Would you trust a friend to walk your Yorkie?
 

We're heading out on a two-week vacation to Hawaii on Friday, and it will be the longest I've ever been away from the boys. I'm panicking. I have a full-time housesitter (mother in law) who the boys love. But she's not real mobile and won't be walking them like I do.

A friend who I trust but doesn't know little dogs has offered to walk them. Should I take him up on it? I'm paranoid that they won't trust him and he won't realize if they are stressed. Or he'll let them off leash and they'll run away. Or he won't know the difference between an aggressive big dog and a playful one at the park. Or he'll let kids pick them up. I'm not sure giving him a list of 50 dos and don'ts would help. The alternative is to settle for them having the backyard to run around in.

So here's a poll. It may take a second to appear.

I would definitely NOT allow the friend to walk them. You have a lot of valid concerns and if you're not 100% confident in this person, I'd just say thanks but no thanks. Having the yard to run and play in seems like plenty of space to me.

I lost one of my babies to a car accident; so I'm probably more paranoid than most dogs owners about what can happen while they're outside. But I say it's always better to err on the side of LIFE.

Have a great time in Hawaii! Be sure to take lots of pictures! :D

i would definitely go through a trial walk.

ps. what is the difference between a playful and aggressive dog? i am newbie dog owner

I sympathize with your situation. I'd be afraid, too. Very, very afraid!:D

Thanks everybody. You are confirming my trepidation!

Francis, it's not always easy and I get it wrong more than I get it right, but I consider an aggressive dog one who comes up with the hair standing up on his back. Or who comes to us at a particularly high rate of speed.

In those cases, I scoop up my dogs and err on the side of caution.

However, I completely misread the situation yesterday on an unleashed walk at the park and created more problems than I avoided. A yellow lab ran up, and I panicked. I scooped up Eddie and hollered to Jack, but Jack sensed my fear, saw the dog and took off running. The dog chased. Jack ran. I shouted. Everybody was tense. Turns out the dog was nice and just wanted to say hello. I'd have been better served if I didn't panic.

Here is what I would do:

Thank the friend and tell them you'd love to take them up on it, but want to be sure they know what they are getting into. Invite them over for a walk, with you.

Show them how to harness your guys (my mom once called when she was dogsitting, because Ginger's harness kept slipping off her but, lol, I have NO idea how she was putting it on her:eek: ), and go for a walk.

This should give you an idea how confident you feel in your friend and give your friend a good idea of what you expect.

Also, go over a few SOLID rules:

no interacting with other dogs (you can do that with them when you are home)
no letting them off lead

Good luck, and stop worrying.

Judging by what you said, I probably wouldn't, but then again, I tend to be paranoid when it comes to Sadie. As someone else suggested, invite them to go on a walk with you first, and see how it goes. YOu'd have a better feel for it then.

I would let another Yorkie owner walk my dogs and I think that is about it. Even if you supervised a walk beforehand and gave explicit instructions, we all know many folks will do what they please regardless!! I can't remember if your yard is fenced or not. Can they get adequate exercise and play time in the yard or in the house? If you feel they can, then I'd nix the walks and just focus on play time. But, if they really need the exercise, I'd stick to a local walk rather than even going to the park. Less chances of something to happen and specific not off the leash EVER!!!!!!

Have a great time in Hawaii!!!!!! Enjoy everything about it!! I highly recommend the Old Lahaina Luau while on Maui - it is really the most authentic, good food and great dancers. But, call now for reservations!! Maui also offers a zipline tour through the rainforest side of the volcano. But I know they also book months in advance (but it sounds really cool). The sunrise bikeride down the volcano is only for the brave. You don't need to be fit as you don't pedal, just brake hard, steer well and PRAY!!!

it really depends on what friend/who was walking my baby.. I'd say probably yes.. again, depending

I would say no. I would rather my babies have a bit of restricted exercise for 2 weeks then worry the whole time I was gone. I would make sure the yard is secured and let him/her play with them in the yard, I just think even the most careful people may not realize how fast these guys can get loose.JMO

I would say no. ANYTHING can happen--perhaps I'm just paranoid but I won't take chances. Only my parents are allowed to watch Max and Abbie when I'm unavailable and they live 5-6 hours away from me! I'll either drive Max and Abbie to them or they'll meet me in the middle of PA (they are in northeastern PA and I'm in southwestern PA). I trust my parents completely and they follow my complete instructions but even then, things can happen that aren't planned. My dad took Max out on his leash and Max started jumping and barking when he saw a rabbit (my parents live in a wooded area). Anyway, the leash unhooked and Max took off running. Fortunately, he ran to the neighbor's garage where the neighbor's dogs were but if he ran into the woods, I don't know if my dad would have been able to catch him. Plus, it's more difficult when you are walking 2 vs. 1. I'm sure that they are used to their walks but I would let them play in the backyard rather than allowing someone to take them for walks. JMO.

NO WAY! I know you've probably got your answer already, but i figured I'd chime in too. My Max is my first ever dog and I had large exotic parrots for YEARS. It's almost impossible to find anyone decent to care for them when I wanted to go anywhere, but thank goodness they didn't HAVE to be out of their cages or go for walks. I've had Max for 2 yrs now, and I've been amazed at some things that can happen that you just would never even imagine being a problem, and especially if you're not familiar with having small dogs. Having birds is pretty demanding knowing what to look for if something's wrong or what kind of predicaments they could get into, and having a small dog I am finding is really almost as demanding (not in a BAD way, but in a "you've got to be aware of this" kind of way). If it was just for a day or so, it's different, but I would never let anyone walk Max unless maybe if it was someone who also had Yorkies, but even then, my most cherished parrot was critically injured by someone who has hundreds of parrots and even larger ones, so my advice is to let nobody do anything other than being at home with them. And making sure that they realize how fast these little guys can be and to be continuously cognizant of WHERE they are at all times.....especially if they were to get out accidentally, and then having strangers (meaning not YOU) trying to catch them??? I just remember once when I hadnt' had Max for too long, he got out of the gate when I was taking the garbage cans out to the curb and he took OFF.....I went running after him but he was SO FAST! Luckily, my neighbor's assistant was out there at the time and he got him, but oh gosh, what a scary thing....it was garbage day so all the big garbage trucks were out on the streets and here this little tiny BLACK dog is racing on BLACK pavement! I say, it's always better to be safe than sorry. Needless to say, we don't leave Max with ANYBODY, and I know that there have to be times that you have no choice, but I spent 10 years without going anywhere out of town without my birds b/c I had nobody that could take care of them even in the house:eek: . If only I'd kept to that program:(

I'm sorry, I'm not trying to freak you out, or be a downer, but I just don't want anyone to have to go thru what I've gone thru for the last year.

I am a nervous wreck when I have to leave the girls for more than an over night...and they are with my parents!! The ONLY ones that I would trust walking my girls would be my parents...They love my little girls (almost) as much as I do...well, after all....they are their grandpuppies!
Couldn't your house sitter just let them out in the back yard to let them release their energy?

I don't trust anyone. Otis is a runner and people just don't pay enough attention. I even have a fenced in yard and I can't trust anyone. I know I'm a crazy dog mom, and this has definately inhibited my social life, but if something happened to Otis because someone wasn't paying enough attention, I would never forgive myself. He's not as important to anyone else, and I think they think I'm exaggerating about how is nature is to run and hunt. I choose not to. I had a roomate for awhile that I trusted but she got transferred so I'm searching for a new dog sitter that I trust. Maybe my mom, but I don't know.

While reading your post I was imagining how I would feel in that situation and got a knot in my stomach. So, if it were me, there is no way I'd let anyone take my dogs out. Two weeks is not going to hurt them. :D YOu go have a great vacation and just call home each evening to see how they are doing. :D

I said never...if I had to be away from him, he'd have his yard only, a couple weeks without walks won't hurt him. But in all honesty, I haven't taken a vacation since I got my first yorkie...15 years ago. If I did, he'd go with me.

I think I would settle them in the backyard, make sure they can't escape and you will relax a lot more. OR have a professional dog walker. Good luck, aloha and hope you get your "legs" tanned. Have fun!

I have complete trust in my friends...I wouldnt belittle them with instructions or do a trial walk with them lol...I guess thats just me...they would know what to do or figure it out real quick..

My Best Friend knows how I panic when it comes to my babies,I would trust her but she wouldnt even ask do to if they where in her care and something was to happen she would never forgive herself, I will be leaving in two weeks to go to FL and my Father will be here taking care of them and I have no worries what so ever he knows how to care for them. I would go with what you feel is right and have a great time!!!!!!!!!!;)

Ugh, two days to go and I'm totally freaking out. I told my friend last night not to bother with walks, that I was afraid of fireworks and the fact that he didn't know the dogs.

Then I came home and found out my housesitting MIL has a two-day, overnight babysitting job next door for the first two days we're gone! She totally lied to me. She's going to be close, but she's not going to be with the dogs for the first two nights.

So now I'm arranging to get someone else to stay at the house those first two days (daughter in law). I also called my friend back up to arrange a trial walk schedule tomorrow.

Sheesh, look at me. And we haven't even left yet!

Mike, you need a vacation!!!!!!

LOL, I know what you should do. Just have the plane swing by Pennsylvania (okay, so what if its 1000's of miles out of the way) and drop Eddie and Jack off here. I promise we will take very good care of them.;)

Seriously, I understand your concern, but it sounds like you are rallying the troops. People go on vacation everyday and leave their pets in someone else's care. Most of the time everything is fine. I hope that you are able to work this out so that you can enjoy your vacation. Hawaii must be incredibly beautiful. Just think of all the pictures you can take.

they will be fine without a walk for 2 weeks !

I'm on the fence. I think if I was totally comfortable with the friend and Alphy knew them and was comfortable with them then I would. Otherwise, I watch way too much late night tv which has given me an overactive imagination and I'd opt for the backyard with supervision. I think otherwise I'd spend my vacation worrying about getting "the call". :D

Sorry, probably wasn't very helpful. You'll know what to do when it comes to it. Just listen to your instincts.

Have a great and safe trip. :animal36

An attack by another dog can happen in an instant and if not experienced you friend may not be able to keep your babies safe, espically since there are two that requires eyes in the back of your head.

My dog was attacked this week while being walked by an experienced person, thankfully he is ok just a bit shaken but you want to avoid this at all costs. As someone suggested a run the back yard seems the safest move, and you will probably feel more at ease with this while away!

Good luck.

Okay - so now when you go and you have photos of your boys in your wallet, show them to strangers and call home everyday to check on them (at least once) you'll know my feelings!!!!!!

When you go to Maui, if in Lahaina shopping - make sure to check out the store Oh, Baby and see the cute doggie T-shirts. There is at least one other store in Lahaina also selling doggie things!!!!!!

Looks like you are having your friend come over for a trial run. That's good. see how he does with the boys and then make your decision.


And i'm gonna second going to the Old Lahaina Luau. BEST LUAU EVER!

I'd say no. If I were you, and I did allow him, I'd be stressed out the entire time.

Esp. if he hasn't been around them. When I take my dogs to my Mom's when I go on vacation, I don't mind if she takes them out because they really listen to her.

LOL, I've got about 60 pictures in my video ipod. Hmm, maybe I'll load up some vids too!

I just discovered my dogsitting mother-in-law offered to overnight babysit for the next door neighbors for the first two days we're going to be gone. I'm paying her, meanwhile, to watch my dogs full time. She was planning on just letting them out in the yard in the daytime and let them sleep by themselves at night. Ugh. I got the friend I was considering allowing to walk them to stay at the house those two days. That way he'll get to know them and I'll feel better about walks too.

I've decided I'm going to try not to stress. I take risks with Eddie every day that could kill him. I let him off leash in a land with eagles. I trust him on the front lawn. He'll be in no more danger while I'm gone than he is when I'm here, so I'm just going to try to enjoy my trip.

Thanks for your advice, everyone! I'll drink something with an umbrella in it in your honor.