Dog-Sitting Help Needed

I've been casually dog sitting for a good friend of mine every so
often and word got around my church and now here at work, that it's
something I enjoy doing. However, I'm often asked how much I charge. The
problem is that this friend who I sit for I don't charge. It really is a
joy for me to watch their dog and creates no problems for me, so I don't
charge. If its for more than a weekend, I'll usually stay at their place
and do lots of laundry but if its for just a weekend, the dog comes to
my place. Really just a gift between friends.

I was recently asked by another couple in my church if I was
interested in sitting for their CKCS for an extended weekend. I agreed
and gave my friend as a reference. The weekend went great, Buddy (the
Cav) and I got along great and I earned $80.00, which for a grad student
who barley gets by on her salary, is a real boost. We didn't discuss the
price as I wasn't really sure what to charge and frankly, I felt that
these people would pay me well. I've since agreed to watch Buddy again
for 8 days in May. Same deal.

Both of these couples live either really close to me or my work or
school so an extended commute has never been a problem.

Now that word has spread that this is something I enjoy and could
become a real source of supplemental income, I'm beginning to think I
need to set up some sort of fee schedule. I have no idea what to charge.
Can any of you assist me?

Here are the things that I do when I dog sit:
1. A good walk a least 2 times a day - in the morning and evening
2. If the dog is large or needs lots of room to run, I take him to the
dog park and play ball. If its small like the Cav was, the walk is
usually enough. I take direction from the owners.
3. Feed and water according to the owners directions
4. Make certain the dog is "clean" i.e., brushed when owners return - no
mud or stuff stuck in the fur.
5. I'll brush their teeth and bath them if they ask. I've not had a
"complicated" dog to bath, but wondering if I'm walking a fine line
here.
6. Plenty of play time and attention. Lots of cuddling if its that kind
of dog.
7. I try and make it a point to know if the dog has any bad habits that
the owners are trying to work with so I can continue on. I don't want to
encourage the dog to sleep in the bed if the owners are trying to
discourage it. I personally don't mind company on the furniture and bed,
but want to reinforce what the owners are enforcing.
8. I also make it a point to have all info on the vet, nearest 24 hr
animal hospital, health issues, make sure the neighbors know i'm there
ect.

I really enjoy watching the dogs and it almost seems unfair to be
paid to do it (I guess I've been lucky to have well behaved dogs) but I
could use the money and think perhaps I should come up with some sort of
fee schedule and maybe a name for my little company.

Any advise you can offer about this would be really helpful.

Darby

Darby Wiggins wrote:
> I've not had a
> "complicated" dog to bath, but wondering if I'm walking a fine line
> here.

I'll pay you to just bathe Khan. The entertainment value alone will
justify the price :-) Always find out from the owner how they go about
it, and if it sounds like a PITA to you, you can let them know that you
are not willing to go to those lengths to bathe the dog.

> 8. I also make it a point to have all info on the vet, nearest 24 hr
> animal hospital, health issues, make sure the neighbors know i'm there
> ect.

One thing you might want to do, especially if you're watching a dog
long-term, is to have the owners leave their CC information with the
vet, and also instructions authorizing you to make decisions on their
behalf if necessary. If there is an emergency, you may not have time to
confer with them about the treatment options and costs, so you need to
have that chat up front.

> paid to do it (I guess I've been lucky to have well behaved dogs) but I
> could use the money and think perhaps I should come up with some sort of
> fee schedule and maybe a name for my little company.

If you are going to do this as a company, you'll probably need to be
licensed, bonded and insured, find out the requirements for doing
business in the county, etc. I know someone who recently got into the
dog walking/pet sitting business, and she said that it wasn't that
painful. I live near Mason, so maybe there's some Great Dane watching
in your future :-)

Suja