Why can’t I find a trustworthy dog walker

[Housebears]

I know that sounds ridiculous…

I am on an unavoidable trip in October for 7 days. I wont be in the country. My sister will be staying at home with my 3 dogs and cat but is unable to walk them due to medical issue.

I thought I could find someone to walk them for me but it’s proving impossible.

I have 3 giant/large dogs.

1 is terrified of strange men (wouldn’t show aggression but will cower and wee himself 🙁) due to severe abuse before I got him so that rules a lot of people out. I need someone who won’t let strangers approach him.

Dog 2 is very dog selective, she will tolerate dogs but prefers to ignore them. She’s very obedient but prefers her own space. Being forced to interact stresses her out and she will actively avoid and then snap if they won’t take the hint. Unfortunately due to her size and breed it’s often interpreted as her fault and so I tend to keep her distanced. She’s perfectly happy to walk past and ignore but this has ruled out loads more who walk multiple dogs, inexperienced people or those who do off lead walks and don’t recall fast enough and her warnings might not be picked up on.

Dog 3 is young, entire, boisterous and rude at the moment. Being allowed to play blows his tiny mind and he ends up crushing everything in his path and being a bit of a bully. He’s going through the tough teenage phase and isn’t allowed off lead unless in a secure area. He is also bloody massive and very strong. He is under a behaviourist, goes to training and is coming through the other side finally, learning to be polite and walk calmly past other dogs but I’m scared he will go back to square one.

They are all well behaved with me but I spend lots of time training them and know each ones quirks.

Why can I only find people who want to walk them in huge groups, people who have no clue or people who mainly walk nothing but poodles and chihuahuas and won’t be able to manage them. How do you trust they will do as you ask?

Am I better off not walking them for a week rather than risking an accident or something messing them up further?
It feels really mean but maybe a run in the garden would be less stressful all round.

I must have ‘interviewed’ about 10 and ruled them out now and I’m starting to think is it worth it for the sake of a week…

Your dogs sound like hard work tbh… I think your overthinking and most professional dog walkers would be give with your massive dogs!!

Save yourself the aggravation and don’t walk them for a week it’s not going to harm them for a few days, let them run the garden.

How do they behave if not walked? My small breed dog would be a hyper, bored nightmare after a couple of days, let alone a week.

I think many people would struggle with 3 large dogs on their own. Many dog walkers will walk multiple dogs at once so won’t be able to deal with a dog that doesn’t like other dogs. A local dog walker her walks 5 dogs at a time but all off lead in the local woods, it sounds like this would not work with your dogs. Might be easier to look for a couple who can walk them?

I'm a professional dog walker and I'm afraid there's just no way I would take on a job like this.

You have three big dogs and admit one of them is badly trained, massive and "bloody strong". Of the other two, one is human selective and the other can be dog reactive.

To me, your post is full of red flags. Your dogs are big and strong and have the potential to react, snap at another dog and injure the person walking them. It just sounds like a huge risk and a massive liability to be quite honest.

It also sounds like the walker in question would need to do two (if not three) separate walks in order to manage all your dogs needs safely.

I think you're better off not walking then at all. I don't think it's fair to expect a dog walker to take that on, especially as it's only for a week and you're not going to be a long-term, regular client for them to invest their time into.

You are asking a lot of a dog walker. Most dog walkers are not trainers and will not have the qualifications or skills to walk dogs with special needs.

They also need to make money so walking more "easy" dogs together allows them to survive.

One off dog walks or irregular walks are hard for dog walkers to fit in. They will have their regular clients that come regularly and not have the space for one offs.

There will be dog walkers that are qualified to cope with your dogs but be prepared to pay more. Some dog walkers have their own land and your dogs could be walked safely in this type of environment. You will have to shop around a lot.

Kennels or home sitting sounds like a better idea. I had one giant dog agressive dog, wouldn't have crossed my mind to let anybody walk him.

I agree with pp that a dog walker won't work in your situation. IMO your options are either:

• Dogs stay with your sister, no walks. There is enrichment not based on exercise, such as snufflemats, puzzles, etc that your sister could do with them.


• You get a dog sitter to stay at yours. Individual attention to your dogs, plus time for them to go individually for a walk around the neighborhood (or, better yet, toss a ball in the garden).

It is one week. They can definitely cope.

Could your sister drive them to a secure dog field?

Three dog walkers taking one dog at a time/?

Rather than walking them, can you hire someone to come in once a day and play games with them in the garden? That way they each get some exercise but none of the risks of being walked.

If you can find a walker with a daily slot that can be just for your dogs, then she could come round and take them out in turns on different days. Then at least they get some walks for variety

That assumes DSis will play doggy games with them enough for their well being, in addition to the occasional walk.

You’ll probably have to pay a premium for individual walks, but you might strike lucky

You have 3 very problematic dogs.
You need to look for 2 separate dog walkers, who only walk large dogs,for dog 1 and dog 2. Although for dog 1 I'd suggest an enclosed dog field so your sister could do that herself.
Dog 3 needs to board with an exceptionally good dog trainer. I'd suggest you did this even if you didn't need to go away.

Failing that, the dogs don't get walked and you come back to a mad house.

Ideally they should be walked when you're away. All this brain games in the garden substitutions won't cut it. They need to be free and running and get active exercise.

I was going suggest as PP did, that you hire a secure field every day and your sister drives them there.

It’s quite bizarre that you think the issue is ‘trustworthy dog walkers’. The issue is your dogs.

TBH, the issue is with you. There are plenty of trustworthy dog walkers and the are being sensible and reliable by turning you down.

Thanks everyone!
Youve all confirmed what I already was thinking, I think I’ll leave them at home for the sake of a week! My sister can play with them and we have a large garden. I was worried I was doing the wrong thing by not getting them walked. I think I am probably harder work than them to be fair 😄 I’m just very precious about them!

I wasn’t expecting anybody to walk all 3 together. I don’t even do that myself!
They can be split into a pair or walked individually.

They wouldn’t fit in my sisters car to be driven. I think they would be happier at home than in a kennels, they have never been kennelled before.

@sunsetsandsandybeaches I think you misread my post. I didn’t once say any of my dogs are badly trained.
The youngest is coming through the other side of a tough adolescence common for his breed. He isn’t aggressive, he walks well on a lead (or headcollar), and is currently competing in competitive obedience and in the show ring. However, as with many many young dogs you see playing with others he gets over the top at times but due to his size I can’t risk him accidentally hurting another dog. I don’t allow him to play with anything I don’t know. I don’t want someone who will let him off lead to ‘say hello’ and undo all of my training. I don’t think that makes me a bad owner not training my dog. There’s a million dogs out there that can’t play with just anyone for many different reasons. Of course he’s strong, he weighs as much as some humans, I would be a fool to not emphasise this to someone potentially walking him. I don’t want someone who couldn't manage in an emergency.

Of the others, the old one has 0 aggression, he would turn inside out before even growling, in 12 years he’s never come close. He’s also very arthritic, has no teeth and is half blind. Hardly a dangerous beast on the rampage 😄

The female admittedly is a bossy sod but has never hurt a thing in her life, I don’t think telling off a rude dog in her face when she’s on a lead categorises her as savage, especially as the dog shouldn’t be in her face in the first place, but I agree she is the one people may struggle with.

I think it’s confirmed though that it’s best not to bother! Thanks!!

@PersonaNonGarter yes that probably is the case.

I never have an issue with any of them. I’ve never had an incident at all, maybe I am making them sound worse than they actually are. I thought it was best to tell everyone all of their faults so anyone who was willing to walk them was aware. Every dog has some sort of quirk especially when you have rescue ones.

Anyway, I have decided not to go with anyone. Please can we avoid a pile on of me and my dogs as I’ve admitted that it’s not a good idea to get a Walker and that I was wrong 🙂

I know dog walkers round here offer 1 to 1 walks, so 1 walk every 3 days and fun in the garden might tide them over

@Housebears no, I haven't misread anything. Your dogs really aren't suitable to go with a dog walker.

You said:

1 is terrified of strange men (wouldn’t show aggression but will cower and wee himself 🙁) due to severe abuse before I got him so that rules a lot of people out. I need someone who won’t let strangers approach him.

That's a huge risk for someone to take on, especially if he's a big, strong breed. He might be old and arthritic now but he's still a huge animal who is terrified if over half the population.

Dog 2 is very dog selective, she will tolerate dogs but prefers to ignore them. She’s very obedient but prefers her own space. Being forced to interact stresses her out and she will actively avoid and then snap if they won’t take the hint.

She's a giant breed that's dog reactive and will snap at other dogs. No judgement - my own dog dislikes other dogs approaching him on lead but he's small enough for me to pick up and move if necessary and he won't pull me over or send me flying if he reacts

*Dog 3 is young, entire, boisterous and rude at the moment. Being allowed to play blows his tiny mind and he ends up crushing everything in his path and being a bit of a bully. He’s going through the tough teenage phase and isn’t allowed off lead unless in a secure area. He is also bloody massive and very strong. He is under a behaviourist, goes to training and is coming through the other side finally, learning to be polite and walk calmly past other dogs but I’m scared he will go back to square one.

He's massive and strong and can't be let off the lead. A huge liability for a dog walker. You don't see it that way as he's your dog and you love him, but a dog like that is just too big of a risk. Any dog under behaviourist training is also a big red flag for me as a walker.

Dog walkers are not trainers and expecting a dog walker to deal with an animal under behavioural training isn't fair.

This isn't a dog walker issue, it's a "your dogs aren't suitable" issue. And that's not an insult, not all dogs can go with walkers and that's okay.

You are asking an incredible amount from a dog walker to deal with three giant dogs with issues (to be blunt). That sounds potentially dangerous for any dog walker, even an experienced one. Don't risk the liability of hurting someone or your own or other dogs.

If they’re a specific giant breed have you tried contacting the X breed organisation that covers your area? They might be able to put you in touch with a dog walker who is used to dealing with X breed.

Another dog walker here.

Your dogs sound like their needs would make them tricky to walk, especially if they are large and strong.

Best idea might be to employ two walkers to take them out, without other dogs.

I'm not surprised you can't find a walker , 3 large dogs with different quirks and needs ?? Even the most experienced would give that a big swerve

Thanks all of you.

Interestingly not one dog walker has refused- it’s me who’s decided they are a no for whatever reason (style of interacting with the dogs, not used to the size, walk in big groups etc) . I understand I’m expecting too much and the person I’m looking for does not exist!

Im going to bow out of this thread now because I’m having a terrible time and feel a bit defensive about the dogs in general but thanks to everyone who’s given opinions, I’ve decided to leave them at home and I’m sure they will be fine 😃

@Housebears my mum dog sits for me. She walks my two small terriers but my staffy x who's a rescue, dog selective and strong - just gets garden time for the week I'm away.

I've never had an incident with him and quite frankly I don't trust anyone other than myself to walk and manage him.