Tipping Pet Boarding

[bytheblood]

Do you normally tip your pet boarding/kennel/pet sitter above the price of their fees?

In the past I have brought the lady who boards/watches my dogs back something from vacation as an extra gift, but I seriously don't think she is going to want anything from WDW.

 

[LuLuO]

You could bring her a bottle of wine from DTD. Or maybe some candy.

 

[bytheblood]

Does anybody tip the people that keep their pets while on vacation on top of what they pay them for boarding?

 

[dumboiu]

Does anybody tip the people that keep their pets while on vacation on top of what they pay them for boarding?

No. Why would I? It is not a tipping position. Do you tip the sales clerks who wait on you in a department store? Do you tip the receptionist at the doctor's office? Do you tip your physician? No. I believe tipping is getting out of control. I can no longer afford to do anything, it seems as I can't afford to tip every person I meet or do business with! However, I do tip the waiter/waitress 20% at a restaurant, but then again, I expect to do that.

 

[design_mom]

My dogs currently go to a kennel, not someone who comes to our house. I do not tip over and above the rate.

In the past, my dogs have been watched by family or friends. We pay them (agreed upon in advance, but substantially less than sending to a kennel), and usually bring back a token gift or souvenir. We do not give extra money over and above the agreed upon price. I agree that there's probably something at WDW that would make a nice gift even for a non-Disney lover (food, etc. There's also a really neat store that sells kitchen gadgets. I think you could probably find something there that would not be "super disney.")

If I were to pay a professional dog sitter to come to the house, I do not think I would tip nor bring a gift.

 

[Northstar]

The only time I paid anything beyond the agreed-on fee for pets at a kennel was the time our cat had surgery for an abscess 2 days before our scheduled 10-day vacation at Christmas time.

She needed pills, she needed to have the wound cleaned out.

We'd used this kennel before and knew she'd be in good hands, so we called them and asked if they could still take her with the extra care needed. They said, "sure, no problem, do it all the time, no extra charge." They seemed a little insulted that we'd expect them to charge more, if you know what I mean.

So we sent them a huge citrus basket from Florida. It was appreciated.

 

[LuLuO]

Does anybody tip the people that keep their pets while on vacation on top of what they pay them for boarding?

I bring a small gift for the staff to share. Usually candy or something similar.

 

[MushyMushy]

No, I never have and I agree with Disney Doll 100%!

However, the woman who owned the kennel we used to use liked to collect vials of sand from different beaches, so one year when we went to Hilton Head, I did bring her some sand.

 

[bytheblood]

Okay - thanks. Just wanted to make sure my line of thinking was correct.

Seems like most people tip personal services on top if the high prices we pay (salons, nails, pedis, etc) - was not sure if it seemed normal for pet sitting, too.

 

[mjmartin01]

I guess I am not the norm...I tip the lady that watches our two dogs $20 for the week.. she charges $25 a day for the first dog and $15 a day for the second one...

 

[Mom23Disneybelievers]

We do not tip for boarding, but we do tip for grooming.