Pet Sitting Cost

Maxy24

Active Member
Joined
Nov 29, 2006
Messages
8,070
Likes
2
Points
38
Age
32
Location
Massachusetts
#1
How much would you pay for an in home pet sitter (comes to let the dog out, gives walks, feeds, whatever you ask)?

I have always watched for a couple of my neighbors and always just let them give what they want. But I'm thinking of putting up some signs around the neighborhood since I don't have a job and it would be good to make some money. I'm watching an elderly Golden right now and am getting $25 a day (that's what the owner offered). I come over in the morning for bathroom, feeding, and medications, then the afternoon to bring her to the lake for an hour, then in the evening to let her in (she is kept on the deck after going to the lack so she can dry off) and I spend some time with her, and finally before bed. Does that sound like a good price, I'd be sort of embarrassed to put up a sign saying I'd sit for less after they are paying me $25, they'd feel sort of scammed I guess. They'll definitely see the signs.

Also, would it be a flat rate for any number of dogs or should it go up a little bit as the number of dogs increases?

Then I'd also be offering to sit for cats and small animals (rodents, reptiles, birds) and I'm not sure what to charge for them either. Obviously they are less work than most dogs, require fewer visits. And I have no idea what I'd do for a combo of species :rolleyes:

Soooo, I'm just clueless when it comes to pricing stuff, I don't think I could handle doing a yard sale because I wouldn't know how much to charge for anything lol. Just looking for opinions and experience with sitters you've used, though it might vary by area a bit.
 

JessLough

Love My Mutt
Joined
May 16, 2009
Messages
13,404
Likes
2
Points
38
Age
33
Location
Guelph, Ontario
#2
I charge $20/day, $100/week, if I'm staying at their house (which includes them providing food or leaving food money) If I'm traveling to their house multiple times, it's $10/30 mins I'm there. That's for up to 2 dogs OR unlimited cats.

As far as cats go, $10 a litter clean added, cause litter boxes are gross :p

I've only ever done rodents and lizards as an add on, and they take nothing so I don't charge for that. If it was rats I probably would charge cause they are more hands-on. Ferrets I've only done for the rescue, who charge $7/day a ferret
 

Locke

Active Member
Joined
Oct 27, 2010
Messages
1,919
Likes
0
Points
36
#3
$20/day is about average. If you had to administer meds or clean cages or something, maybe $25/day
 

*blackrose

"I'm kupo for kupo nuts!"
Joined
May 11, 2010
Messages
7,065
Likes
3
Points
38
Age
33
Location
WI
#4
I only pet sit for a select few people (neighbors/close friends) and I just let them pay me what they will. BUT, I would not feel like I was charging too much if I requested to be paid $20-$30 a day, depending on what all is required of me. I'm typically paid $10-$15 a day on average.
 

JessLough

Love My Mutt
Joined
May 16, 2009
Messages
13,404
Likes
2
Points
38
Age
33
Location
Guelph, Ontario
#5
Another thing to take into account is what other people charge.

Honestly, I'm on the higher end for around here for a weekend or anything less than a week, but have managed to make people believe I'm worth it ;)
 

Jules

Magic, motherf@%$*#!
Joined
Jan 13, 2006
Messages
7,204
Likes
0
Points
36
Age
42
Location
Indiana
#6
Hmmm... I pay $15 for a 45min. visit, three times a day.. So $45 per day.

Anyone want to pet sit for me in September? lol!
 

JessLough

Love My Mutt
Joined
May 16, 2009
Messages
13,404
Likes
2
Points
38
Age
33
Location
Guelph, Ontario
#9
Booo :( That would be SO COOL.

Well, make her come back! :)
Hmm.... when would you need to be booking a pet sitter?

She's *allowed* to come back after the 17th of July, so I'm assuming we'll hear SOMETHING by then, and I've been meaning a trip out that way...

ETA: Yah, totally just realized it's already the 8th of July. OMG MY BOSS MAY BE BACK SOON.
 
M

MyHorseMyRules

Guest
#10
I always house sit in addition to dog sitting, and I charge $30/day. If it's far from work, I add on gas costs. Keep in mind that I leave their house cleaner than it was when I arrived, and I do quite a lot with their dogs.
 

Finkie_Mom

It's A Red Dog Revolution
Joined
Feb 7, 2012
Messages
1,794
Likes
0
Points
36
Location
Bensalem, PA
#11
Huh. I guess I charge a lot then :p

$16 per 15 minutes, $18 per half hour visit, $21 per 45 minutes - all not including mileage.

No extra charges for more dogs, or for cleaning litter boxes/cages. Take care of any and all animals in the house within the time frame paid for.
 

FG167

Active Member
Joined
Apr 11, 2012
Messages
2,709
Likes
0
Points
36
Location
Jefferson, GA
#12
We just paid a pet sitter for two full days and two nights. She came by 4 times for an hour each during the full days and then the last stop was at 1030-1130pm and back again at 730am. We asked her to rotate them/give them attention outside in pairs and then back inside and straight to crates. She fed and everything. We paid her $40 per day. The agreed price was $30 per day but we left 5 dogs this time so we thought that wasn't enough LOL
 

Barb04

Super Moderator
Joined
Sep 28, 2004
Messages
27,429
Likes
4
Points
38
#13
Definitely take into account how far you are from the place you are sitting for. I charge less when it's closer to my home since I'm using less gas. I do charge for the amount of times I have to go back to the home each day. You could put up signs saying to call for prices.
 

Maxy24

Active Member
Joined
Nov 29, 2006
Messages
8,070
Likes
2
Points
38
Age
32
Location
Massachusetts
#14
Oh I'll only be sitting for people in the neighborhood, I can't drive. I'm not looking for this to be a business really, I just want it to be known that there's a girl in the neighborhood who will watch their pets if they are interested. I don't exactly know how to communicate that with a sign, I don't want people to think it's a professional business because it's not.

People on another forum are making me worried, saying I need insurance or I could get sued if something happens. Maybe signs are a bad idea and I should just stick with the people I already sit for and word of mouth.
 

~Jessie~

Chihuahua Power!
Joined
Oct 3, 2006
Messages
19,665
Likes
0
Points
36
Location
Central Florida
#15
Our pet sitter charges $15 for a 30min visit. She always ends up staying closer to an hour though! We have her come by 3 times a day, so it's $45 a day.

Jess watches our pets/house for us on big trips though, which is awesome :D
 

Kilter

New Member
Joined
Jul 4, 2012
Messages
536
Likes
0
Points
0
#16
What you should do is your research on what people's options are. Phone some local kennels and house sitting services, both for with pet and without pet for the house sitting. If you can, do some kennel tours and pretend you're looking for a place to board, so you know what's out there and what they're like, what someone would be paying if they had their dogs there.

You should have some sort of legal butt cover, but it can be as simple as doing some research and writing something up that says that you are not to be held liable for anything. Also, have a vet permission form along with a credit card number for each pet, in case you come and find them ill and need to take them in - so you're not footing the bill because the owners turn around and say they're not going to pay you back. And if the pet is elderly you may want to bring up the topic of what their final plans are or if they have any.
 

joce

Active Member
Joined
Jan 3, 2005
Messages
4,448
Likes
0
Points
36
Age
40
Location
Ohio
#19
I pay 100$ for a weekend here which is Friday to Sunday. That includes three horses, four dogs and five cats as well as two gliders.

Usually I they want to come early enough that can be sat morning to. And I tend to come home early lol!
 

RedHotDobe

aka RedHotBabe
Joined
Jun 5, 2004
Messages
4,366
Likes
0
Points
0
Location
Maryland
#20
I get paid $45 a day when I house sit. They have one dog and two cats, and I spend the night there. I feed them, walk the dog, give him his medication, get the mail, water plants, and clean the litter box.
 

Members online

Top