World’s Worst Dogwalking Service?

[teddypops]

I now expect out of control dogs on shared trails, sometimes incorrectly called cycle paths. We call them dangerous dog paths having been attacked by a Doberman (owner not even on the path but in an adjoining field), taken down in an ambush by a Springer which zoomed out of a ditch, and run at and hit by a large f. oodle. We always thank those owners who have their dogs on lead or under control off lead (rare).

Sadly, our local resident swans expect them too.

I too now expect out of control dogs in the woods where I hack. I go as soon as it’s light in order to try to avoid them.

 

[TPO]

There are actually owners who want their dogs off a lead with the walker to do "pack running" ??

I've seen lots of dog walkers advertise this "service" as a positive. I've, and other people I know, have found random dogs out walking that have escaped during their "pack" time.

A friends ex gf started up a dog walking business and her Instagram (he really didn't get over her very well and showed us pictures) was full of her having 6+ dogs off their leads and running about. All sizes and ages. Made my blood run cold thinking of all the things that could go wrong.

I know of/acquaintances with two people who have set up as dog walkers. Neither have their own dogs and one of them had a small family terrier as a young teenager and thats the extent of their hands on experience. They've done online behaviour "qualifications" and that's them now dog walkers who offer training.

I'm finally in a position (due to work) to get my own dog so have been having a look around for local puppy classes for socialisation and basic obedience type things to join. Firstly the prices are ridiculous and you have to block buy. Apparently they are now called "puppy parties" not classes ? There are so many packages where you leave the dog with the trainer for an hour a week and then join in on the last week of the block to learn the commands. I don't know if it was like this pre lockdown or this is emerging to cater for the lockdown puppy crew but man talk about ridiculous ridiculous dumbing down.

So yeah what CI saw shouldn't have happened and its bad practice that could have happened worse. Sadly it's not a rare occurrence by any stretch.

 

[AmyMay]

Just to stick up for dog walkers. I would hope that most of us are responsible and take the upmost care of the dogs in our charge. I only do group walks (max of 5). All my charges are well behaved, and I’m very choosy about dogs I take on. I choose my walks carefully, in accordance of what dogs I have, and am always respectful of others that we may meet.

This morning I was out with 5 on a lovely forestry walk. They all know my generic commands and are easily popped back on a lead when needed.

I consider myself to be offering a professional service, and operate accordingly.

 

[bonny]

Just to stick up for dog walkers. I would hope that most of us are responsible and take the upmost care of the dogs in our charge. I only do group walks (max of 5). All my charges are well behaved, and I’m very choosy about dogs I take on. I choose my walks carefully, in accordance of what dogs I have, and am always respectful of others that we may meet.

This morning I was out with 5 on a lovely forestry walk. They all know my generic commands and are easily popped back on a lead when needed.

I consider myself to be offering a professional service, and operate accordingly.

All the dog walkers I know or see out and about are the same, there is a lot of demand for them so they can refuse dogs that don’t fit in with the group and they tend to have a gang of dogs who stick together. I’m often surprised at how casual they are with having so many dogs but it does seem to work ok.

 

[AmyMay]

All the dog walkers I know or see out and about are the same, there is a lot of demand for them so they can refuse dogs that don’t fit in with the group and they tend to have a gang of dogs who stick together. I’m often surprised at how casual they are with having so many dogs but it does seem to work ok.

That’s the key to making it work - having the right dogs, ensuring they’re engaged with you. Instilling your commands quickly. And being aware of your surroundings. Oh, and very tasty homemade treats ??

 

[ycbm]

It seriously bothers me that people are effectively excluding the public, from public spaces, for their commercial gain

Me too.

I'm utterly sick of being told "walk somewhere else then" by people to whom I politely explain that I have sight loss on my lower right that makes a loose dog or a dog on an extended lead allowed to approach my feet into a serious trip hazard and very threatening.

Yesterday I watched in disbelief as an owner did nothing while her rottweiler ran right up to a toddler who was a lot smaller than the dog. If I'd been the child's mother I would have gone ballistic.
.

 

[Nicnac]

Another result of Covid? People thinking there's more to life than the 9-5 so setting up as dog walkers without a clue, but need to earn as much as the 9-5 so overextend themselves? DW businesses are popping up faster than those offering that eyebrow cutting thing!

Friends run a DW business in California. One dog at a time or 2 if same family. Brilliant service and most importantly safe - both for the dogs being walked and others.

 

[stangs]

All this makes me wonder how people like this, with no experience / knowledge of dog walking, actually get customers?

 

[misst]

My walker (when I worked more) was fantastic but as she got busy she employed other people to help. She had proper insurance, only walked dogs from one household/family at a time and I was happy for many years. Sadly some of her employees were less reliable. One in particular came to my house to walk my dogs, not realising that I was working from home that day as my car was in the repair shop not on the drive. She came in called the dogs (I was in another room with the door shut) and set off. Approx 4 minutes late the door opened and the dogs came into the house. I thought she had forgotten something but then heard the door shut again. I went into the kitchen to find a note (they always left a note to say all well/nice walk/runny poo etc) saying they had had a wonderful walk and been well behaved!! I was paying for an hour. Who knows how often this has happened in the past?
Needless to say we made other arrangements and are now both more or less retired.
The same woman was also caught walking dogs for her employer at the same time as dogs "on the side" to make extra cash.

 

[Clodagh]

All this makes me wonder how people like this, with no experience / knowledge of dog walking, actually get customers?

The customers are, presumably, as ignorant as the walkers.

 

[Clodagh]

My walker (when I worked more) was fantastic but as she got busy she employed other people to help. She had proper insurance, only walked dogs from one household/family at a time and I was happy for many years. Sadly some of her employees were less reliable. One in particular came to my house to walk my dogs, not realising that I was working from home that day as my car was in the repair shop not on the drive. She came in called the dogs (I was in another room with the door shut) and set off. Approx 4 minutes late the door opened and the dogs came into the house. I thought she had forgotten something but then heard the door shut again. I went into the kitchen to find a note (they always left a note to say all well/nice walk/runny poo etc) saying they had had a wonderful walk and been well behaved!! I was paying for an hour. Who knows how often this has happened in the past?
Needless to say we made other arrangements and are now both more or less retired.
The same woman was also caught walking dogs for her employer at the same time as dogs "on the side" to make extra cash.

I would sincerely hope I never need a dog Walker but if I did my dogs would wear a tracker collar. I would have been furious in your shoes. (As I’m sure you were).
The cleaners my MIL had tried a short day, not knowing we had cctv on the drive, so it happens in every profession.

 

[TGM]

We have a dog walker in our locality who is an absolute nightmare! She lives on a quiet private lane adjacent to open countryside so walks all her charges (up to ten) off the lead. She has no control at all and her 'pack' once chased my old lurcher mercilessly. One day we met her walking up the private lane with all the dogs off the lead. Whilst the lane is quiet, there are quite a few houses down the end so it is used by some traffic. A driver approached whilst the dog walker's 'pack' were scattered right across the lane. The driver slowed down and eventually stopped as progress was impeded by dogs in the road and was obviously waiting for dogs to be put on the lead. But no the dog walker merely called to the driver to carry on as the dogs would get out of the way!

She did use to offer home boarding and day care (I assume she doesn't any more as the regulations have become more strict). Her garden is not secure and often her charges would be found on the main road!

Recently her own dog (a very distinctive unusual breed) was spotted killing deer and photographed with blood all over its muzzle. Was posted by someone on the local FB group so you would think she would take action to make sure dog did not get loose again (especially as lots of sheep in the area). Two days later the same dog is found wandering loose yet again!

 

[misst]

Clodagh I stopped using the service as although I felt sorry for, and had been happy with the original walker and owner of the business, I still felt she was responsible for her employees and as such needed to be more aware of what they were doing.
The recent increase in people having video doorbells has probably limited this problem ;-)

We did find an elderly beagle in the woods recently and phoned the number on his collar as he was quite distressed. He was arthritic on his back legs and very slow. His owner answered the phone saying the dog walker had just phoned to say he run away again.... We had actually passed her 10 minutes earlier it turned out. She had 3 small dogs and a couple of medium sized dogs and was wandering along on her phone not paying any attention to the dogs. My OH actually said "bet she is a dog walker - I wouldn't want her with ours". The owner arranged a meet up in the car park with us and the walker and lovely beagle was returned and greeted with a telling off :-(. We did let the owner know he had been distressed. To be honest he was not capable of running off anywhere - I suspect he was slow and stopped to sniff etc and everyone had continued without him.
The dog walker did not thank us .....

 

[MotherOfChickens]

The one I had was under strict instructions to not let the setter off the lead, his recall was always questionable although we didnt live near any stock at that time-he was massively over friendly but a big dog. She let him off, in a field of young barley. Cost me £300 and him a GA to get out the hundred or so barley awn spikes out of his tummy. Next door neighbour was pretty deaf and she heard her shouting at him and the collie one time. Said walker is now some sort of dog behaviourist but it was a while ago, maybe she did go back to college..

the last one I went to see, let’s just say I am not sure she ever walked anywhere because I am not sure she physically could. Never trust a thin chef and all that.

 

[Maryann]

We regularly retrieve 'home boarding' dogs from our fields (with livestock) garden and yard. As far as we are aware nothing has wandered out onto the road and got run over yet but the sloppiness is unreal.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

The paths that I was thinking of are part of a bridleway network that I used to ride on, although it's now not in hacking distance. Although the paths have been upgraded since those days, I certainly wouldn't risk taking a horse through, which must be a real problem for the livery yard at the top of the path

 

[palo1]

I think these guys should be giving lessons!! (also posted on a new thread as I thought this was so brilliant)

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=475095243943399

 

[Caol Ila]

I think these guys should be giving lessons!! (also posted on a new thread as I thought this was so brilliant)

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=475095243943399

They should! What a good pack of doggies.

Like I said, most dogwalkers I've encountered (many use Mugdock Park) are really good. This chap stood out like a sore thumb because he was unusually sh*te. Most of the dog owners I encounter in general are pretty decent. I've had some scary dog encounters in Mugdock, but most of the time, it's fine. 95% of dogs I come across there are either on lead or well-behaved off-lead. Anyone with half a brain knows it's a busy park with other dogs, kids, horses, etc., so I think most people who know they have a problematic dog either keep it on a lead, or they don't take it there. It's the 5% of idiots you have to watch out for. I'd assumed that a (supposedly) professional dogwalking service would not be one of those 5%. Reading some of the posts on this thread, that's clearly an erroneous assumption!

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

Just came across this thread as did a search for "dog walker" - I need to find someone for Ivy for a couple of ad-hoc date and was looking for tips for finding someone as there's lots of choice but so many seem to read a bit like "I worked in IT/finance/teaching/other completely unrelated thing but then I saw a dog once and liked it so now I'm a dog walker" (exaggeration obviously). This thread is making me think I'm right to be wary. Hopefully will find someone trustworthy, experienced and actually professional about it!