Paying for a dog walker...any advice?

Kimberley

To be honest if a dog is crated at night and all day as well then why bother having one? It must feel like a prisoner in a Jail. I crate our pup at night and when left alone and will when I go back to work but he will only be in the crate 4 hours max during the day. Once he is housebroken and out of the puppy stage then the crate can be packed away. It's no life for a dog being crated 24/7

foreign_correspondent

Personally, (and, yes this is my opinion), I would never leave a pup in a crate all day every day - if that was the only way I could have a dog, I wouldn't have one. If the pup learns to toilet in his crate out of necessity you will have a hell of a job toilet training. Also, any training is hard with a young pup if you are not there 24/7.

However, an older dog may be happy to chill at home with a midday walk - Why not look for a lazy mature dog, preferably of breed that enjoys snoozing during the day - eg. greyhound?

first78

I have grown up with Labradors and know what I'm letting myself in for by getting one. I would have a dog walker as it is important that a puppy isn't left alone all day, it doesn't mean that it would be taken out on long walks, more that it would have someone to play with to break up the day. We only work 4 days a week and have plenty off time outside of work to devote to a puppy. I didn't have any trouble housetraining our last dog and would take a couple of weeks off work to house train a new puppy.

manda1205 wrote: »

I dont understand why you need a dog walker if you're getting a puppy. Puppies shouldnt be walked much to begin with, infact we've been told by breeder and vet that we shouldnt really walk our lab until shes 6 months, so that we dont damage her growing bones and increase the likelyhood of hip dysplasia, as labs are prone to it.
Also after having our 13 week old pup for 5 weeks I cant understand how working full time you could possibly have the time and energy to put into having a pup. How would you house train the pup if you're not there to take it out every 30mins/1hr?
Dont want to sound like Im putting you off, Im just curious at how you want it to work IYSWIM?

first78

Thanks for your support Viktory. The walking routine you have with your dog sounds pretty much the same as we did with our last dog and it worked well. He was quite content and fitted perfectly into our lives and I believe a puppy would fit in just as well. With only working 4 days a week it would mean plenty of oppotunity to go on walks and days out on our time off once the puppy was old enough.

viktory wrote: »

I got my pup (now 6 months old) at 13 weeks and we all work full time. Basically when we got her we had about 2 weeks off work. In that time, we crate and toilet trained her. Then, when we went back to work she is crated during the day. My son comes during his lunch break to let her out, play with her etc. She is quite happy during the day and sleeps.

However, I take her out at 6am for a 30-40 minute walk, then she gets another walk abut the same length of time in the evening with longer walks through local woodland at the weekend. It is very hard work but well worth it.

My dog is a confident, content pup so it can be done. Just don't underestimate how much hard work it will be.

first78

I agree Viktory, everyone has different circumstances, different people have different routines and puppies can get used to these and be happy, well looked after dogs.

I know I can't leave a puppy while I'm out at work all day and I think having a dog walker would break up the day and enable me to give a good home to a pup.

viktory wrote: »

Again, your opinion. You have not seen my dog or seen how she lives her life and therefore have no idea if she is happy or sad, frustrated or content. I, however, do know because I live with her.

viktory

first78 wrote: »

Thanks for your support Viktory. The walking routine you have with your dog sounds pretty much the same as we did with our last dog and it worked well. He was quite content and fitted perfectly into our lives and I believe a puppy would fit in just as well. With only working 4 days a week it would mean plenty of oppotunity to go on walks and days out on our time off once the puppy was old enough.

Yes, it has worked out great for us. I would know if the dog was unhappy and if she showed any signs of depression or distress I would consider other options. You will get a huge amount of stick from other people, but you will know what is right for you and your dog. I have long since learned to grow a thick skin.

Incidentally, Ruby won't be crated for ever - when she is a wee bit older she will have free access to the house (bedrooms and lounge excepted).

Let me know how you get on.

first78

I'll definitely let you know how it all goes I don't think we'll crate ours, I never have before. I will however be installing baby gates it limit where the puppy will have access to.

Like you, I know that I can provide a loving and caring environment for a puppy and working full-time will not prevent this.

Good Luck with Ruby, I hope you're enjoying the puppy stage

viktory wrote: »

Yes, it has worked out great for us. I would know if the dog was unhappy and if she showed any signs of depression or distress I would consider other options. You will get a huge amount of stick from other people, but you will know what is right for you and your dog. I have long since learned to grow a thick skin.

Incidentally, Ruby won't be crated for ever - when she is a wee bit older she will have free access to the house (bedrooms and lounge excepted).

Let me know how you get on.

Kimberley

viktory wrote: »

You will get a huge amount of stick from other people, but you will know what is right for you and your dog. I have long since learned to grow a thick skin.

Incidentally, Ruby won't be crated for ever - when she is a wee bit older she will have free access to the house (bedrooms and lounge excepted).

I guess many people who do not know you will always think that their way is better or you are in the wrong in however you live your life (not your or you as in YOU personally) This is the problem with Internet forums you always get people trying to tell you how to live your life

first78

Yes, internet forums have their drawbacks!!

Kimberley wrote: »

I guess many people who do not know you will always think that their way is better or you are in the wrong in however you live your life (not your or you as in YOU personally) This is the problem with Internet forums you always get people trying to tell you how to live your life

suki1964

Nowt wrong with using a crate as long as its not all day every day and in this case the pup will be so young that a crate ( or a playpen) is the safe option

My lad spent the time I was out of the house in a crate - usually sleeping as he was well played with and exercised before I went to work, the walker came in for an hour and then I was home from work to pay, interact and walk him. Obviously as he got older then the crate wasnt the best place and he did progress to having first the kitchen then the whole of the downstairs to roam. But an eight week old pup is fine in a crate

And then he was crated whilst we slept

My first lad I bought up in a first floor flat with no garden access and we both worked full time (such bad dog owners are we) and guess what - got him toilet trained in a week for his being allowed out. This lad was also clean within two weeks ( he was of course a lot younger having had access to a garden at 8 weeks) And the fosters I take in are toilet trained before they leave me. Its hard work when working myself but it can be done.

The OP here has asked for advice about vetting dog walkers. The OP has already clearly stated she is an experienced dog owner. We all are entitled to our views but to state them as facts is extremely presumptuous and downright ignorant to my mind

To the OP - find your dog walker by word of mouth. Then go shadow them see what they do when out walking. My first walker was a big company with the owner doing the walks and two others going around picking up the dogs and he took up to 10 at a time. Not ideal for some but he was so good with the dogs and didnt put dogs together who fought. My last walker was a retired army dog handler. She took my lad for an hour on the days I worked all day and if it was too hot to walk or he was still too young - she played training games or just plain silly beggers.

Both walkers became good friends and took the dogs for full days and over nighters when needed

Both were insured and all above board with tax etc

But you may find someone local whos retired and cant have a dog any more full time who wouldnt mind a few extra quid a week?

At the end of the day you need to feel comfortable with whoever you go with and need to trust them