I think it varies. We don't have a window cleaner (had some tree surgeon folks in yesterday from next door - one of whom came to the door and asked if they could have access up the side of our garden, and another of whom nearly fell off his ladder when he shouted to his friends about the 'bear' in our garden as Tyton wandered out from under a low hanging fuschia bush!)

Mum's window cleaner has/had an elderly border collie that used to wander round the cul-de-sac a couple of houses ahead of the cleaner - she was called Sparky and knew which houses had cupboards with dog biscuits in for her to visit . He was great with houses with dogs, knew which were ok, and which he had to warn the owners prior to coming onto their property.

 

I think it varies. We don't have a window cleaner (had some tree surgeon folks in yesterday from next door - one of whom came to the door and asked if they could have access up the side of our garden, and another of whom nearly fell off his ladder when he shouted to his friends about the 'bear' in our garden as Tyton wandered out from under a low hanging fuschia bush!)

Mum's window cleaner has/had an elderly border collie that used to wander round the cul-de-sac a couple of houses ahead of the cleaner - she was called Sparky and knew which houses had cupboards with dog biscuits in for her to visit . He was great with houses with dogs, knew which were ok, and which he had to warn the owners prior to coming onto their property.

That's the thing. I think I was so used to the old man who has cleaned the windows for years. Even Dexter loved him! He used to come in to the garden, give the dogs a good fuss, throw the ball a couple of times and he always had treats in his pockets. He was fab. I never had to worry. But now, these two young lads just don't seem to give a damn and it really annoyed me. It wouldn't have been too bad if he hadn't shouted at Skip and just had the decency to close the gate after them

 

I've had a window cleaner for years. He always knocks on the door before starting, when he comes round to the back garden Indie is fine although she does harrass him a little by constantly dropping her ball for him to throw. He never leaves the gate open. My last dog was fine with him too.
Both Indie and Jaz accept anyone into our house/garden if we let them in, occasionally pre-organised workmen have just walked round the back and both dogs had a real hissy fit, barking etc. from indoors. Luckily our side gate is always locked unless someone is expected.

 

I put a remote doorbell on the garden gate, with a notice saying "Loose dog! Please ring the bell, and I'll come and grab him". When I next saw the windowcleaners, I introduced them to the dog, and talked to them about the gate. They were fine about it. Is something like that possible for you?

 

Change window cleaner if your not happy with them (I imagine there will plenty of choice!). I know from my experience that generally they only come on certain days so I make sure the gate is unlocked so they can access the rear garden and then make sure the dogs are not roaming freely, no matter how great they may be with Dogs there is still a chance they could get out with someone walking through the gate and as they are my dogs its my responsibility to make sure they are safe.

 

Holly likes our window cleaner but hates his ladders. She goes mental when she hears them (and she does when they are close). OH takes her out when he comes, he always knocks first to let us know he is here.

She barks at all metal ladders clanking, no matter where she or they are.

 

I put a remote doorbell on the garden gate, with a notice saying "Loose dog! Please ring the bell, and I'll come and grab him". When I next saw the windowcleaners, I introduced them to the dog, and talked to them about the gate. They were fine about it. Is something like that possible for you?

I suppose that is possible These young lads literally barrel in through the side gate, clean the windows and the leave... No hanging around. But they always come round asking for their money so I'll have a word with them then

Change window cleaner if your not happy with them (I imagine there will plenty of choice!). I know from my experience that generally they only come on certain days so I make sure the gate is unlocked so they can access the rear garden and then make sure the dogs are not roaming freely, no matter how great they may be with Dogs there is still a chance they could get out with someone walking through the gate and as they are my dogs its my responsibility to make sure they are safe.

I'm usually always there when the window cleaner is anyways. Especially with my old window cleaner as I used to make him a cuppa He always closed the gate and was if anything, more vigilant than me (which is difficult). I have two gates in my back garden and I think these lads used both, which there is no need for. I was just angry that they couldn't even close the gate after them... They know there's a dog in the house!

 

Holly likes our window cleaner but hates his ladders. She goes mental when she hears them (and she does when they are close). OH takes her out when he comes, he always knocks first to let us know he is here.

She barks at all metal ladders clanking, no matter where she or they are.

Lol, Skip used to be like that until once he ran at the ladders, noticed how big they were and the fact that they could crush him... He then walked away like, "yeah, whatever"...

The ironing board... Now that's a whole different ball game

 

I'm usually always there when the window cleaner is anyways. Especially with my old window cleaner as I used to make him a cuppa He always closed the gate and was if anything, more vigilant than me (which is difficult). I have two gates in my back garden and I think these lads used both, which there is no need for. I was just angry that they couldn't even close the gate after them... They know there's a dog in the house!

I think you need to talk to them if that is the main issue then and if they continue to ignore this then I would suggest looking elsewhere.

 

I suppose that is possible These young lads literally barrel in through the side gate, clean the windows and the leave... No hanging around. But they always come round asking for their money so I'll have a word with them then

I have two gates in my back garden and I think these lads used both, which there is no need for. I was just angry that they couldn't even close the gate after them... They know there's a dog in the house!

Sounds to me like they are rude and don't give a damn. They shouldn't imo just walk in to anyone's property with out knocking first even if there is no dog. If they are regular and no-one answers the door then that's fine but they should try first.
if you have no luck then get a new window cleaner.

 

My window cleaner always phones the night before to warn me is coming. If by some remote chance we were going to be out but the dogs would be in I ask him to miss us out for that month, also when Indie was recovering from surgery and in a pen we also asked him not to come. When he arrives he always rings the door bell and starts at the front of the house. I then move the dogs from the back to the front while he goes round to the back as otherwise the pointers keep rushing at the windows barking at him. I stopped a previous window cleaner coming any more because he wouldn't follow the rules and kept turning up without warning and appearing in my back garden even though he knew we had big dogs (had 2 rotties back then).

 

I have a lock on the inside of my back gate they have to knock on the door for me to unlock the gate before they can go in back garden giving me time to get the dogs in.

Can you put a lock (that needs a key) on the inside of your gate into back garden?

 

Eugh how annoying, and I know how you feel.

Nooka HATES the window cleaner, literally goes mental if she's inside and he's doing the windows so I move her to the kitchen while he does the front of the house, then back into the front room while he does the back.

He also turns up on (what seems like) random days and leaves the front gate open. We've put a barrier up so Nooka can't get round to the front, but it's easy to move and the window cleaner moves it when coming round to the back. Once he turned up when we were all out the back and the first I saw of him was the ladder coming round the side of the house. Luckily he was up his ladder before Nooka noticed....though she's actually better with him outside, I don't think she likes people that look like they're trying to break in, whereas when she can see what he's up to she's not as worried. Still gets shut away from them though.

If it's really causing a problem then I'd be really honest with them and say that if they keep turning up unannounced and leaving the gate open that you'll have to find someone who will do as they're asked.

 

I always have the gate into the garden padlocked when I am at home so the doorbell needs to be rung to gain access. If I am out and expecting someone - window cleaners, oil delivery etc I will leave the gate open.

That said an oil delivery man once ignored the note on the order slip that said to ring the bell before accessing the garden, then went through the garage and ignored the sign on the door that leads into the garden asking that the bell be rung before entering as dogs may be loose. I was upstairs and heard the man attaching the hose to the oil tank. Luckily the dogs were inside.