Running out of options for dog walker

[jumpingbean1810]

We got our poodle/retriever Cross early 2020. When I went back to work, a lovely dog walker local to us solo walked her and kept her company on the 2 days a week I went into office. Sadly she stopped dog walking for personal reasons last Xmas. A couple of other dog walkers who do group walks trialled her but said she was too boisterous around other dogs and couldn't take her. Then a retired neighbour solo walked her for about last 6mths. Unfortunately the dog is too strong for her and pulled her over so it's not safe for her to walk her. Another group walker trialled her but over 6 walks she's become increasingly stressed travelling in his car with other dogs causing her to snap at them, so he's also had to stop walking her.

I've tried doggy day care but her relentless pursuit of other dogs goes unchecked And I think she'll tip over the edge and end up in a fight.

I've spent thousands on training, behaviourists etc but they've all said she's so highly strung outside and her anxiety mixed with an extremely high prey drive make her v hard to manage.

I'm at aloss what to do next. I can juggle work and home til Xmas but need to be in office 2x days a week long term. Leaving her all day is unfair but really struggling to find someone to meet her needs.

Any suggestions?

Could you walk her before/after work and have someone visit the house during the day to play with her in the garden without actually walking her?

I was going to suggest the same thing as hotpenguin. Some dog walkers offer this service though you'd be lucky to get it for the middle of the day as that's their prime time to walk multiple dogs.

You could advertise in your local Facebook group for someone to look in on her and spend some time with her but that does involve giving your house keys to someone unprofessional that you don't know.
You could get a camera and see if she was alright on her own for the day with a big walk before and after your work.

Possibly try Rover to see if anyone is advertising their business through there?
Many people offer dog walks and house drop ins etc through the site and often are willing to do private (to avoid the Rover booking fees etc). We found it very useful for our high strung German shepherd who the local dog walkers weren't able to walk due to his size / unpredictability🤣x managed to find him dog boarders and walks at the last minute on more than two occasions and finally found a local university student who walks him pretty much daily & absolutely adores him!

Cinnamon trust for volunteers?

I've heard of vets saying oodle type dogs can be awkward, but that's unhelpful!
Can you come home at lunch?
Can you change to 3 shorter days per week?
Can a dog walker let her in the garden only for a play?

The Cinnamon Trust provides volunteer dog walkers for elderly or terminally ill dog owners, not for working people who can't find a dog walker....

Have you tried borrow my doggie or something similar?

I'm desperate to walk a dog, put my details on saying I was a lifelong dog owner until recently and would love to walk a local dog mornings or lunchtime, very surprised I had no takers.

Thanks for your responses. I can ask my neighbour who used to walk her just to pet sit with her for a few hours while I'm at work. She's happy to do this but not the walking. In summer months it's easy as I can do two walks before and after work so she doesn't need ro walk her. Winter is tricky as she goes into hunting mode at night so is v hard to walk then. My office is only 10 mins away so if I haven't got meetings I can come back at lunchtime and walk her it's just quite a juggle long term.

I'll try Rover and posting on local FB groups. I want someone who's insured as it really frightened me when neighbour got pulled over. It almost caused a car accident and if anyone was seriously hurt, I'd feel terrible but also don't know whether they'd try and claim damages/personal injury.

It's sad as she's so cuddly and affectionate at home but crazy outside. Ive learnt how to handle her but tbh it's not what I'd expected and I'd love a dog that just mind's it's own business. I guess they're like a box of chocolates- you never know what you're gonna get! Thanks for the advice, much appreciated.

What are you using as a lead/collar when she's out on a walk?

I have found that a harness encourages my dog to pull like a train and she was difficult to keep under control

I have the halti that goes over the bridge of the nose. It's made walks so much nicer.

She can't pull and if we meet other dogs there isn't the stress of being pulled over for her to meet the other dog

At the moment I'm using a harness with a front clip (don't use back clip). I find this gives me more control than collar and lead. I have been contemplating a halti head one but when a trainer tried it she absolutely hated it and just lay down and refused to budge, trying to paw it off. I'm sure she'd get used to it but knowing how she hates anything touching her head I'm not sure I've got the heart to make her.

Dog walkers often also offer solo walks. How about looking for one that does those - that way she won't have other dogs to over excite her?

This might have to be an odd times rather than the much coveted middle of the day so maybe combine with a house visit from your neighbour if they are willing?

Or can you be in the office 4 x half days instead?

I'm a dog walker who's had to drop dogs like this from groups as it's just not safe for anyone.

I would look for a walker who offers solo walks (this won't be cheap and probably won't be at lunchtime) or maybe paired walks with another well-socialised, calm dog. Another option is a solo walk in the morning and just drop-ins during the day for company and a toilet break.

You need to be upfront and honest and say she cannot go into groups as she won't cope - anything else is just setting everyone up to fail and it's not fair on your dog, the other dogs or the walker.

Yes this would work, although it would mean paying both the neighbour and dog walker which would be £35-40 per day for both and I can't really afford on a regular basis. I do half days in office 2x days when she's fine left alone for a few hours and then do 2x full days in office and wfh 1x day. If I can get neighbour to do some mentally stimulating games like scent work then I think just having company will be OK if I can get a 45mins walk with her before work and when I can, come back at lunchtime to walk her. I guess if she only gets one walk on the odd day it's not end of world.

Absolutely juggling a few options might be the way to go.

You don't say how old she is but it might also just be a case of buying time - dogs can change a lot over their lifetimes and she may become more settled around other dogs in time. At least enough for her to start to share walks with known dogs.

Another advantage of starting and maintaining some sort of relationship with a dog walker is that they get to know the dog and can help you judge when it might be right to try her on group walks again. You can then always try and see but have the other options as fall bc if she's still not ready.

She'll be 3 in February. The recent guy was lovely but unfortunately can't do solo walks but did say he'd ne happy to try again when she's older if she calms down. He said the walks were manageable, it's the car that became the issue as she got so wound up by being in close confinement with the other dogs that by the time they reached the walk she would be super stressed and then couldn't follow instructions etc. I walk her with friends dogs who don't like play and she's learnt to ignore them, however I've never taken her in a car with other dogs so we knew it would be a risk. I agree if can find a solo walker who can slowly build her up to paired then groups that would be ideal. I've messaged a few this morning so will hopefully get some responses.

Are there any local secure dog fields that you could book for your neighbour so that he/she doesn't have to worry about being pulled over? This would only work is your neighbour could drive of course

Find a dog walker who does solo walks?

A decent dog walker should be travelling dogs separately
my dog walker has a van with separate crates for each dog

For some dogs that's still not enough as they can smell/hear the other dogs and it makes them really stressed.

I have some dogs who can't even travel in my car because they can smell other dogs and it upsets them!

This would be a great option but nearest to us is 25 mins drive which she might not be willing to do. They're springing up all the time though so shall keep checking.

Emailed a few yesterday for solo walks - so far just 1 response with availability for next spring. Will keep searching.

I agree with @thelobsterquadrille, she'd still find being in a crate surrounded by other dogs super stressful. If there was one or two other crated dogs in boot and her alone on back seat she'd cope but 5 dogs is too much for her. (He crates the small ones but large breeds sit together with seatbelts).

Have you considered day boarding at kennels? If you have good ones locally it might be an option.

I did look at one locally but it was v depressing and think she'd hate it there.

Someone posted on our local dog walkers site if anyone had availability to do solo walks but nobody did. I think she's been blacklisted!

Someone posted on our local dog walkers site if anyone had availability to do solo walks but nobody did. I think she's been blacklisted!

It's more that solo walks aren't profitable unless you charge silly money for them.

I only do small groups of three but even that's £36 an hour. Nobody is going to pay that for a solo walk but it makes no financial sense for me to charge less than that either.