Borrow my doggy | Mumsnet (2024)

I've never used them and tbh, I wouldn't. They could be anyone. Yes, they're covered by insurance but they're not required to have any training or knowledge of dogs.

I think it's madness to leave your dog with a total stranger.

my old boy was PTS in April

That's exactly what prompted us to look into borrowing - our dear old boy died earlier this year and we desperately miss walking him, but we don't feel we could take on the commitment of another dog just at this time (elderly parents to look after.).

I imagine many borrowers are in that kind of position.

These are all really helpful posts, thank you, so if I were to find myself working much longer hours there’s no guarantee they’d be walked daily?

Do those of you who borrow dogs have keys to the houses to walk them?

I really struggle with the idea of sharing my dog so I’m still not sure this is the right path for me, but I’m trying to learn and be open minded here.

Can you not afford to hire a professional a dog walker? I mean, what happens if the borrower is sick or unavailable and there's nobody to look after your dog? At least a dog walker has a responsibility to turn up and do their job - a random stranger could just decide they're not bothered one day, and there'd be nothing you can do about it.

As a dog walker myself I do worry a lot about services like this, although I appreciate they help a lot of people for various reasons.

My main concern is that the "borrowers" aren't required to have any kind of qualifications or knowledge about animal care. Would they know what to do if your dog got sick or injured in their care? What if, heaven forbid, your dog into a fight or bit someone? What if they slipped their lead or collar and disappeared?

We're thinking of using them.... friends have, lots:

One friend is a regular borrower and loves it - hugely reliable and has dogs to stay when owners are away once they'd build the relationship

Another friend has lent her dog to around 7 or 8 people - she found that just over half worked out... the other half didnt because either unreliable about turning up, or walked the dog too far or not sure what. But those that worked included some really fab people - such as a girl who took him to a dog cafe for a morning every week and he had a ball!

I've been a borrower for a couple of months. I'd love to get a dog but need to persuade DH that it's a good idea, so I signed up to Borrow my Doggy to enjoy some 4-legged company while I continue my negotiations with DH!

The owners live 10 mins walk away from me so it's super convenient. We went for 2 or 3 walks together first so that we could get to know each other a little bit. Since then I've been doing walks once or twice a week. They also use another borrower for 1 or 2 walks per week. They're wfh at the moment so I don't need to have keys to their house. HTH

@TheDogsMother

Vanilla as an owner it's also up to you to take the time get to know the walker. Ask lots of questions about their experience and walk with them to see how they handle your dog. This is free to you so you need to invest too and as such you can't really expect a daily walking service. For that you need to pay someone. Both my owners are great at letting me set the expectation.

@TheDogsMother

That's my point Vanilla and your concerns could equally apply to paid walkers. My owners learned that I had 15 years experience owning a terrier, were welcome to arrange walks for us together as often as they wanted and were welcome to ask me any questions. I agree with your reservations though and I would also have had them about anyone walking my boy until I'd really got to know them.

But you still haven't answered my question - who is responsible if something goes wrong? Is that outlined anywhere in the insurance terms or is it between each individual to decide?

If a dog escapes or gets hurt or bites someone - is the borrower liable or the owner? If a dog gets sick in your care, are you responsible for getting it to the vet, for example? What about bills if you're found to be liable for an injury or sickness?

As for what I require - as a dog walker I have all those qualifications and my contracts and insurance cover what happens if a dog is sick or injured, or if they escape or hurt someone or cause an accident. I don't think it's too much to ask at all - my dog is my most precious thing - I want to know he's going to be as safe as he can possibly be.

Haven't used them but I think it's a case of where I would probably be fine to be a borrower there is no way would I lend my dog out.

OP from your second post are you thinking in terms of when you are working? I use daycare for mine. I don't think you should factor in reliable dog care unless you pay as any borrower isn't obliged to do regular walks and I doubt (but happy to be proved wrong) that they would have insurance for holding keys and entering your house.

@vanillandhoney all the questions you’re asking are questions I have, my dog is my family, I’m single and it’s always been the two of us, so I’m concerned over the same things you are. A number of the posts on jere are helping appease my fears though.

For all the others asking - long term I would pay for a dog Walker / doggy day care, I know of a fantastic place near me that I’ve used in the past who do collection and drop off and the dogs that go there have a great time. However, in the short term I would like to retrain to become a paramedic which means I would be paying a mortgage on very minimal money. The only thing stopping me currently is my dog as paramedics work 12 hour shifts and I can’t and won’t leave her for that long and unless I can find a way to make it work for her then I can’t do it. I have no one who could help out (they all have young kids or busy jobs) so I’m wondering about borrow my doggy, but they don’t seem to be regular either (understandable as they’re not paid) so it’s back to the drawing board I suspect.

I hope that’s all clear I’m not used to being up this early so am a bit brain fogged.

The problem is @MiriamShepherd that as a PP has outlined - they're under no obligation to do it daily or regularly - so what will you do if they choose not to come?

I wouldn't rely on anything like this for a regular commitment - your best bet is to speak to local daycares or walkers and sitters and see what they charge and how their services would operate.

I do have to say though - a 12 hour shift is a lot and presumably as a paramedic you'd be doing a fair bit of overtime too. What would happen in those situations?

Weekly

Not on your Nellie would I lend my dog out, and in your situation, with wanting to train, you need reliable, professional dog care, not ad hoc strangers who can't be relied on.

I can see the appeal to borrowers. My daughter did it at weekends while away at uni as she missed having a dog around. The dog was perfectly safe with her but I'm still bemused that dog owners are happy to let anyone take their dog.