc rather

That's what I'd assumed, it would be for if the dogwalker was away or unwell or they just needed extra days ad-hoc. But I guess some might use it in place of one.

If the borrower was someone I knew (or someone I knew could vouch for the borrower) I would absolutely do this, but our dog is honestly a real diamond (not that I'm biased 😍) and would make the perfect family dog. He's also a sought-after breed, so it would make me incredibly nervous to trust a complete stranger with him because I would think anyone would want to take him home (and he would go to anyone 🙄).

I would never ever do it but I am a professional dog walker so I'm possibly a bit biased.

But I see how some people treat their dogs and how they just let them run riot and I'd be so so worried my dog would run off or the borrowers would let him get into trouble through lack of knowledge.

These posts put me off a bit tbh I wouldn’t do it again

Although it was nice at the time, mostly due to circumstances

Honestly I don't actually know anyone who had a bad experience with Borrow My Doggy, so it's probably my completely irrational fear. I live opposite a primary school and I can see how a family or two might want to spend a bit if time with a dog after school, but unless someone can vouch for them, I have trust issues 😬

I actually read on Mumsnet that posters are using Borrow My Doggy when they go on holiday. That would save me an absolute fortune!

Since we started borrowing our dog we have got quite friendly with his owners.
They have asked us ti help them out with him when there was an urgent reason they had to go out.
I think in the right circumstances it really can become a mutually beneficial relationship. We can't have a dog of our own but really enjoy spending time with our borrowed dog and I know his owners are happy with our arrangement.
I understand people's concerns but it has definitely worked for us.

We met a dog through this and borrowed them for many years, loved them v much. Became good friends with the owners too. First few walks we did together.

We liked this dog/owners as the walks were all supplementary, just extras for him. We had other owners saying "oh, could you not come every Thursday to take him out at 10am" - what those people are looking for is a free dog walker...