Question:

I dog sat for 2 weeks for someone. The dog was with me 24 - 7 and I have no idea how much to charge?
I am not sure what to charge her. Has anyone dog sat in the past for a friend or a client in their home? Can you help me with this? Yes we covered all expenses.

Answers:

A-Best: I work for a doggy daycare in Memphis, TN and dog sit for many of our clients. I would say it depends on your age (whether you are an adult or a teenager), how much experience you have with dogs and whether or not they are a friend or a client. I charge clients $25 a night (whether they provide food or not and regardless of the size of the dog). For acquaintances, I charge $15 a night...and for good friends, I don't charge at all (unless they insist and are in a financial situation that they can afford it). The best way to figure out how much to charge is to call around your local vets that offer boarding and see what they are charging. Most places go off the size of the dog. In Memphis, most places charge at least $20 a night and that is for a tiny kennel. And other places charge around $30 to $40 a night for a big run. That helps me justify what I'm charging if people complain. All the dogs that come to stay with me get free roam of the house, and when I know they are staying, I don't make plans so I can be home with them a majority of the time. They get one on one attention and they are not locked in a crate, kennel or run during their stay. I think my services are worth $25 a day...considering the other options. Also, if I watch two dogs for a person, I give a $10 discount and charge $40 a night. I have not had any complaints - but I also let people know in advance what my rates are so that they aren't surprised later. And keep in mind whether or not the people you are watching for are in a good financial position. Most of the people that I dog sit for are very wealthy and don't even think twice about paying me (and probably would pay me much more). But if I thought they were monetarily strapped, I would be more than willing to work something out with them.  

A: Well, did you cover the costs of food etc while the dog was in your home or was that provided? Where my mum "boards" my dog is about $11 per night. So I guess you could work around that figure.  

A: $8 an hour is the way to go  

A: if it is a close friend i would say $100 for each week, totalling 200, if they are not that good of a friend i would say 400 total, i used to board with a friend for 25 dollars a day and she was a GOOD friend.  

A: I had a coworker pet sit for me for $35/day. She stayed at the house, and took care of the cats (3) and the dogs (3). I am not sure how this compares to other peoples' rates, as she just said that this was enough. I also made sure that she had plenty of stuff for them.  

A: I charge $50 a night, but I'm a vet tech, and most of my dogs/cats have conditions that require meds/injections. I'd charge the same with a healthy dog/cat - they're happy to pay it.  

A: The going rate for 24/7 care here in my city is $20 a day. Usually these things should be discussed before you pet sit this way your idea of fair & their idea of fair are the same.  

A: You should have dealt with it up front. I would guess $30 to $40 a day.  

A: IF YOU CHARGE TO MUCH THAN THEY WONT ASK YOU AGAIN SO DO $5 AN HOUR!!  

A: charge her $8 an hour  

A: come on, its a dog, its not hard labour! if looking after the dog prevented you from earning money elsewhere then yeah ask for that but i would say 200 should do. i dont think you should get paid 8 an hour x 24 x 14, that would be absolute madness!!  

A: ive dog sat for 2 weeks before too, and i charged 3 dollars a day (plus saturday and sunday) and i would also like clean the house, so when ur client returns they have a nice house *make their beds(if not already made) vaccume the house ect etc* ooooooor just make it easier on them and just say 10-15 dollars  

A: Quite honestly, since you haven't arranged the fee ahead of time, you are kind of out of luck. I don't believe it's fair to charge more than $250. If the dog was at your own house, $100. I would be surprised if you got that much. They may be thinking that tee shirt they got you while on vacation is your pay. If you charge them too much, you'll never see the money, and you'll never see another pet sitting job from anyone who hears about it. In the future, if you pet sit in someone's house, charge at least $30.00 a day. If you pet sit bringing the pet into your house, $15.00 a day, at least. But arrange the rate and estimated total with them up front! I do not believe an hourly rate is appropriate, unless you spent the entire time exclusively interacting directly with the dog, without pausing to pee, eat, sleep, watch television, get on the computer, talk on the phone or do any other activity, per the owner's specific request.