Something Nickjem said) Have you been ripped off/duped?

[CAYLA]

By your dog walker?

As mentioned by Nickjem in my "returning the dog hacky post"

What NJ said about her friends experience below

My friend's dog-walker turned out to be ripping them off - she thought it was odd how her lab was always spotlessly clean when she got home from work after the dog-walker had been.
One day my friend didn't go to work but forgot to cancel the dog-walker. The dog-walker turned up, took the envelope with the money then left - the poor dog didn't get a walk at all!

Im naturally suspicious and would prob follow my dogs walker a few times
Any one ever caught the dog walker out? and what gits actually go in the house and not bother taking the poor dog

OH dogs go crackers when he pulls up, the weims wait at the window watching for him and so does the bigger boxer bitch
I also takes hoards of piccies of swimming, running, hooning, we even sent one to one of the owners of her dog swimming on a hot summers day saying
"someone has to pay for my walks" cos she was at work, she thought it was hilarious
It's not exactly cheap to have your dog walked, one of OH clients bills total £300 a month, thats alot to pay for sod all, if he did not walk the dog

Any experiences?

 

[CorvusCorax]

My mum used to hire two teenagers when I was on the way , apparently they just took the three dogs to the park, let them off, and stood and had a smoke, watching them.
One of the dogs was incredibly sharp so she sacked them.

 

[Vizslak]

we even sent one to one of the owners of her dog swimming on a hot summers day saying
"someone has to pay for my walks" cos she was at work, she thought it was hilarious

You meanies! I have to say, when I split with my ex (not the one I've just split with) and was working full time I had Tilly and Ellie then. Tills was still living outside back then so I got a friend to check on her and take her for a quick blast but little Ellie was only 6 months and a house dog and my hours were eratic and very long so she went to doggy day care during the week. I dropped her off at 7 ish most mornings (the lady used to answer the door in her dressing gown) and pick her up sometimes as late as 10.30-11pm. It cost a bomb but was worth every penny and she loved it...they used to send me picture messages of her antics with the other dogs several times a day and it was lovely to have that nice interruption to my working day Not really a horror story but I thought I would share a nice experience!

 

[PucciNPoni]

When i lived in the Boston area, I lived in a small apartment and worked long hours. So naturally I had a dog walker for my two minpins. She did a decent job of it from what I know...however my duping was more along the lines of that I used to pre-pay by the week. I'd leave cash or a check on the kitchen table-- and I was contracted to pay a week in advance. For the last two months, I found it easier to write one check instead of four, so gave her a check for a month in advance - but then suddenly my work commitments changed (I was made redundant about one month prior to my notice that I'd given). So I told the dog walker immediately the situation. She never came back, never offered a refund, certainly did cash the check. I asked for a refund, and she coudln't be bothered to answer my calls or phone me back. BIIIIAAAATCCHHHH.

 

[Cinnamontoast]

We have a stunning neighbour who used to breed GSHs and has a huge bitch now. She is amazing in that I just have to say that we're both working-only happens 3 times a month with OH's shifts and she comes in, lets them out, feeds them, trains them, takes them to her house to play with her dog. She is all round superb. She doesn't want payment so we occasionally buy presents and obviously treat her dog at Christmas. We are so fortunate!

If a dog walker didn't take out Brig, it would be blatantly obvious because he would be crazy!

 

[BBH]

I had a bad experience in London when I first had my dog. She was supposed to walk my dog daily and said she'd collect him at lunch times and I was none the wiser until my builders said' you do know the dog walker opens the back door for the dog and spends the hour watching telly and eating her sandwiches'.

Anyway my new lady was by recommendation and she's fab.

 

[mollichop]

I've never used dog walkers but if I did, I would def be spying on them trying to catch them out!

 

[Lanky Loll]

Not had to use one myself - that's what parents are for

But I do know someone that pays for her dog to be picked up to go into daycare.... the daycare drives round all morning and picks all the dogs up in a large van then drives round again to drop them all off - approx 3 hours each journey time so basically they get a day in a van with I believe some walk time in the middle... not what I'd be expecting for day care!