How much notice should we give the dog walkers?

July 1, 2013 9:03 PM

We no longer need our dog walker's services. How much notice is enough?

We've been using a dog-walking service for a couple of years for midday workweek walks. The dogs are getting older and less active, and one of the dogs has arthritis that makes it difficult for her to walk. She's also pretty stubborn; more and more she doesn't want to go for walks at all (though she still seems to be enjoying life otherwise).

Last weekend we put up a fence and installed a dog door so they can go out into the yard whenever they want and with the idea of cutting out the midday walks. We weren't sure it would work out (whether the dogs would be willing to use the dog door, etc.) but so far it seems to be working out great and so now it's time to let the dog walkers know.

They're a husband & wife team with three or four people who work for them, and we pay them about $85 per week. We don't know them well since they only come when we're away. What's etiquette here? Is a week's notice uncool? The money's not nothing to us (and by the same token, it's likely not nothing to them either). How short can we cut it and still be within the bounds of decency?

posted by The Loch Ness Monster to Human Relations (14 answers total)

Two weeks seems fair, given their long-term service. That will allow them to find a substitute gig for your time slot (ie advertise, go for an interview, etc.)
posted by HeyAllie at 9:20 PM on July 1, 2013

Also a letter of thanks and a recommendation would be a generous thing to do.
posted by HeyAllie at 9:21 PM on July 1, 2013 [4 favorites]

If they have a presence on Yelp or the like, it might be nice to write a glowing review. People put a surprising amount of stock into things Yelp says.
posted by easy, lucky, free at 9:23 PM on July 1, 2013 [8 favorites]

At least two weeks notice. If you are concerned about the dog, you could give them less notice, but certainly give them two weeks pay. You should also write them a letter of recommendation and offer to make yourselves available as a reference for future clients. If you know anyone who might appreciate their services, you should ask them for materials to pass along to your friends
posted by Rock Steady at 9:35 PM on July 1, 2013 [2 favorites]

just tell them asap. i think you could cancel tomorrow, if they don't have some cancellation policy that you've agreed to. $85/week is a nice dinner for two each week. there's no sense in needlessly wasting that. if they have employees the definitely have a business, it's not like they're some charity.
posted by cupcake1337 at 9:45 PM on July 1, 2013 [6 favorites]

A week is fine with a letter of recommendation and small gift on their last day.
posted by HMSSM at 9:45 PM on July 1, 2013 [1 favorite]

I think two weeks is ideal, one is acceptable if you're really pinched financially.

I don't think it's right to cancel with zero notice, just because you legally can, if they've been reliable and done a good job. Imagine how much it'd screw you over if the dog-walkers cancelled on you with immediate effect. Do as you would be done by, and all that.
posted by Salamander at 9:51 PM on July 1, 2013 [14 favorites]

It'd be nice of you to give them a few days' notice, but I honestly don't think you need to do even that.

It'd be enough to tell them "thanks for your help- at the end of this week, we won't need your services, but we appreciate your fine work, so we'll be sure to recommend you to friends or online whenever we have the chance."

If they don't have some existing cancellation policy, then it's on them. Part of running a business is being ready to switch gears, especially if you don't have policies or procedures in place to pad your time and money in cases like this.

Even if you appreciated their work, you're not under any obligation (moral or otherwise) to throw away $170 on a "two week's notice."
posted by Old Man McKay at 10:23 PM on July 1, 2013 [3 favorites]

I've been a dog walker.

I second what Salamander said.
posted by Broseph at 2:07 AM on July 2, 2013

With 5-6 people in their dog-walking venture, your $85/week has got to be a fairly small fraction of their total revenue. It's not like you're firing someone and cutting their income to zero. I think a week is plenty.
posted by jon1270 at 3:06 AM on July 2, 2013 [1 favorite]

Professional dog walker, here. If there's no formal cancellation policy, just give them a phone call. They're prepared for things like this...and they probably have a client who could drop right into that time slot.
Personally, I wish more people would install a dog door and a fenced-in yard!
posted by BostonTerrier at 6:26 AM on July 2, 2013 [1 favorite]

I think you'd be fine business-wise with zero, one, or two weeks notice (unless you have a contract stating another minimum threshold). However, dogs are not great with abrupt changes in their routines in my experience. Maybe taper down to once or twice a week before stopping completely?
posted by melissasaurus at 7:19 AM on July 2, 2013 [1 favorite]

Why not ask them how best to cancel? They may say "any time; don't worry". If they nervously hesitate, interject an offer for a week's notice. If it stays nervous, make it two weeks.

My point is you don't want to go to the expense if it's no big deal to them. So determining their "big deal point" is the thing to do, IMO
posted by Quisp Lover at 7:44 AM on July 2, 2013 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: Thanks, all! I sent them a nice message and let them know we'll stop after two weeks, which seems to be the consensus. (Though I'll take Quisp Lover's advice too and follow up with them by phone to see what they think.) Much appreciated, everyone.
posted by The Loch Ness Monster at 7:59 AM on July 2, 2013