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The doghouse

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Original poster

Dog walker off sick. Should I still pay?

22 replies

stillchasingdereksheppard · 18/07/2025 07:57

As the title reads really.

Our fantastic ( & usually very reliable) dog walker has had two days off sick this week.
She has offered to take the walks she's missed off of next month's invoice ( I usually pay her for the month ahead on the 1st)

I've not replied yet. Should I let her take the price off of next month since she hasn't provided the service or should I be paying her anyway since it's hardly her fault she's poorly.

She's fab. Really reliable and I definitely wouldn't want to lose her services as she's generally really flexible and will pick up extra days when I need her to if work plans change. Equally though, it's not exactly cheap ( £14 for an hours walk) and of course ive had to make other arrangements for the dog on the days she was off.

One day I managed to take a longer lunch break and come home and walk during lunch as a one off and today I've used leave to take the day off.

What's the etiquette here?

OP posts:

CerseisBannister · 18/07/2025 07:59

I would pay her anyway as she's so good and reliable. If you can, do!

rubyslippers · 18/07/2025 07:59

she’s offered fo take the money off and you’ve had to use a days leave so I would acknowledge that
if you can afford to pay her then do so but you’ve been inconvenienced …

CoastalCalm · 18/07/2025 08:01

No she should factor in some sick pay cover into her rates , maybe compromise and say you will pay half to recognise loyalty but I fear paying full might mean she does this again

Stickytreacle · 18/07/2025 08:02

You are paying for a service which hasn't been provided, so I'd say no.

rookiemere · 18/07/2025 08:04

Personally I think she is being a bit cheeky “offering” to take the walk off, in the hope you say that you will still pay.
She is self employed and should have automatically removed it from the invoice, lovely or not I wouldn’t be paying.

Steelworks · 18/07/2025 08:06

She’s offered to take the cost of next months payment nice, so effectively you won’t be paying for them. Sickness happens. If she’s fabulous and reliable, then don’t upset the apple cart.

657904I · 18/07/2025 08:07

Depends what’s in your contract I suppose, she might be obliged to offer you a refund now as opposed to next month’s invoice being adjusted. Or she might be allowed to adjust dates instead of refunding.

In any case, it’s up to you. You speak very highly of her so it’s clear you want to maintain good relations. But on the flip side, given she has offered, I don’t think you would sour relations by accepting her offer. It’s £28 so isn’t going to make or break anyone involved.

Original poster

stillchasingdereksheppard · 18/07/2025 08:22

@Steelworksnot sure you've understood the post. Have you misread?

OP posts:

HelloHattie · 18/07/2025 08:26

stillchasingdereksheppard · 18/07/2025 08:22

@Steelworksnot sure you've understood the post. Have you misread?

I thought that’s what had happened too. She’s offered to take them off the invoice. I would just say great thanks, hope you’re better soon.

Original poster

stillchasingdereksheppard · 18/07/2025 08:30

No contract in place. She had business terms that say your first walk needs to be paid in advance and then ongoing walks need to be paid for no longer than 24 hours after the walk is provided.
There's no 'refund' policy i guess as she's generally saying pay after. Cancellations are with 24 hours notice unless exceptional circumstances which just guess would cover her sickness.
I pay in advance as I use her twice a week and it's inconvenient for me to sort payment out each time.

If I book her ad hoc extra, for example if I'm WFH but have a full day of meetings, I just transfer her either when I book or on the day.

I generally book about 3 months in advance as the day i need her changes each week due to shift work then just pay on the 1st of each month.

OP posts:

Coffeeishot · 18/07/2025 08:31

Just let her run her bussiness .her way shes .reducing your next bill do you really want a refund just to pay her again.

Girliefriendlikespuppies · 18/07/2025 08:33

No I wouldn’t pay if my dog walker was off sick as I’d have to pay another dog walker or move my work around to cover it.

As pp pointed out sick pay (as well as holiday pay, pension etc) should already been incorporated into their rates.

tumblingdowntherabbithole · 18/07/2025 08:43

I’m a dog walker, and things like sick days, annual leave or emergency days off are all built into my prices, so I would never, ever expect to be paid for them.

That being said, quite a few of my clients do still pay me for those days and it’s always appreciated.

MalcolmMoo · 18/07/2025 08:55

I’d pay her, we also have a dog walker and I think I’d pay our one too in this instance. Especially as she’s reliable. Just a nice thing to do.

Binman · 18/07/2025 08:57

My dog walker is fantastic and I would be happy to pay her for a couple of walks that she was unable to do because she is so flexible and accommodating and I’ve already factored in her payment in my outgoings. If you pay in advance I think it’s easier to agree to take it off next months bill than have a refund and then pay it back. I know my dog walker would say she was not charging me but I would offer to pay for a one off even though I’m not obliged only because I appreciate her so much.

Didshejustsaythatoutloud · 18/07/2025 09:28

If you can afford it, i would still pay if she is wonderful

Mrsttcno1 · 18/07/2025 09:36

I would still pay if she is great and reliable. Our dog walker is brilliant, she has had to cancel due to illness genuinely a handful of times in the 4 years we have been using her and we have always still paid her for the days. If it was twice a month every month we would be more likely to stop paying but as it’s so infrequent we always have.

NotrialNodeal · 18/07/2025 09:39

Self employed people can't charge for services if they haven't provided them. She is right to deduct it from the next invoice.

TheSaltedCaramelPath · 18/07/2025 09:43

As a previous dog walker myself, I absolutely would not expect or want to be paid for work I had not carried out in this case.

tumblingdowntherabbithole · 18/07/2025 09:50

NotrialNodeal · 18/07/2025 09:39

Self employed people can't charge for services if they haven't provided them. She is right to deduct it from the next invoice.

Well - they can. Retainers, cancellation policies etc. are all very normal and perfectly legal.

Candleabra · 18/07/2025 09:52

She’s not your employee so no sick pay. You pay for a service, she’s self employed. Don’t blur the boundaries of your relationship (which is easily done when you like someone), and i understand it feels like a low value transaction if it’s just the odd day.

If she had months off due to an operation and couldn’t walk your dog would you pay her then?

Bupster · 18/07/2025 15:06

I pay my cleaner when she can't make it in, or if I cancel. The way I see it is (a) I can afford to pay for a service that isn't actually necessary for my life; (b) if she had come I'd have paid, so it's factored in; and (c) she will still have the same outgoings. If I were more financially challenged I might take a different approach, but then I probably wouldn't keep a cleaner on. Does dog walking feel like a luxury to you or something you're stretching to manage?

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