WWYD - walker has muzzled and hurt Willow

[Treacle Toes]

I'm sorry for swearing at you.

Likewise I was having a really relaxed, non-combative evening at home up until that point and went to bed with a headache almost immediately afterwards.

If we're being honest here...the fact that you 'paired' me with Athos to call me a twat was the touch paper lit and left me aghast. Totally unforgivable!

 

[SheilaNaGig]

If a poorly fitting muzzle were put onto a dog that has issues, it could result in real anger and fear in the dog, leading to further issues.

Rescue dogs who've been beaten or hurt in the past, dogs with fear around muzzles, dogs that have been tied or held around the snout as punishment... Even if that rescue dog has been trained and loved and socialised properly, they always hold that residual kernel of fear around their problems.

If a dog walker is ignoring instructions from the owner, who knows the dog best, it could be dangerous.

In this case it was a puppy who ended up with some minor injuries and hurt feelings. That's bad eneough. But of this dog walker had tried to muzzle a rescue dog with bad memories it could have been very nasty. The dog could have tried to attack the walker in the first instance. But even if that didn't happen, muzzling a dog that has some kind of issue around it could set the trust back irreparably.

Without wanting to minimise what's happened to Willow, it's not so much this single issue that's the problem so much as the ignorance of the walker, who's meant to be the trusted as the responsible professional with others peoples' dogs.

If the walker is this cavalier about using muzzles, they need to be educated themself about why that's a stupid thing to do.

Also, what else are they ignorant and cavalier about?

 

[Reiabuzz]

I found out recently that our dog walkers been walking up our stairs and giving our dog a bath. With my shampoo. In our bath. A) that area is private and b) ask first please. She’s a very sweet lady so a gentle word did the trick. She meant well. Finding a reliable dog walker though is a minefield. They’ve all fucked up in one way or another.

 

[astral]

Astral, how long does it take to train a dog to happily wear a flowerpot?

That's a natural talent.

Without wanting to minimise what's happened to Willow, it's not so much this single issue that's the problem so much as the ignorance of the walker, who's meant to be the trusted as the responsible professional with others peoples' dogs.

Well quite. I'm furious she's been hurt and that I've put her in a position that she's got hurt, but she'll bounce back and I've dealt with it but getting rid of the walker. But what about other dogs getting hurt in the future?

 

[Magnus McGinty]

Sounds like he was between a rock and a hard place. Perhaps he should have refused to walk the dog given it could be ‘nippy’ and the owner objecting to it being muzzled, but needed the money?

 

[trashpony]

Likewise I was having a really relaxed, non-combative evening at home up until that point and went to bed with a headache almost immediately afterwards.

If we're being honest here...the fact that you 'paired' me with Athos to call me a twat was the touch paper lit and left me aghast. Totally unforgivable!

I did wonder

Sorry for ruining your mellow evening

 

[Reiabuzz]

That's a natural talent.



Well quite. I'm furious she's been hurt and that I've put her in a position that she's got hurt, but she'll bounce back and I've dealt with it but getting rid of the walker. But what about other dogs getting hurt in the future?

Which part of London are you in?

 

[astral]

Which part of London are you in?

I'm not, I live in Bristol.

I've just had a lovely woman come over and meet Willow. She's starting next week and seems a great deal more switched on and happy to work with me and the dog.

 

[kebabking]

Sounds like he was between a rock and a hard place. Perhaps he should have refused to walk the dog given it could be ‘nippy’ and the owner objecting to it being muzzled, but needed the money?

Not really, if the young dog, however nippy, was on a lead there shouldn't really be a problem - assuming matey-cakes isn't walking far more dogs than he can control.

For me, the lead issue is as big a problem as the muzzle issue - puppies/young dogs often have very poor recall, especially with people they don't know. The dog could very easy have just legged it and run into a road, or another dog who's owner keeps it on a lead for a very good reason.

The dog walker has broken two of the biggest 4/5 rules of dog handling in one day - he obviously knows fuck all about dogs or is a complete cunt.

His livelihood is his problem - we don't allow people with a compulsion to push buttons to work on ballistic missile submarines regardless of how much they need the money, we don't allow people who know fuck all about anatomy and chemistry to work as doctors regardless of how much they need the money, so why should we allow someone who knows fuck all about dog handling to work as a dog handler?

 

[spanglechick]

I know sod all about dogs, but they are alive and loved. If someone entrusted their car to a garage - a bloody machine - and on getting it back discovered a dent or scrape which the mechanic hadn't told them had happened, then a negative review would naturally follow. This would then help me decide whether to use the garage myself.

I can't see why a bad review in this case is not even more important. Animals, after all, being more important than cars.

 

[twentythreedom]

Poor Willow I'm going to be employing a dog walker / sitter for Ruby soon (she's just turned 1) and I would be absolutely mortified and very upset, not to say fucking fuming mad, if what astral experienced happened to me / Ruby

I think a carefully worded review is fair enough, our dogs are our beloved companions and fellow owners have a right to be forewarned of shoddy treatment by walkers.

I hope Willow is recovered and back to full wagginess soon

 

[Treacle Toes]

Sounds like he was between a rock and a hard place. Perhaps he should have refused to walk the dog given it could be ‘nippy’ and the owner objecting to it being muzzled, but needed the money?

Nah, now I know the full story the dog walker shouldn't have taken the work if he was just going to do the very things astral asked him not to.

 

[equationgirl]

In my experience of several puppies, both my family's and those being puppywalked by friends for guide dogs, sometimes puppies and young dogs are a bit nippy until they're trained not to be. That's not an unusual trait. Doesn't automatically follow that the dog is muzzled (and badly at that) because the walkers can't manage it - an experienced walker should be able to control the animal.

It sounds like the walker muzzled the animal to make his life easier, and he shouldn't be a dog walker if that's what he's doing. Especially as he's going against wishes of the owner.

Yes I'm sure he has financial obligations to meet, doesn't mean he mistreat animals to do so.

 

[ViolentPanda]

I think you're over-reacting.

Not really. You can undo months of socialisation and training by doing something like that. This now means that the next walker will have to be alert to issues in Astral's pup that may have been caused by the current walker.

 

[Shirl]

I would say that anyone who puts a muzzle on a six month old puppy and lets it off the lead needs their head examined. If another dog chased it and attacked it the puppy would have no chance.
I'd be furious and would be looking for another highly recommended dog walker.
If my puppy had been injured by the muzzle I'd say so in my review.

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

Well, if this cat owner who doesn't really get dogs ( ) has only learnt one thing today it's that you have to train a dog to wear a muzzle.

I'd always just assumed you put one on if the dog was a bit bite happy and that was that

 

[Puddy_Tat]

Willow does seem to have perked up now though

View attachment 117250

Astral, how long does it take to train a dog to happily wear a flowerpot?

or is it a sign that willow has been traumatised by the whole thing and feels a need to hide?

maybe you should sue for the psychological distress?

 

[astral]

or is it a sign that willow has been traumatised by the whole thing and feels a need to hide?

maybe you should sue for the psychological distress?

I'll take her to an emergency out of hours pet psychologist straight away. How could I have ignored this?

 

[trashpony]

Well, if this cat owner who doesn't really get dogs D) has only learnt one thing today it's that you have to train a dog to wear a muzzle.

I'd always just assumed you put one on if the dog was a bit bite happy and that was that

You can borrow my dog for the day! If he doesn't want to do something, you'll know about it. I've paid people £10/hour to take him for a walk and if he doesn't like them, he sits down and refuses to leave the house. There's a limit to how far you can drag a dog on its belly along the pavement without causing it serious damage

 

[equationgirl]

You can borrow my dog for the day! If he doesn't want to do something, you'll know about it. I've paid people £10/hour to take him for a walk and if he doesn't like them, he sits down and refuses to leave the house. There's a limit to how far you can drag a dog on its belly along the pavement without causing it serious damage

Aye, our dog would refuse to go outside in the rain. Could not budge her unless she decided she would move. Anything larger than a yorkie or spaniel and you can't even pick it up easily.