Would you fire your dogwalker in this situation?

I say if he doesn’t listen to YOUR rules for YOUR DOG, all bets are off! You would not do this if you were walking the dog would you? So why would you pay someone to do something your against! It’s like sending the next person in line to do your vote for you, they could put down whatever they wanted really. I say fire him if he doesn’t agree to do the job properly, that is how the real world works no? Also it is a life we are talking about here.

He sounds like he doesn’t have the sense God gave a goose. What was his rationale for walking the dog off-leash on a busy street? What made it sound like a good idea? Why does he think you should not fire him for almost killing your dog, since a dead dog will certainly result in no futher work for him, from you or anyone else?

Hells yeah! If he almost got your dog killed (and not a freak accident, but from serious neglect) then Game Over, do not pass Go, do not collect 200 dollars. This is like the babysitter who lets the kids play with fire (and then also has her boyfriend over to have sex once the kids have passed out). Fire his ass immediately. If he gives you any guff and you’re worried, just tell him that you’re really sorry, but you owe the new kid’s family a favor.

Walk your own dog. Saves time, money, trouble. Well, doesn’t save time.

@Nullo She said she couldn’t. Tell him it worries you to illness to think of losing your dog. He has to understand that or is he high all the time?

@faye And here I thought that ‘discs’ was heretofore-unencountered Internet slang. :\
* scribbles a reminder to sleep sometime in the next 18 hours. *

Revision, then. Fire the guy, and inquire about neighborhood kids.

If someone’s job is to protect _______ and he fails to protect _______ or puts _______ in serious danger, then that person has no further claim to the job of protecting _______. This goes for babysitters, dog walkers, bodyguards, etc.

It’s interesting. You didn’t introduce him to us first as a ‘dog walker’. You opened with him being an ex-con who doesn’t make the best choices. What made you think that he’d be someone great with your dog, if you’re afraid of him? What are you afraid he will do?

I say have a talk with him, applaud him for being a free spirit, but that, because of your community’s laws, you can’t take a chance of losing Maynard. Pay him for an extra walk…or something nice.

Be more careful in your selection of your next walker.

@MissA :)-

I would get rid of him. Your dog’s life is at stake.

How did you find out about this occurrence, anyway? Did he tell you himself? If he did, then that’s a point to his credit for his honesty, anyway.

I’d talk to him about it and ask why he did it. It sounds like “the university” was a destination and a place where he might have thought it would be okay for the dog to run free. Obviously it wasn’t.

You could tell him that the dog is never to be off the leash, and that is a non-negotiable point. Or you could tell him that your ideas about dog-walking are incompatible, wish him luck, and let him go.

I understand that you introduced him to us as “an ex-con” to prepare us for the “what if he doesn’t like my decision?” moment, but you knew that going in to this arrangement, didn’t you? Nothing has changed there. He doesn’t want to go back to prison for hurting you (or your dog) because you don’t want him walking the dog any more.

If you’ve told him not to let your dog off the leash, and he disobeyed that instruction, you should find a new dog-walker. Whether he’s an ex-con or not, he should respect your instructions, especially when it comes to your dog’s safety.

I would not take a chance on my dogs life with someone who doesn’t listen to you. Why are you giving this a second thought? If it was a child whose life was endanger, what would you do? You would get rid of the sitter, right?

The question is not about why he doesn’t listen. In fact, that doesn’t matter. What matters is YOUR dog. The fact that you are asking this shows that you value your dog. I would have lost trust if this occured. He clearly has not listened to your rules and does not understand what it is to be a good dog caretaker. What he did was simply against common sense.
Do not live in fear because he is an ex anything. This is YOUR dog. Being a responsible owner also involves who you allow to interact with your dog.

You could also print out all these posts and hand them to him as his reading material to study before his next dog walking lesson

Juss sayin =)

Can’t you get a wheel chair and walk the dog yourself?

Find another dog walker. Your dog will learn to love someone new. Pets are good with giving anyone new a chance. Unless he told you about the incident and told you it will never happen again than I wouldn’t let him have the dog. Nah, never mind. Your dog rely’s on you to protect him. Get him someone who will without question.

I wouldn’t tolerate his behavior for one minute. I would tell him that I appreciate his effort, but the safety of my dog is paramount. I would tell him that because he is unwilling to follow my instructions for caring for my dog, I need to find a different solution for exercising the dog.

If you have a fenced yard, he could throw a ball and do other things with the dog and someone else could walk the dog.

You guys…the biggest problem is that the OP has gotten herself into a situation with a possible Bad Guy whom they’re a bit scared of…....

If you have to call the cops call them, but don’t be scared because he’s a bad guy unless he’s a murderer in that case call the cops first! Not all criminals resort to hurting people. I still think talk to him if you have to talk to him with someone around.