my dogs have never been to day care but years ago, i had occasion to board them at such a facility for a couple of days. i was concerned about them not being supervised overnight so the owner agreed to spend the night with them. she had a pull out bed in her office for such occasions. i absolutely left her a nice tip but i don't know the proper procedure in a case like yours. i would tend to leave a small tip, maybe weekly.

Unless they do something out of the ordinary for your pup, I wouldn't tip them. There is a standard charge for day care and that is what you pay. At least that is what I have found in the past.

I've notice more and different types of businesses are offering receipts with a tip line, and it irritates me. Though none is as bad as swinging that ipad around with boxes for possible tips before you sign, with the person standing right there watching. I am not intimidated though and refuse it. If I'm coming up to a counter to pay you, you don't get a tip from me. I do tip a service person coming to my table, well.

No, it's fee for service.

Nope.

I was thinking if we took her there for a while and it was Christmas time we'd tip or bring them a plate of cookies or something. But having it right on the receipt - while the person is standing there in front of you - that's too bold in my opinion. I definitely wasn't going to tip on her first time there.

This was my first time seeing a receipt like that, that wasn't for a restaurant bill. Caught me off guard.

Thanks for the input!

I don't like that obvious ploy either.

When Petsmart is too inconvenient, I use a boutique day care that has a tip jar on the counter. Which I ignore.

Maybe it's just the software they are using. Maybe the tip is part of it whether they want it or not.

Does the doggy day care also offer other services, such as grooming? That might be why the tip line is on the receipt.

I have never used doggy day care,but I would think it's absurd to tip someone after already paying them to play with MY dog all day.

" I have never used doggy day care,but I would think it's absurd to tip someone after already paying them to play with MY dog all day. "

No, you're missing the point. You haven't used them so maybe that's why you don't understand. They're paid to supervise and care for a dog rather than it being alone for some period of time. Part of doing that is to provide activities.

If a babysitter watches a TV show put on for the kids to watch, is that an unpaid hour? Preschool fee gets reduced if the child is outside playing with a teacher for 30 minutes? No, of course not.

No. YOU are missing the point. It was a joke. Geez.

You jump on every chance to tell someone they don't understand something don't you?

Do you think it makes it bigger???

Everyone knows what doggy day care is. And what they are paid for,including me. Get over yourself.

Reread what you wrote. If you're trying to be silly, I think you can probably make it more clear.

Get over myself? Not needed but I can easily get over you.

Day care places do not play with your dog or provide activities (unfortunately), at least in my experience. They just supervise them. I usually tip for grooming and day care/boarding because I want good service in the future and I want them to know and pay attention to my dog. Also, these workers are not especially well paid, and if I can shoot a couple extra bucks their way, I can afford it.

Oh snap. Is that supposed to hurt my feelings?

Go back and reread everything you have written on these forums. It is quite clear that you do very much need to get over yourself. I am certainly not the only one or even one of a few people who can see that.

Amy, calm down and let it go. Elmer is often annoying, contrary and even unkind. He spoils the topic, like this case. I often just scroll past his posts. Try it.

maybe i'm just old and old fashioned but when i am particularly satisfied with a service OR if i want to know a service provider will be there when i need them, i always tip. it's never much, maybe 20 bucks if it's a big job like laying carpet in 3 rooms of my house.

i live so far out in the boonies, i should have my own zip code. living like i do, it's extremely hard to get a plumber out here. i finally found a local plumber (i've known him since he was knee high to a grasshopper) who has been very good about coming out, usually the day i call him and never later than the day after. he has been here 3 times over the past 2 weeks because i have had no running water. the water table is so low now, the pump in the sand point just can't pull it. he tried everything, including installing a new pump, all to no avail. believe it or not, even when he was here for 3 hours trying everything he could think of, he only charged me $75. i gave him $25 extra. i know the next time i need him (which will be soon because i am having a well bored and i'll need him to run water lines), he will be here as soon as he possibly can.

well (no pun intended), that sure got off topic! LOL

I take my dogs to a place for overnight stays when out of town. Recently didn't make it back in time to pick up my dogs because my daughter got sick and then we were hit by pounding storms on the way home. They closed long before we made it pick them up. I tipped that time because it was probably very inconvenient for them to not have me pick them up on time. I felt bad because I had no idea if they even had room for them that night.

My doggie daycare has the same type of receipt. I ignore the tip portion, but I give them a good sized tip at the holidays and ask them to put it towards their holiday party, or pool of tips.

I was curious about tipping at the holidays and asked how many employees interacted with my dogs, thinking I could tip those people individually ... when the answer came back at 25+ people, I decided to give one large tip to be doled out as they saw fit. I can't afford to give 25+ people enough of a tip for them to feel good about the tip!

A new doggie daycare opened up a few blocks away from us. We recently got an invite along with their fee schedule to take a tour of their facilities and see what they offer.
I've attached their prices.
After paying those rates, I'm sorry, but there's no way I'd add a tip. After a while it starts to feel like you're being taken advantage of.

Oh, and membership is required - so add another $350 yearly on top of the regular fees.

Ellie, I followed through to the URL shown on the fee chart. Is it true that this business and its locations are all in NYC and not just NYC but Manhattan only?

Manhattan prices are high and even stratospheric for so many things compared to almost anywhere in the US. You know that well, I'm sure. So, wow, high prices on that list but yes, these are for services in Manhattan. I live in a high cost of living place and can get the best services available in my area for substantially less. I'm sure that's true all the more so for many readers here too in lower than average cost of living places.

@Elmer J Fudd

No idea if they offer locations outside of the city (Manhattan). I haven't seriously looked into them as they're a bit too frou frou for my bulldogs. Plus, the prices are higher than similar doggie daycare facilities here. Not by much, but still higher.

So I asked around earlier and the consensus (from family and friends) is, you don't tip for this.

I guess if my dogs really loved the place, and I saw they took good care of them, I'd give a decent tip for Christmas/Hanukkah, but it's not something I'd get into the habit of doing.

The URL is there and easy to read, you can follow it on as I did or not, your choice. I was pointing out an explanation and suggesting that what you experienced has very little to do with the services offered and much more to do with where you (and these business locations) are.

Sorry, but I just cringe when I hear/read "doggy daycare". Not something I grew up with. We had a dog that took care of himself! :)

Our very rambunctious rescue goes with my son, who works at a such a place. Tips are not given there, but there is a "tip" jar on the counter for change that goes to a local rescue (and is clearly marked as such).

They do play with the dogs. They also give cuddles, blow bubbles, pick up poop, mop up pee, throw balls, sit in a circle (really, if you've every tried to get a bunch of dogs to sit in a circle..well it isn't easy), engage them, break up the rare tussles, make sure the dogs are acting "well" (in other words, they get to know your dog well enough that they will make a note of too quiet behavior that might signal an illness).

Sometimes, a tired dog is a joy :) and we all need that occasionally. Also socialization is important...

For the record, said son has a scar on his face that is permanent and that has disfigured his lip. This was in a previous place. So there is risk to the employees who work with animals (and yes...this wasn't a new dog and, of course, everyone thinks their own dogs are perfect)...

Workers who do this just want to be thanked in a small way. It's not such a glamorous job :-/

I do know that a dozen donuts are VERY appreciated. As is a kind comment (IF warranted) on their facebook page or a note to the boss.

Doggy Day Care is a great way to help ensure that your dog is socialized and well behaved. Most dogs that don’t “behave” are that way because they are bored and/or have a ton of pent up energy. Taking your dog to day care for a 1/2 day once or twice a week allows them the opportunity to burn that energy so they’re calm at home. It makes them easier to train and saves your belongings from getting chewed up.

When we first got our Lab 7 years ago, our Vet at the time told me, “a tired dog, is a happy dog” and she explained the benefits of doggy daycare. Our dog started going a couple of days a week as soon as she was old enough. She comes home exhausted and she’s never ever destroyed anything in our house. She doesn’t even destroy her toys. She’s social around other animals and people and was super easy to train. While I have to contribute some of that to her breed and personality, I strongly believe that doggy day care has played a big part in it as well. It’s also helpful if you travel and plan on boarding because it can be a familiar place to take the dog while you’re gone.

Ellie RK, that place would go out of business in our area. I pay 18.00 for a half day. 29.00 for a full and they have packages you can buy to save some.

Well I don't tip but I don't use that service. It is not in my budget.