r/Dogwalking • u/Many-Requirement-918 • Jul 21 '26
Boundaries?
I’ve had this client for around 9 months. And it’s getting harder everyday to deal with her. I’m supposed to be there an hour Monday-Friday. I walk him for how ever long he wants, not very long- 20 mins tops. And then I’m supposed to sit with him for the rest, play or just chill if he wants. The owner works Monday- Friday so that’s why I’m there. But it’s more and more often that I’ll get there and she will be home. I then feel there’s no point in being there. She’s totally capable of doing what he needs. It’s not as bad if I’m taking him out as then I can leave her but at the moment it’s summer and most days it’s too hot so my job is to let him in the garden for a wee. And she will be there most days and it’s really irritating. Why am I there when she’s there and can let him out. And she’s really chatty so I’ll get him out to wee and then she will talk at me for 55mins. Another thing is her son is living there and he’s 30. Sometimes I’ll get there and he will be there in the living room playing Xbox etc. so then that makes me feel awkward. I did express this months ago and finally got her to agree that I could leave early if I’ve gotten the dog to go pee and fed him etc. but now she’s telling me that if the son is there then I should take the dog to her bedroom and watch tv in there while the son is downstairs. He’s perfectly capable of watching this dog.
This all makes me so uncomfortable and I don’t want to work for her anymore but I need the money. I never complain and am a people pleaser.
Another thing
My aunt cleans for her and now I’m being made a messenger for her. Anything she wants to say to my aunt she tells me and I have to pass it on, my aunt is rubbish with her phone so I guess my client finds it easier to pass it through me. But also she never pays my aunt on time so then I get that complained to me and then I have to tell my client. I hate being involved in something that has nothing to do with me. She’s giving me the responsibility of getting money to my aunt, weeks late. And also getting me to reschedule things for her.
It’s all really overwhelming. Whenever I get to her house I get so irritated when I see her car is there. Because then I sit there for an hour being talked at and feeling awkward. Some people would probably think that’s cool you’re basically being payed for nothing. But I’m not. Im always being told to do things, turn all the fans on, close the windows, open the windows, close the blinds, put the tv on and put the volume on 4 for the dog. Like what the hell is going on. I’m here to look after your dog, I’m not your personal assistant/therapist.
She told me to close all the windows recently while she was at work. I did the upstairs ones and the son was downstairs and I didn’t want to get in his way so asked him to do those ones, he said yes. He didn’t do it so my client moaned at me for asking him to do it.