Would you use Daytime dog minder?

[BurntBroccoli]

I saw a job advertised about dog minders for daytime only in your own home (a bit like a child minder) and thought it was a great idea!

Would anyone use this? I think if I had a dog it would be lovely to be able to have someone look after them for the day instead of just leaving them (with a dog walker to split up the day).

I'm currently functioning as a daytime dog minder for the relatives of a neighbour. They keep trying to pay me for enjoying the company of their terrier during working hours, but I am so happy to have canine company (now that I'm too doddery to have a dog of my own) that I keep refusing. We now compromise with them coming to help me with odd jobs in the house and garden that I can no longer manage by myself.

I can't bend down far enough to pick up dog poo, so I can't walk a dog in the public space, but I have a large garden that I don't mind him using as a toilet (very rarely because they walk him in the mornings before drop off). It works out wonderfully for all of us.

Isn't this basically doggy daycare?

So I use doggy daycare where they take her out and she spends the day walking with them and then chilling at their house for a few hours. They pick her up and return her. As she gets older it might possibly be better if someone came to the house.

No, i wouldn't get a dog if I couldn't give it the care it needed, but also most dogs can be trained to be left. Occasional use is different

I've no need of one since I work from home, but if that was not the case and I had to start leaving her, I'd love this. We have a doggy daycare nearby, but I don't think she'd like to spend all day with tons of other dogs (she'll happily play with one to two friends, but gets overwhelmed with bigger groups), so it would be a brilliant alternative.

Yes but in a home environment not a big space like a barn or warehouse. So max of 3 dogs.

Yes I thought that as a lot of dogs would be very stressed out being with too many others.

I think it still requires a licence to operate even though you wouldn't be keeping dogs overnight.

Gotcha. For me, it would depend on the set-up and how much experience the owner had - my dog had a bad experience at a home daycare as a puppy so I'm a bit wary of them unfortunately. There was also a puppy who lost an eye at one near to us - I know the good ones are really good but they do worry me a bit.

I use one occasionally - my dog has a whale of a time.

@mitogoshigg what would you suggest when I need to to a funeral or a wedding etc? I would leave him alone all day.

A few of my dog walking friends use doggy daycare on the days they go into the office. It tends to be in someone's home.

There is a similar set up near us and she’s always booked up!

I use a doggy daycare that has an HQ (which is like a bigger house with several small separated garden spaces) and has satellite carers, and my pup mostly goes to one of those - it's all day in someone's house with just her and her own dog. It's wonderful care, they are all wonderful people, they even do pick up and drop off, and it's affordable enough that my pup never has to be alone.

@BurntBroccoli I do day care for dogs in my own home (amongst other dog related things). You definitely need a license, and insurance which in my case cost the best part of £1000. You will also need to make sure your garden is secure, and that you have plans in place for feeding etc.

I take my customer's dogs for two walks a day, so if you are going to do this and need to transport them in your car, you will need business insurance for your vehicle as well.

And a good hoover.