We Never Said Dog Walking Was Dignified

A typical day in the life of a dog walker

(Thank you Lisa, for sharing)

April 3rd

7:53 pm - Receive text from a client asking if I can stop by as her daughter will be at a friend's house.  And oh, by the way, the puppy cannot run or jump because she has stitches from being spayed recently.

 

April 4th

 

7:15 a.m. - Leave house to go to a morning visit for a vacation client.

 

7:30 a.m. - Discover the road to their neighborhood is closed--in both directions!

 

7:30 - 8:15 a.m.  - Drive aimlessly through the county trying to find a detour to get to the dog.  Call Manager to look at map. We both conclude that there is no other access to the neighborhood!  Contemplate parking the car and walking 2 miles to the house.

 

8:19 a.m. -  Client from last night sends a text to say her daughter will now be home, but please come anyway.

 

8:25 a.m. -  Beg police officer at the road barrier to let me through to get to the poor dog. (He does!)

 

8:35 a.m. - Finally get to my first morning visit - one happy dog, one happy walker!

 

11:08 a.m. - A client with  a pool texts to say the pool is being opened today -- note in the house to cover every aspect of dog care during pool care--this should be interesting. 

 

11:17 a.m. - A client texts to say she is leaving work early - no need to come today.

 

11:52 a.m. - Visit Golden puppy (the one with the stitches)  and spend 20 minutes trying to convince her she should not run or jump.

 

12:20 p.m. - Drive past client house with the pool - pool people are there. Decide they do not need any help from the dogs to open the pool. Will go back later.

 

12:40 p.m. - Visit another Golden puppy who likes to pee on the area rug near the door. I get smart and move the rug before leashing him up to go out. We get outside and he sits down right at my feet. I congratulate him (and myself) on getting outside in time, only to realize he's not sitting--he's squatting--he's actually peeing on the mesh part of my brand new walking shoes.  Before you know it,  my sock is soaked as well. Now who's the smart one?

 

1:30 p.m. - Back to the vacation client dog who will not leave my shoe alone;  courtesy of the leaking Golden puppy.

 

2:15 p.m. - Return to the client house with the pool. Pool is now open, but so full of chemicals that I need to keep the dogs away. I leash the Newfoundland (she loves the pool and has a mind of her own).  Her brother, Burmese Mountain Dog, pees.  Newfoundland just sits down and looks at the pool. I bring them back to the deck and shut the gate - leaving the leash on the Newfie so I can take her to pee again later. I take the other dog in for a treat and find poo in both the dining and living rooms on BRAND NEW area rugs! After cleaning up the

mounds of BMD bm's  I check on our precious darling on the deck. I reach for her leash to take her out again; but now it's in three pieces, rendering it completely useless. I guess she told me.

 

3:00 p.m. - Go home to walk my own dog,  who is distracted by my not-so-sweet-smelling shoe.

 

3:45 p.m. - Wash shoe - Febreeze heavily.

 

4:00 p.m. -  Raid son's Easter basket for a Reese's Egg because I forgot to eat lunch. 

 

7:00 p.m. - Back to vacation client wearing a different pair of shoes.

 

8:30 p.m. - Finally get a shower and fall into bed so I can get up and do it all again bright and early tomorrow.

 

The good news? It wasn't raining!

 

Would I trade this life for something more dignified? Not a chance. It's the best job ever!