Talk to me about Dog Walkers (please! 😊)

As with anything else, you can find the good and the bad in the lot.
You need to do your homework and see if they have any reviews on, also watch your dogs reaction when they pick him/her up.
A friend of mine is a dog walker up in the North of England and she not only walks the dogs, she trains them at the same time. She walks in the countryside (no park) and once the dog can be trusted they are allowed to run and play. They do not accost people they meet unless the people wish to. She does a great job. She picks up the dogs in a Van but she has a helper with her at all times in case something happens.

Hope you find someone as good as my friend.

Juicylucy

I’m a dog walker i charge £20 for one hour taking 2 dogs from same family. I see dog walkers on my walks with 6 dogs in one go. I would only do individual dogs.

Great post

One of our neighbours is a dog groomer. she knows all the local dogs and their walkers. If you take your dog to be groomed your dog groomer may well be a mine of local information.

Hope your hip is on the mend.

I’m a dog walker i charge £20 for one hour taking 2 dogs from same family. I see dog walkers on my walks with 6 dogs in one go. I would only do individual dogs.

I am a dog walker for The Cinnamon Trust. We are all volunteers who have been checked and approved by the charity. The problem with using this service may be lack of suitable volunteers where you live, or no-one being available at a time that suits you, however, I think it's worth looking into.
cinnamon.org.uk/

My dog died 9.5 years ago. As I had a 19 year old cat who was terrified of all other dogs, I decided that it wasn't fair to introduce a new dog. Instead I joined Borrow my Doggie as a volunteer walker. I met a lovely feisty young Cairn terrier and his family and have been walking him ever since. My cat lived to be just short of his 23rd birthday by which time I had got used to not having my own dog. Cairn and I have grown older and slower together. His family are now friends so it worked out beautifully for both parties. Have a look on their website, you may be lucky.

My daughter, SIL and several other couples all vie to doggy sit their friends gorgeous little whippet when he goes away. They sometimes take him on their hols/breaks too. He's been to a yurt in the Brecon Beacons, camping on a farm and one young lady whisks him off in her VW camper!

When our little dog died I still wanted to walk a dog and joined Borrow My Doggy. I did this for nine months we were without a dog. Our new dog gets on with the dog I walked so I still walk him once a week. I don't get paid and I think I had to pay a registration fee, which covers me for insurance purposes. The owner is very grateful. There might be somebody like me on there and you could always take a look.

I used a dog walker several times a week while I was still working. He charged £10 for 30 mins, walked my dog on its own and always sent me a photo of where they were. I think my little jack Russell missed him when I retired. He did come highly recommended.

I used a dog walker for years just 2 days a week. She came at about 11 for half a hour and again at about 3 again for half an hour. I always got a written description of their walk and any wildlife they had seen. My dogs adored her. They had some good adventures.
The charge was £9 for each half hour. The dog was walked before I left for work and again when I got home. She just slept in-between her walks.

I honestly think that being charged over £12 per hour for a dog walking session should be for one dog only. Otherwise it is a money making racket. Dogs need to be given attention and there is no way a dog walker can give 7 dogs the attention they need, all they do is let them off the leads and do not pick up the dogs mess. Disgusting.

I do not think my comments were harsh. We have had German Shepherd dogs for many years and we always took them for walks. When my hussband was diagnosed with an illness, I was his 24/7 carer for 8 years before he died and could not leave him so we got a dog walker. Our poor love came back filthy, he had cuts on his paws, had terrible diarrhoea from eating something, that was the last thing I wanted, especially when my husband was bed ridden. It got to the stage that I just let him out in the very large back garden we had. After my husband died I was able to start taking our German Shepherd out again for long walks and he lived for three years after my husband died.

So I honestly cannot think why you consider my previous comments harsh. My reasoning is the same, if you cannot walk your dog then do not get one as I would never trust a dog walker with my beloved pet again.

I think BorrowMyDoggy sounds a great idea, good suggestion!

My daughter lives in a university city and has used Borrow my doggy with great success. She tends to pair up with a mature student doing a post grad degree who has had dogs in the family but can't have one at uni. She makes sure they get to know her dog first and that they are a good match. One of the students became her lodger for a year and they are still very good friends. It can work well.

Dog-walking businesses would never have been a thing years ago and far too many people see it as easy cash. I live in a smallish village with (I think) two “businesses” that advertise on Facebook. A friend has used one in the past and it was £12/hour to walk hers, with the person’s own three dogs.

I see one young woman walking six at a time, one kept on a lead, and when she lets the others off in the field with long grass, it baffles me that she can manage to pick up all their poo … oh, wait a minute…

At the big heath outside town you see a group of women walking together every afternoon about 2pm, between four and eight dogs each, not what you might call dangerous breeds but even with a mixed pack of Labradors, collies, spaniels and terriers, and their inevitable designer crossbreds, I’m scared to have my and my DD’s small, obedient and friendly dogs anywhere near them.

One man with a sign written van collects I don’t know how many on presumably a circular route and eventually parks at the end of the track and walks that group for about 15 minutes. In all weather, even 30° plus.

Guide Dogs train their employees so well. The classes I’ve been to with my past 5 dogs have been run by ex guide dog trainers. Guide Dogs only allow their trainers to walk 3 or 4 dogs on line. They’d never allow the dogs off lead in public areas.
These ‘professional’ dog walkers with unofficial lead are taking high risks with the dogs they’re responsible for.

Sorry to hear about your hip. That’s painful and a big handicap when you have a dog.
The three nearest us whom I’ve had recommended, charge between £11 and £15 per hour for solo walks and less for group walks. The best one also offers activities in their paddock about £20.
I’ve only used the one where we board our dog for holidays which costs £12.
I’ve seen several people walking multiple dogs near us, but I don’t know if they are dog walkers, or owners.

As I don't have have dogs at the moment and don't need a walker - I haven't asked him .
I presume that he has third - party liability .

Is he insured?

Iam64-
Despite the dog walker not being that well off he does dog walking for the sheer pleasure .
I've known him and his entire extended family for about 35 years .
I think that he is exceptional .
I would trust him with my dogs .

All premium members of Borrow My Doggie are covered by public liability & accident insurance (obviously check the T&C's). There are many people using it who are very experienced with dogs but, for whatever reason, do not have one themselves.

I met a dog owner in the park a while back with his xlbully who was a big softy and fine with my dog. The owner said he had just started up a dog walking business and gave me his card. I won’t be using it or needing it but I’m thinking he needed to start up an alternative business!

I do hope you find a responsible dog walker Fanny. Dislocated hip , sounds horrendous, I wish you a speedy recovery.
As for Always Smiling - I am speechless, why be so judgemental? I don't have a dog but fully recognize why people may need one. Good luck on all fronts Fanny.

GSM 👍. There are so many untrained dogs out there with owners who know next to nothing about responsible dog ownership.

I would never use them Grey, you get all sorts on there. They are not proper, insured dog walkers. It’s not about making friends with the dog borrowers, it’s about a dog being walked safely and responsibly.