How much to pay dog sitter?

[taraprather]

I watch a 2nd grader before/after school. Her parents pay me $50 a week.
I tell you this because her parents are now looking after my dogs while we are on vacation. There are 3 of them. These people are my neighbor (live 2 doors down across the street). I have 2 black labs and 1 silky terrior. They are coming to my house in the morning, afternoon, and evening to let them out. They are also feeding my fish. They aren't walking them, but they did send me a text yesterday telling us they are spending about an hour a day playing with them and giving them attention.
Anyways, how much should I pay them? we never really discussed rates ahead of time. Oh, They started watching them on a Tuesday evening, and we are coming back on Wednesday evening (the following week).
Thanks!

 

[wishesuponastar]

We pay our DD's 13yo friend (who lives a block away) $10 day to walk our dog 3 times a day. Her sister usually comes too to feed our other DD's guinea pig but the guinea pig is DD's responsibility. I would think for 3 dogs I would pay $30-$40 per day. Definitely less than boarding them.

 

[danygirl]

Dd was recently paid $100 for one weekend

She usually walks another dog for 20 minutes ever day for $8 per walk

We pay 25 per day

 

[Yardbird]

Since boarding rates for three dogs would be approximately 100.00- a day, I'd say at least $200.00 for the week. ETA; I think it depends on where you live, what the going rate is. Yes, you do give them a great deal on childcare, hopefully they will take that into consideration as well.

 

[Pooh2]

Since you give them a great deal on childcare, I would hope they give you a great deal on dog sitting.

 

[sunkissed4]

Agree with PP, you give them a heck of a deal on child care, hopefully they don't expect the going rate for dog sitting. When we hire a professional, it's about $30 a day for two dogs, two visits a day.

When BIL does it, we buy him a case of beer and return the favor when he's out of town.

Maybe pay them $50-$75 or a gift card to a nice restaurant for their help?

 

[FairestOfThemAll37]

The going rate around here is $15/visit. I would imagine that you'd be paying them a much lower rate due to the break in child care costs that you give them.

 

[Yougotit]

Could you do a trade? Offer 2 free weeks of the morning/afterschool care (given the fact that they are coming three times a day for a week, I think two weeks is reasonable).

 

[wishesuponastar]

I like your idea. I didn't think about what a deal you give for child care. So maybe they will do a trade.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

My dog is old (13 yrs.). She has become very irradic when it comes to eating and eliminating. She would have a nervous breakdown in a kennel. For my pet sitter to come in 4 times/day, at an average of $15 per visit, a week's vacation will cost me $420..

It is now getting to the point where we are going to defer vacationing for more than a day or two just to circumvent these pet sitting expenses.

We do not know how long we have with her, but suspect she will pass in this next year. She sleeps non-stop, is hard of hearing and is losing her eye sight. It's a hard stage to go through, but vacations come second at this point.

 

[smokeyblue]

Threads like this make me cringe. I got lambasted once for saying I paid our cat sitter $13/day + tip + gas money which ended up being like $17/day for a half hours work. That's a lot of money in my neck of the woods!

I say pay what you feel comfortable with. I think the suggestion to offer childcare in-kind in lieu of money is a good one. With your situation an offer of a week of childcare would be fair and an offer of two weeks would be generous. Anymore would be excessive.

 

[eliza61]

We paid our sitter 45 bucks a night. My dog has to have 2 insulin shots a day

 

[Nintfamily]

I dog sit pretty regularly for a few people. I have a 'suggested donation' of $10 a day per dog if they provide their food. If I have to provide their food it is $12 a day. But that is for little dogs, I usually on watch little dogs. I know it is well under the going rate. Most places around here charge $30 and up for a kennel spot. At my house pets get loved on, a fenced yard to run around in and treated like one of our dogs. (four very spoiled dachshunds!)

 

[autumnblue]

Now I feel really cheap...my aunt stays at my house while I am away for vacation and I only pay her $20 a day. She also gets free food and all of the amenities of the house.

 

[niffer5150]

our regular dog sitter is $50 a day for two visits but we're going to try a service called Sleep over Rover next time we vacation. it's basically in their house boarding and for my two great danes, it's like $85 a day. which is pretty cheap for dog boarding here.

 

[poohfriend77]

Could you do a trade? Offer 2 free weeks of the morning/afterschool care (given the fact that they are coming three times a day for a week, I think two weeks is reasonable).

Situations like this can get awkward when you don't set the price in advance. I think I'd suggest the trade, and 2 weeks sounds reasonable to me (though I wouldn't get upset if they suggested 3 weeks).

But it sounds like maybe the little girl is "helping" feed and play with the dogs, so I'd make sure I had a thank you gift for her. Maybe a souvenir from your trip or gift card for an ice cream place or something.

 

[TwoMisfits]

I am also in favor of the child care /dog care swap, since you are taking below market rate for the child care and you want to maintain very close relations...

 

[DisneyDoc5]

I pay our dog sitters (usually college girls) $30 per day to stay at our home (they like a nice house to stay at, I did this in college too and we live in a college town) and hang with our 2 dogs. They can come and go as needed by just letting them out as needed and sleeping here. I always round up with a big tip as well, so for a week it's about $225-$250. Around here you are paying $40 per dog to board them so I feel that it's worth it to have someone here with them and they are more comfortable, plus our house is safe and the flowers get watered in the summer. I tell them the rates up front, if they don't want to do it they don't have to, but as a college kid, it's good money to have a home to yourself for a week and clearly I only ask dog lovers.

I hope this helps! I will say that you seem to be underpaid for child care, just my opinion...no flames, this varies throughout the country I realize.

 

[okeydokey]

My teenaged daughter and her friend have a deal that they will watch for each other. We live a few doors down from them. I give her maybe $50 a week. She walks over twice a day, to let the dog out and feed her, then let her in at night. Takes about 15 minutes a day total.

 

[eeyoreandtink]

We pay $15 a day to board our small dog with our vet. I would say pet sitting was worth about that per dog. I think trading daycare services would be a good idea in your case.