Dog walkers

cinnamontoast said:
I know two dog walkers. One has become a friend, she trained Zak, she's very gun dog focussed, but she's not near enough and I don't want to muddy the friendship waters. She does the kennels in garden with multiple dogs, which my lot would hate and Zak couldn't do. The other is also out of area. I need to get researching. There are loads out there, but I can't have them walked with others. Ideally, I want someone to come here to take them out.

I can't ask friends, they all work long hours too.
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What about the "Borrow my Dog" scheme?
 
Sounds like there are lots of rubbish days cares!!!!

Ours only go occasionally. She lives in the village and most of her clients are in the village. She normally walks to your house, walks your dog, maybe with another one if she knows they know each other from the park. Occasionally she might pop them in the car.

If they are in day care, she has her 3 dogs then usually only one family of dogs at a time eg mine and my dads go together. Overnight stays is the same.
 
MurphysMinder said:
I would definitely do thorough research before asking someone to walk my dogs.
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Definitely this! A friend was recommended to a certain dog walker as her usual one couldn't do the days she needed. She checked the dog walker out, asked loads of questions etc and was assured the dogs were walked off lead in a private, well fenced field. On the second outing the dog was killed on a very busy road. It turned out the dog walker had lied! She was walking the dogs on a public footpath in a field with huge openings out onto a busy dual carriageway. The dog didn't stand a chance.
 
Pearlsasinger said:
What about the "Borrow my Dog" scheme?
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I'm afraid that Zak is the big problem. He's extremely reactive to other dogs and will try to drag me to kill other dogs. If a dog comes to sniff him, he goes crazy. I just wouldn't trust anyone, this being most of the problem. It can be stressful walking him. We pick our times carefully.

Not being one to let the grass grow, I spoke to my gun dog trainer friend tonight who has offered us a trial. She is now going past our house to pick up 2 other spaniels. She has two metal kennels outside (holding pens) and a converted shed. She has a springer like Zak, not as werewolf-like. I've said that Zak cannot be in with other dogs. She has offered to pick them up, walk and return or have them separately. Knowing her, she will probably do some very strictly supervised socialisation. I absolutely trust her and have always wanted her to do this, but never really needed it.

We're going for dinner in a couple of weeks to sort out details. She's the one person I totally trust and who knows Zak.

I think putting a dog flap back in might be an idea, too. (Thanks, Snuffles!)

Thank you all for being a brilliant sounding board. I realise I am paranoid and pathetic about my dogs!
 
That all sounds positive!

I would be wary of the dog flap though. If they can get into the garden unsupervised, it needs to be absolutely like Fort Knox - and we have had dogs sit outside the door in the rain looking miserable, which is why I prefer a kennel arrangement.
 
They had one before, we just got tired of replacing it. The garden is defo Fort Knox after several incursions through the neighbour's garden directly behind, then across the main road and into the park! I dragged myself round when I'd just done the leg thing, think that was the last time. They can't get out now. We chicken wired between the conifers at 5 ft when they got into the side neighbour, put a six foot fence between us and nice neighbour.
 
cinnamontoast said:
They had one before, we just got tired of replacing it. The garden is defo Fort Knox after several incursions through the neighbour's garden directly behind, then across the main road and into the park! I dragged myself round when I'd just done the leg thing, think that was the last time. They can't get out now. We chicken wired between the conifers at 5 ft when they got into the side neighbour, put a six foot fence between us and nice neighbour.
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That does sound pretty secure. I wouldn't trust ours not to spend the day digging under the fence or finding some other way to circumvent it though. i won't leave them out for more than about 10 minutes without checking to see what they are up to:D
 
I feel your pain! I was paranoid fter they first escaped, thought I'd plugged all the gaps, evidently not! They're locked in if they get into three out of the four surrounding gardens, just not the one directly behind. I double fenced that bit!
 
CazD said:
Definitely this! A friend was recommended to a certain dog walker as her usual one couldn't do the days she needed. She checked the dog walker out, asked loads of questions etc and was assured the dogs were walked off lead in a private, well fenced field. On the second outing the dog was killed on a very busy road. It turned out the dog walker had lied! She was walking the dogs on a public footpath in a field with huge openings out onto a busy dual carriageway. The dog didn't stand a chance.
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This is awful!! Accidents happen but why take such chances to precipitate them. Very sad :(

I have a GPS tracker on my puppy that lets me know when the walker picks him up and brings him back to the house ... I can check on where he is, although I usually only have a quick glance to see where the day's walk has been so I know what areas he knows.
 
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