Anyone else have issues with people being late?

It seems to me this happens more frequently when customers bring their dogs directly to your door. My perception is people think it's no big deal and sitters are mostly idle at home. (ha!) I almost always meet dogs outside, and usually all are relatively on time. Since you live in a house, perhaps you could let them know you will meet them and Rover in the driveway/sidewalk/other, ask for an approximate time when setting up the booking, and then ask them to call/text if the time needs to change.

I completely agree with the two previous posts and there is definitely an assumption made by clients that I sit at home all day with dogs and have no enforced schedule - which couldn't be further from the truth! It most definitely interferes with the dynamics of my planned stays if a client is late and it is incredibly frustrating as well. As of recently, I've had to just tell myself to be okay with it and remind myself it's part of the job as at the end of the day I want to make the customer happy and that's what I need to do.

I get a lot of repeats, and will add "chronically late" under their dog's notes if I need to. Like Frances said, If I have multiple drop offs or pick ups during that day, I let them know that and most are usually good at letting me know, because I have made an owner (who was supposed to be here an hour ago) wait while I was doing an on time drop off or pick up. I typically will have the chronically late people pick up or drop off in a window where no other pets are scheduled for a couple hours. I don't mind hanging out if it's a good pup and a late owner.

It's been happening to me as well. I had an owner that was four hours late. If I was late picking my dog up at a daycare I would be charged.