Help! Dog walking/sitting/visiting.

[SaddlePsych'D]

Apologies I'm sure I have posted about this before but I am feeling quite desperate at the moment and would appreciate any additional thoughts or ideas. I made a huge miscalculation about the need for a dog walker before we got a dog, assuming it would be much easier than it is.

For context, we moved house about a month ago. Dog and I are home together in the week and the OH is home at the weekend. I started a new job a week after the move. A month before the move I contacted multiple dog walking companies in preparation for going back to work. Many either didn't cover where we live, weren't available, or wouldn't do solo walks. We found someone who, to be honest I wasn't hugely keen on but thought probably would be okay as dog is pretty uncomplicated and it's just a quick leg stretch to break up the day, all on lead.

A few weeks along and I have a bad feeling. Maybe I'm being over worried but there are many horror stories I've seen and the dog industry is so unregulated. I've reviewed our home security footage twice now (I know, I know) and I'm not impressed by what I'm seeing. Not any actual harm done to dog, but definitely damage done to trusting this person with dog or that I want to continue paying them as a supposed professional dog person. Additionally dog just looks unhappy with walker, in contrast to previous walker before we moved and I've never seen dog so thrilled to see someone before or since!

The new job is quite flexible and my manager very understanding of me being in a big life transition, but I really do need two days covered so I can be in office for the full day. I don't want to push my luck with work because they are being brilliant and the nature of the work means there are things I can't do from home. Dog does not mind being left (as demonstrated on the security cam footage) but I do think that two full days per week, every week, is too much for her. So I think my options are:

- Go back to previous companies I liked the look of to see if they have new availability
- Be more open minded to group walks with the absolute condition that dog is on lead throughout and ideally no more than 4 dogs in the group
- Look into visits rather than walks to let dog out in garden for a bit and keep her company

Any thoughts?

 

[Rowreach]

How about finding someone local who wfh and likes a leg stretch at lunchtime? A friend of mine does just this, it gives her a valid reason for leaving the house and going for a walk and taking a proper break in the middle of the day, so a win all round.

 

[bonny]

I’d give the group walking idea a go, all the groups I see are well matched and I think dogs prefer to go out in company. Also presumably it’s a cheaper option and you can request a group with similar dogs?

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

I'd love to do a mutual dog walking thing with someone in the area. I think it will take time to make some local connections but hopefully we could find someone. There's lots of sighthound owners in the area too.

I'm not sure how much you can request regarding groups but the main thing is she stays on lead. She's not really playful with other dogs so as long as they're all off doing what they like and not getting in her face/pestering her she'll be fine. It would be nice to see if being in a pack will help her confidence come back a bit.

I'm trying to relax a bit about other dogs around her although this morning she did end up with a big bull something pouncing/swatting at her back which she wasn't impressed with. I think he really was just trying to get her to play but was being really rude about it!

 

[Cinnamontoast]

I had lots of responses to my advert for a dog walker. There was lots of ‘I know what a dog looks like, I can walk them’ or ‘I do this for a friend, I love dogs’. Hmm. All dogs are precious, but I was particularly worried as they were so young. Keep looking if you’re not happy. I found a fully insured, DBS cleared walker with lots of photos on her group and plentiful reviews and I know I’m really lucky, particularly as we only need her 3 days a month when my OH’s shifts coincide with my work hours.

 

[AmyMay]

I’m a dog walker A dog Walker, and only do Group walks. If an owner wants the dog kept on the lead, then on the lead it stays.

With regards to your current Walker, if you’re not happy, then don’t continue. Our gut feelings are rarely wrong.

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

I’m a dog walker A dog Walker, and only do Group walks. If an owner wants the dog kept on the lead, then on the lead it stays.

With regards to your current Walker, if you’re not happy, then don’t continue. Our gut feelings are rarely wrong.

It's such a horrible feeling. I feel guilty enough as it is for moving dog here. Walking home this eve I thought of the lovely country walks we did every day that she loved and just cried seeing her back in that scared place so much. The last thing she needs is someone else who doesn't know what they're doing and isn't trustworthy.

I can probably cancel at least one walk next week and do an extra day at home for work due to the heat. I've pinged off a few emails to check back in with people I approached previously.

 

[MissTyc]

- Look into visits rather than walks to let dog out in garden for a bit and keep her company

Any thoughts?

^ This is what we ended up doing and I am soooo pleased that we did!

I have one very reactive dog who is entire and used to go on group walks with the same walker since he was a puppy. When she moved out of the area, we were really scuppered as he really doesn't like strangers and he didn't seem to be able to transfer "the dogs in this context are my walkie friends" to a new person and context. We met with a few but he made them nervous so it never went anywhere. Then we got a hyper friendly puppy and of course now it was imperative that she was not exposed to his reactivity as much as possible.

I tried 3 pet sitters, but in the end have found one I like and she comes for 45 minutes and does a bit of informal scentwork in the garden with them. So they can do their business, get some attention, and use their brains a bit. My dog is so stranger reactive in the house that it took 6 weeks before I didn't need to hold him on the lead while she was here, but she was calm and tenacious and played with the other one and silly boy realised he was missing out. Now, she sends me pictures of tricks they do in the garden, etc. I have her when we're out and when I wfh so they have their little routine and I can see her interact with them. They love her and I don't need to worry about the variability of outside walks.

During this heatwave it's been a godsend, as they've still had their break during the day whereas I have many friends whose dogs have had to stay home alone all day as "too hot to walk" or the walkers wants to come at 8am. They can walk their own dogs at 8am! And bonus, she's agreed to come and water my garden while we're on holiday because she does all manner of pet sitting (she starts her day letting out some chickens on an allotment!) so watering the plants doesn't make much difference. She's first aid trained and can administer meds as well which is always handy!

So, don't discount that option completely!

Equally, around here the good dog walkers are full to the brim with waiting lists. The less reputable ones are so for a reason.

 

[Moobli]

She is better left home alone than with a dog walker you don’t trust.
You could try an advert on a local community page to see if there is a local person who wfh or is retired and who’d be happy to pop in and let her out or take her for a walk.
There must be some pro walkers who do solo walks but most seem to take a number at once, presumably because they are trying to make a living and one dog is far less profitable than multiples. Word of mouth and personal recommendations are best, followed by interrogation and a few face to face meetings and accompanying them on a couple of pack walks to see how things are run before committing. It’s such a worry having a stranger take your best friend out so it’s imperative you’re happy with your choice.

 

[JGC]

Yes, I would think about the visits. As it's for two days a week and you presumably can walk her yourself before/after work. My older doggle doesn't do three walks a day even when we're here as it's too much, but plenty of time out in the garden with us.

 

[splashgirl45]

i know none of us like to reveal exactly where we live but could you give an area and maybe someone on here knows of a good pet sitter/walker. if you are worried about ivy being walked and maybe getting loose or being uncomfortable with other dogs, she doesnt really need to walk in the heat so someone could come round and let her in the garden and stay with her for half an hour to break up the day. i am in suffolk and know of a really good person who did exactly that for my friend and also took her dog for a short walk on his own so they are out there..
is there a local dog training club in the area, maybe contact them for recommendations. it would suit an older person who couldnt walk a dog but could sit in the house with her. i used to do exactly that for someone with 2 big boisterous dogs who i wouldnt be confident walking out, so i used to sit out in the garden with them in decent weather or if the weather was bad we would all curl up and watch tv together.i did 2 visits as they went out at 6,30 and didnt get home till 5,30 ish. i did this for 10 years so they must have been happy..

 

[Smitty]

Im in Somerset and would be prepared, short term, to let her out in the garden and sit around for half an hour with my coffee flask?. I do this for friends on occasions.

I have a terror of walking my own dog in case he's snatched or attacked and flatly refuse to do this for anyone else, just in case the worst happens.

Back in May I met a really lovely young couple with a black lab. After an afternoon spent in close proximity to them, it transpired it was not their dog,, but one they had met through Borrow My Doggie!! They had been taking him out for about year and his owner had rewritten their will to ensure the couple had him. They clearly absolutely adored him, and he them. It must be very hard to find a good fit with that though.

If I can be of any help, do pm me and we can go from there.

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

I will definitely look into the visiting this more as an option. I was going to say especially in the summer but dog hates the rain too so possibly a year round solution!

I'm getting to know one of my neighbours better and she may also be able to help. Thank you for the offers too I will keep these in mind (we are South West).

 

[Penny Less]

Dog walkers and day care are at breaking point near me. I managed to get a walker twice a week when I couldnt get out but have kept them on just in case they dont have a key! Its finding someone to come in at lunchtimes paricularly.Kennels are booked months in advance. I did use a friend to come in when I was out all day but he has had to give up. Bit worried about what will happen if/when Im in hospital again.
Dog groomers have huge waiting lists too, its mainly all due to lockdown puppies according to my walker, people didnt consider what would happen when they went back to work.
Finding someone you are happy with is a minefield. A professional walker at our local park turns up with five or six in a van, lets them all out, off leads and spends the half hour on his phone. I bet the owners have no idea