Which dog walker?

[whynotmereally]

We had a fabulous dog walker for years who gave up her business a few months ago. Never had any issues.
We hired a new walker, one week in she dropped the lead and he ran after a cat (she came back and asked dh to help) then the next day she left the door open and he escaped. Then the following week she broke her wrist when she tripped walking him. She had 3 weeks off (obviously we paid her) then a week after returning she broke her ankle walking a different dog needing 6 weeks off. We couldn’t manage that long so hired a different walker.

in the month new walker has been here she has cancelled 5 of eight sessions booked. 1 due to a family emergency and 4 due to hot weather. Obviously ddog can’t be walking in hot weather but previous walker would come early morning on hot days whereas this walker does not seem to have flexibility . The frustrating thing is she tends to message an hour or two before she’s due to say she’s not coming so it’s too late for us to do an early walk. But she does seem to manage our dog well (on the three walks completed)

Other dog walker is now able to start again , she seems excited to be getting back into walking. I don’t know what to do. Do we go with first walker whom I’m concerned isn’t that great but could just have been teething issues and she is reliable. Or second dog walker who seems great with him but not that reliable/flexible?

Theres not much availability in our area unfortunately so think we would struggle to find another walker.

Personally I wouldn’t trust my dog with either of them. If there are no other options I would go with the one who has cancelled but have a conversation about advance notice of weather cancellations. No way would I let my dog go to someone who has let my dog escape twice!!

I wouldn't use dog walker 1. She sounds pretty useless, dropping leads and leaving doors open.
It's not great that dog walker 2 has cancelled so many sessions, but I know the dog walkers round here cancel in high temperatures and do drop ins to let the dogs out for toilet breaks instead. It may be that she can't come earlier as she has other dogs to walk during those times.
So neither are great, but no 2 sounds like the better of the two options.

Sorry I don't care how reliable you are but you drop the lead and then on a separate occasion my dog escapes WTF? No way would I want her to walk my dog again.

The second walker seems much more capable and I get its annoying that she cancels due to hot weather but this hot weather won't be around all the time and I think you just need to speak with her and explain what you have said here. That if she cancels then she lets you know much earlier and then you can get the dog walked early. We all know the night before what the weather for the next day is going to be so there is no excuse really for cancelling that late. But all in all she seems the way better option. This heatwave will pass and then you will be left with a good dog walker who can properly handle your pooch.

I wouldn’t use either of them again. The first one sounds horrendously incompetent and there’s no reason that the second one can’t let you know her hot weather plans the day before.

I’m a dog walker myself and have just put a post out regarding tomorrow and Monday as it will be too hot to walk. I’ve had my hot weather plans in place since Monday in case anything has needed to change.

When my dog walker texts to say she thinks it’s too hot for a walk we agree that she still comes round and lets the dog out in the garden and stays with her even if only for ten minutes so she can have a wee. I pay her the full rate and am happy with that arrangement.

I certainly wouldn’t have the first dog walker back after she’s let your dog run off twice in her first week. I’ve had dog walkers for ten years and this has never happened (that I know of).

id keep the second one but discuss hot weather alternatives.

I know you are right. Our previous dog walker would message at beginning of week with a plan for hot weather.
I just feel a bit sorry for the incompetent one as she is lovely but yes I am worried. But I’m also the second walker is unreliable generally we haven’t really had long enough to know.

I'm also a dog walker and I would say neither of them, though dog walker 2 sounds slightly better than dog walker 1... Like @tumblingdowntherabbithole I have been keeping an eye on the forecast. There will be no walks tomorrow but there will be drop ins for company and to allow the dog a toilet break. This has already been communicated to the owners. A responsible dog walker won't be walking your dog in a heatwave but neither should they leave the dog alone with nothing all day. The only time I might not get to a dog because of the weather is if I am completely snowed in! Find a new, more reliable walker!