Dogwalkers cancelling due to heat

[blanketsnuggler]

I'm wondering if I'm not thinking straight here.
Obviously it's too hot to take our dogs out for a walk at 1pm.
We have a dog walker twice a week and if the temp goes up to 26c she offers home visits rather than a walk.

Would you expect a reduction in fee's to not?
As you can imagine, it's happening quite a lot lately. (If we cancel we pay either full fee if it's short notice, or 50% fee if longer notice.)
is this normal practice?

Sorry, am not sniffing at it at all. I put this as i meant it to explain why I paid her during Covid. back then she was not a registered business and I suspect didn’t pay tax. so didn’t qualify for any financial help from the government which is why I carried on paying her.

What is she like as a dog walker and what would you do if she dropped you as a client, do you have other good options?. I know a couple who have such a fantastic dog walker that they even pay him holiday pay both when he goes away and when they do.... and they weren't a wealthy couple. I've messaged them and asked if they pay sick pay or adverse weather pay and they said he would be paid regardless as they trust him. They just greatly appreciated the love and care showered on their dog. For them, their dog was family they said they had peace of mind with their dog walker. It depends on the dog walker. I wouldn't trust a wild rat with the one in our village.

This is slightly pedantic and off topic but yeah if you mean wage reduced by the amount transport to work would cost (e.g. you normally get paid £100 for a days work but travel costs £5 so you only get paid £95 to wfh) of course id be happy with that? Why wouldnt you be? You'd still get the same amount net pay (actually probably slightly more because youd be taxed less) AND get to wfh AND save time (and discomfort) commuting?

Also its just not really a good comparison because the dog walker would still have to go to ops house whatever.

26 degrees is well into danger territory for heatstroke - you may be happy taking your dogs out in those temperatures but you can’t expect a professional to take the same risks, especially when they have other dogs to factor in as well.

It’s currently 24 degrees where I am - I have cancelled all my walks for the remainder of the week and will be doing pop-ins and toilet breaks only.

I’m losing about £150 and my days are totally disrupted as I have to keep going back and forth in a hot car to get to everyone.

I would say if you don’t trust your dog walker to make reasonable decisions about whether it’s safe to walk then they shouldn’t be your dog walker in the first place.

This covers it. I can’t tell from your post exactly what’s being offered/what you are thinking, but this is what’s fair.

The walker cancelled?

Why aren’t YOU cancelling her? Do you want your dog walked in mid day heat?

Pay her for a visit / let out for the same time.

Of course not!

I would still pay them.

Unless you wfh and don’t need a home visit then yes that sounds like a good plan.
Do you have a garden hose ? Could they play in the garden for a bit ?

She is cancelling for your dogs safety. If your dog is walked as part of a group then she won’t have time to do 1 hour visits for all of the dogs so will need to reduce the time. With regards to a reduced fee bear in mind that this is her income, she will still have overheads.

I’m a dog walker, I offer an early walk with an afternoon let out in this weather, or just a let out, I offer this at a reduced fee but many don’t as it could send them out of business. I also give the option to cancel if clients are home which I don’t charge for but many of my clients insist on paying me anyway.

Good dog walkers are hard to come by, if you are happy with her I’d pay.

By cancelling surely she has your dogs best interest at heart?
If she is coming to yours to let the dog out and give it some company then of course you should pay….her time and hourly rate are the same regardless.
YABU

I pay my dog walker even if she cancels. She is worth a great deal to me and she adores my dogs.

My walker has been doing a 7am 2hr walk for both Labs this week.

And offering day time garden visits if out at work all day.

It would be disingenuous of you to not pay the same as usual if she/he is allocating the same amount of time. Any goodwill you have built up would be damaged IMO

I'd pay if she came to the house instead of a walk. But if she didnt show up at all I wouldn't want to pay.

Agreed.

Well exactly but ive seen some people absolutely not letting their dogs out at all

My dog walker cancels when it’s too hot . If he didn’t I’d think he was more interested in money than their welfare .

Of course! Licensed daycare. No way my pup would go to anyone else

🙄

Pay her the full amount.

If she if offering a home visit, I wouldn't expect a reduction in fees. It will be more labour intensive for her to offer home visits to individual dogs compared to taking a small group of dogs out for a walk - unless it is a one to one walk.

You seem quite complainy about it. Surely you don't expect her to take your dog out in this heat? It could be fatal.

If she does a home visit, then you are paying for her time, so no you shouldn't expect a reduction.

I don't have dogs but I think you should pay her the same .She is running a business and it's her time you are paying for.
Presumably she doesn't just walk your dog? So normally your dog doesn't get one to one attention on a walk but when she visits it will. So that will compensate for the shorter amount of time she spends with each dog.
Eg If she normally walks three dogs together for an hour and instead visits each dog for 20 minutes it is still taking her the same amount of time maybe more.
If you don't accept the home visit I think you should pay the full amount as you will have canceled.

Dog walker/pet sitter here. I charge the same rate for walk/house visit so no I would not offer a reduction due to the weather. I have a few house visits this week due to the weather and my customers are happy that I am letting them out to toilet, having a light play with them indoors and keeping them company. ♥️

If she is still visiting you you pay her as normal. If you or she cancel you don't.

She’s still giving her time so that is what you’re paying for

Any dog walker that turns up and walks your dog in extreme heat is irresponsible and should find another career. Welfare first ….. always.

Home visits to allow your dog a comfort break to empty their bladder and bowels and then just hang out with someone is acceptable and should be paid for at the same rate.