Dog walker forgot

[PaddingtonsHat]

I work half a day on Tuesday so always have a dog walker to take my pup out for an hour so she isn’t alone too long.
She has gone into season so cannot currently be taken out on a group walk- fine.
I asked them to do a welfare check and let her out today, which they agreed, but there has been no activity on my camera and I returned to a massive poo and wee. She has been alone for 5 hours which is twice as long as I normally leave her.
Would this be enough for you to find someone else? She is happy with them when she is out from pics. I know it’s an individual comfort level thing but does this happen often with dog walkers?

Literally their job is to remember your dog. I would be looking for another walker.

This.

They probably thought they could get away with it. Really poor. I wouldn’t be happy

For me it would depend if this is a pattern or a one off. Our dog walker is absolutely brilliant, flexible, loves our dog and our dog loves her, she takes brilliant care of all the dogs she takes out and so if she did this on one occasion it wouldn’t occur to me to find someone else because of it. Mistakes happen, human error happens, if you are otherwise happy with the dog walker and this is the first time then I wouldn’t be leaving over it personally.

Not on is it really, I'd not want to use them anymore if they can't remember her for a welfare check.

Have they acknowledged their mistake op? Apologised?

I’m a dog walker. I can understand you being unhappy that they haven’t done the welfare check as agreed and I feel sorry for your dog, 5 hours is too long for a dog to be left alone in my opinion.
Have you messaged them? It’s possible there has been some sort of emergency with another dog or they themselves are injured perhaps? In that situation if I was able I would message clients to let them know and try to get there asap.
If I had just forgotten then I would expect to be let go to be honest.

No this is not normal practice.
I’ve used dog walkers for 4 years now and not once has my dog been forgotten.
I would struggle to trust them again and would most likely find another walker (unless hugely apologetic and a real reason for not turning up such as needing emergency health care)

I have messaged them. They have apologised and said it was a genuine mistake. Offered a free walk.
Im having a terrible day don’t want to blow this out of proportion as a result but my poor pup

I had this once. The stupid bint forgot on more than one occasion then got pissy when I would message her in future if she was running late. I got the whole ‘I am coming, please don’t check up me, I am busy’. That’s when I realised I had to get rid, wish I would have done it much sooner tbh. How long have you had this dog walker for? This is a red flag for me unless they have a very good reason. It’s up to you, but if it happens for a second time, definitely get rid of them.

I'm a dog walker and I imagine that it was the change to the normal routine that meant that they forgot your poor pup today. Also, with it being so hot so suddenly this week, your dog walker might have adjusted their times a bit, which may also have complicated things. It is hard to know what to advise, mistakes do happen and they have been remorseful, however will you trust them not to make the same mistake again?

Can you check the camera while at work for peace of mind? I am assuming they come at a similar time each week so you could contact them if you are worried she has been overlooked another time. At that point I would probably look for another walker though.

I guess it depends too on how reliable your walker has been in the past. If they've only walked your dog for a couple of months and forgot her it is less easy to forgive than someone who has reliably walked your dog for 5 years.

I'd accept the free walk. If they are good normally, your dog seems happy there, it sounds like a one off human error due to the change in routine. Mistakes happen and they seem keen to rectify it as best they can.

Obviously if it became a habit then change dog walkers

If this was a genuine one off and both my dog and I were happy with them otherwise then I’d let it go on this occasion. Far from ideal obviously, but no harm done. They have apologised and offered a free walk which means that they recognise their error. If it happened again then I’d look for someone else.

I'm a dog walker and I once forgot two dogs from the same house.

They weren't normally booked in for that day and it just completely slipped my mind, even though they were in the diary. I was mortified and couldn't stop apologising - the owner was absolutely lovely and wouldn't accept my offer of a free walk. She still uses me weekly and I did an 8 day house-sit for her last month too.

I know it's horrible when it's your dog that's been forgotten but we are only human and sometimes we make mistakes. As long as it doesn't become a pattern, I would try and let it go.

EDIT: That's the only time it's happened in over four years in business - definitely a one off but I appreciate that doesn't make it easier for you (or less mortifying for your walker).

Mine was forgotten once, I could see on the camera he was still upside down asleep but hadn't seen him go/return. When I messaged to ask if he'd behaved himself she was so apologetic, immediately said she'd get back asap & put him in the afternoon walk (wasn't needed as I was only doing a half day). But she was genuinely gutted to have forgotten him 😂🙄 immediately apologised & he absolutely adores her. She's flexible with extra days I need & if it was a one off mistake I'd forgive & keep using them.

Your poor baby 🐾
I would give her benefit of the doubt but make sure it never happens again.

Our dog walker has forgotten a couple of times. It’s so hard on the poor dog. We only use him on a very occasional, ad hoc basis so I think that’s why it’s easier for us to slip the net. I still use the same dog walker though because my dog loves him so much. I had a knee injury when the dog was six months old, and was non weight bearing for 12 weeks, so the walker came daily throughout that time and he is now a hugely significant other to my dog (even if they sometimes don’t see each other for months.)

I think I’ll give them another chance- thanks everyone