My pet sitters take my dog to their house and didn't want to take money, but I said it was for their daughters who help walk him and such. I give them $20 per day. My kennel charges $65 per day. When we lived SF and I once hired my babysitter to pet sit at my house I think she charged $60 per day. Various dog sitters who take dogs to their houses on rover.com in my area seem to charge $30-60.

We take our dog back to the "breeder", who is just a hobbyist who boards in the family home. So our dog gets to visit the " ' 'rents", and, at busy travel times, a few of her sibs might be there, too.

We pay 35/day but are so happy to have her in a home, even though they let her on the furniture and she comes home with bad habits (but also freshly bathed ).

We've used the same housesitter/dogsitter for years. I pay her $50/day, but this is because there are a lot of things I want her to do, above and beyond the usual feed and walk the dogs: Give meds, if needed. Walk them 3 times a day. Spend time with them during the day (she watches tv with them and, if the weather is good, plays with them outside). Move our cars around the guest parking area so that it looks like someone is home. Take the trash out on Wednesdays. Water the indoor plants, when needed (usually only once a week). In warm weather, check on the drip irrigation outside to make sure it's working properly. Water the outside potted plants that don't have a drip line. Check and record any precip in the rain gauge. In season, wash and refill our 5 hummingbird feeders as needed. Pick up our mail and newspapers. Keep the dog run clean. No housework or yard work, though. Other neighbors who use this same person pay her $25/day, but they just have her feed the dogs once or twice a day, check the house and bring in the mail and paper.

Yeah, just as I thought, she's insisting on paying much more than going rate.. and I am not doing anything more than overnights, walks, food, playing, loving. I so hate fighting over money. I need to come up with a good way to return it without a squabble!

I am a dog sitter. My rates are $60/day for one, $80/day for two.

I would not take money from a sibling, though.

If she won't take no for an answer, tell her $20/day will do it.

I am the same as your sister in that I would insist on paying. I am the same as you as I would insist I not take it. Perhaps you can ask her to donate it to an animal cause. (p.s. your sister is lucky to have you....I would mortgage my home for a good pet sitter).

Yeah, well, I have a hard time taking ANY money from a sibling-- especially this one who goes out of her way to do special things for me. It really wasn't an issue at all-- I have had great quiet, stress free afternoons on her deck.. and I still spend an hour or two at my own home each day. I get that a puppy has a more demanding schedule but she's really a great dog and it's been no problem at all.

I think I will just find a spot to put the money she left for me and tell her she can have me over for cocktails once they've settled back in. I'd prefer the time with them over the money anyhow!

Thanks for the info!

Oh Marlene-- I love that idea of donating the money! Both she and I rescue -- so that's the perfect solution! Thank you!!

the local dog sitter here we've used charges 18$/visit, so if we have our dogs walked 3 times a day while we're gone, that's 54$/day-- same price for 1 or 2 dogs and a cat. each visit is about 45" long...

we used to pay a neighborhood teen about 25$/day to feed and let our dogs out 4x's/day but that didn't include any walks...

I walk my nieces dog just 3 days a week for an hour and then play with him for another few minutes, feed him a snack and give him fresh water and sometimes brush him (if I can find the brush - LOL) She wanted to pay and there is no way I would take money from her so we negotiated a deal - she pays me in dark chocolate.

I love love love the idea of donating the money.

busybee, I ask this out of true curiosity: Why do you put the $ after the amount?

I agree, whenever someone insists on paying, ask them to donate instead.

We’ve mostly used the daughter of people we know- kind of an
ideal situation. She is now a college student, and we ask her to stay overnight
if possible.

(One time she couldn’t come, and we did use Rover and our experience
was good.

I think the dog sitter sets the price and of course, you
meet them and each situation is different. Just mentioning that it was
worthwhile)

She walked the dog and spent time with the dog, and she
thoroughly enjoyed having a house to herself. (she also would bring in the
mail, put out garbage, take in the newspaper, etc).

We would buy food for her, and pay on average $30 per day. I
think the kennel was about that much maybe a tad more, but the dog was way
happier. (Our dog was older and wasn’t doing well……….we brought her to the vet
over July 4 weekend and said goodbyeL)

.

Reading the replies here, it sounds like we are in the ballpark.
Sounds like $20-50 is reasonable going rate.

I think it’s comparable for someone staying over as opposed
to coming 3 times a day (or however many times) to walk the dog.

We don't use a dog sitter, just a dog walker so our dog is home alone. She lives in my neighborhood and this is her professional job. She charges $30 day which includes three visits, two of them a 30 minute walk, the third just a bathroom break. This includes feeding. If just dog walking, she charges $10 per visit. That seems to be the going rate around here. My dd takes care of a couple of neighbors dogs when they are OOT...she doesn't have a set price but usually gets about $20/day. I too would feel uncomfortable taking money from a sibling or even friend...I think donating to a rescue or shelter is a great idea!

In home dog sitting should pay more than a kennel.

Dog walkers around here charge $15/walk…so three times a day is $45/day. to have someone actually stay with the dog for 24 hours is a night-and-day difference for the dog and is worth more than $45/day. Dogs HATE being alone, and I think it's cruel to leave them alone overnight (cats are another story).

In a kennel, they sit in cages or rooms all day, let out for a half hour here and there, and for an extra $20 you can buy more play time. It's sickening.

"My" dogs come to my home, which has 1.5 acres, they are never caged, I'm with them 24/7, we go to the beach, for trail runs, to the pond, we play ball, in the winter they sit by a fire at night, and they sleep on the bed with me, which they love. WAY beats a kennel, and my clients all really appreciate it and are so glad to not have to put their dog in a kennel.

LOL.. well, my sister left the money with a note that I WILL take it. I think the donation is the best solution all around.

I would have brought her to my house.. and we did discuss it.. but since she is a puppy on a pretty good schedule, I decided not to go that route yet. Next time!

Funky, take the money for yourself. Your sister is very appreciative of what you're doing.

lol... linelle, when I am writing it out I guess I am just substituting the symbol for dollars so it's after the word... I do know it's 'supposed' to be $54.00! I would write it out that way in situations where I thought it was impt to be correct!! :)

many dogs don't HATE being alone. I would much rather leave my dog/s home alone overnight than kennel them! granted, if someone has a dog they allow in bed with them and the dog goes to sleep every night being cuddled or something, then the dog will have an adjustment to make, but cruel?? no.

That's such a nice thing you did for your sister! Our dog sitter charges $20/visit which works out to $40/day for us.

A house-sitter (ie someone who stays in your home) who also takes care of a pet gets $75/day around here.

Busy, I'm sure my dog would prefer the company but I'd much rather leave him alone than take him to a kennel. We only leave him for a weekend under the care of dog walker, anything longer than that and he either goes with us or to my parents' house. My neighbors take care of our mail, etc while we are gone, so they take him outside and play with him as well, so he's getting more attention than just when the dog walker is here. And at 100 lbs, he's definitely not sleeping in our bed with us, though he certainly tries. I used to let him sleep with me when dh traveled but he sheds too much. And he was liking it a little too much such that at one point, on days when dh would leave for work b/f I got up, he'd immediately hop up on the bed and make himself comfortable, which meant sticking his nose right up into my face, begging for some attention.

If i were doing it for anyone other than my sister-- or a BFF, I'd charge at least $75 a day. It's a big inconvenience for me to stay at someone else's house. At my own house? Well, I don't think I'd take in anyone else's dog unless it was a sister/brother or very close friend. I just hate to haggle or even discuss money between those so very close. We all do for each other. I know it was a HUGE relief to her that I was able to make time to do this... but there will be a time when she does something for me. I just needed a polite way to turn it down-- which is really what I should have posted instead of "what's the going rate".

If only i had some origami talent.. I'd turn the $100 bills into a bunch of dogs! :)

Hmmmm… I guess I'm not charging enough! Lol.

I have WONDERFUL clients, very loyal, who really appreciate the personal service I provide for them and their dogs. It really makes a difference.

I gave my cleaning lady $200 for watching my KoKo and Murphy for Sunday morning through Tuesday noon. She didn't want me to pay her anything but she has a rough life so I pay her more than I think would be normal. I was also greatly relieved that K & M didn't have to go to the pet resort because last time KoKo got very ill.

Interesting thread. Just ending 10 days at DF's pet-sitting for her 2 cats (one gets oral meds), they went on an AK cruise; left me $50 grocery store gift card, am not going to take it. Tonight going to DS's to pet-sit her 10 week old puppy for a week. Don't expect any $. Maybe I should start charging. :-)

When you take care of your sister's puppy you are doing her a great service. You may not understand what incredible peace of mind it provides, particularly when you go to her house.

"left me $50 grocery store gift card, am not going to take it."

Take it. It's a symbol of how much they appreciate your help. They appreciate your help with the cats. So appreciate their leaving the gift card by graciously accepting it.

There is a new movie coming out about a housesitter, based on an LA actor who house sits for friends. He only charges 25/day! Too cheap for LA

with friends and family, it's easiest to have a reciprocal relationship of some type, imo... it eliminates the guilt and the feeling that you're taking advantage of the sitter! in one neighborhood a friend and I took turns watching each other's pets when we were away-- so easy that way!

if you can't reciprocate somehow with the friend, I say graciously accept the gift card too! (unless you really feel like they need it...) your friend will always be thinking of ways to pay you back if you don't and might even feel reluctant to ask you next time she needs somebody....

$25/day in LA? So not believable!

Oh, localeater, I DO fully understand. I don't have dogs now but I did-- one of which HATED the vet and even the best doggie resorts. The last few years I *had* to kennel them at the vet due to his age and her cancer-- I hated the accommodations but it was the best place for them if anything serious happened. Plus, the doggie resort wouldn't take my 17 yo Lab/Golden (very healthy until the very end) anymore because they didn't take "older dogs" can you believe it?? He never had any health issues more serious than an ear infection for his entire life! Thankfully, the vet staff knew me well and tolerated my calls in to check on them!

Donating to an animal shelter is a great suggestion. Since your sister is determined to give you money accept it graciously and then take her out to dinner!

tibbrix - I am envious of your clients! My dog loves going to her kennel but if she found out about your canine B&B I'm afraid she'd change her mind. Her kennel does have a swimming pool but her little black Lab heart would flutter at walks along the beach and excursions to the pond. Lucky dogs!

As a housewife who was expected to dog sit for free for everyone in my last neighborhoods ...I think you are all very specially fantastic! My husband and I pay our grown son to stay when we travel and have a fully stocked frig with food. On top of that we leave "before" cash for emergencies that we don't take back if there is not an emergency and everything looks well. We also leave a C.C # with the vet with a specific $ cap. I don't care if it's a relative looking after animals it is a job and I'm more than happy to pay. It comes out to around $165 a week plus bonus.

omg, 16 dogs in 2 yrs!? that's so sad!! we'd definitely contact you re: our bunch if we lived nearby! :)

Awwww… that is such a nice thing to say, busybee. We really have fun. The kids in the neighborhood all come over to play with the dogs..it's really great. I go and pick them up after the owners leave, then bring them home before the owners get home, so it's a seamless transition for the owners . But my clients are really great and flexible too. They'll let me pick up their dog a day early if I have to go up to that area to get another one, rather than making two roundtrips in two days, that sort of thing. I have keys or codes to all their houses; if my house is rented and I need a place to live, so many say, "Oh, we're not going to be at (vacation house or main home), go stay there." Can you believe that? Really wonderful peeps. But then, they're dog peeps, which kinda means they have to be cool, right? Lol.