Tipping your dog sitter

If I am watching their dog for just a few visits I don't typically get tipped. If I am going longer than 3 day weekend visit I typically get tipped. And of course the holiday visits I usually always get tipped. Providing a cash tip helps recoup some of the money that http://Rover.com takes.

I have a 12 client and only 1 of them give me tip for $20 make me so happy. I never expect that much of a tip. :)

I dont sit for rover...YET.....just bought a house and need a fence. But i use rover consistently. I tend to tip about 5 dollars a day per stay (5 night stay = 25 dollars). Most of the people around me charge 30/night so 15% would be 4.50. But i agree, when i finally start sitting, i wouldn't expect a tip. I love these animals and that's why i'm doing it. I learn something new from all different breeds, etc. My dog gets friends out of it as well which is a plus since he's an only dog (thats a big tip in itself!)

I do a lot of long distance sitting, and I don't necessarily expect a tip, but I do usually get gas money or grocery money from my clients. It is extremely helpful, since gas and groceries are very expensive and we don't get paid until 2 days after the service is done. I live with my mom and am a college student so I don't usually pay for groceries, I have too many school expenses. I also go above and beyond on all of my sitting jobs, and it does kind of feel like I'm under appreciated when I don't get a tip, but I do understand that some clients are on a budget, and not everyone can tip. I've only not been tipped once, and the highest tip I have gotten is $150. I have worked as a cosmetologist in a salon and when I didn't get tipped, it did hurt my feelings, because I work hard and it shows. It is the same to me when dog sitting. Rover also takes 20% of what we make, and this is my only source of income.

I don't expect to be tipped, but I'm certainly grateful when I have been. To date, most of my clients tip nothing. However, I had a high anxiety dog for whom the owner felt I went above and beyond... so much so that she left a bouquet of tulips, a card, and $100 on my doorstep the day AFTER she picked him up. The tulips and the card meant so much. Similarly, I had a diabetic get very ill while at my house, and the owners were so grateful for how I cared for him, they gave me $100 too.

It seems the trend is really the above and beyond stuff that leads to me getting tips. Even before I was sitting through Rover, my clients would tip me if I stayed longer than expected to make sure their cats ate, went back to make sure a dog who was limping on a walk was better a couple hours later, and those other types of things we just "do" because, frankly, it's the right thing to do. But doing the right thing blows people's minds these days!

Tips are a great way to say, 'thank you'. Never required but always appreciated.

As someone said 'they are looking after a member of my family' and although none of our sitters have ever mentioned a tip, we do so happily and regularly. We want that person to know that we especially appreciate what they do for us (yes, our fur babies are very spoiled lol) and if it encourages them to be that more conscious of our kids than all the better. I feel we get great service from our sitter and they are a tremendous peace of mind to us when we leave our kids with them - be it over night or a couple of weeks. We did also give her a small holiday bonus.

Some of these folks said it really well. If you do not set your own prices and work for someone else, especially if you pretty much live off of tips, such as a server at a restaurant, then not being tipped is unacceptable; it's your bread and butter and anyone who isn't ignorant knows that and should tip. However, if you basically run a business and set your own prices, then where is the room for EXPECTING a tip? If someone who uses your service wants to go above and beyond in showing appreciation, then they can go ahead and tip (I do) and that's fantastic, but it should not be expected. That's absolutely ridiculous when you chose what they will pay in the first place. I NEVER expect my clients to give me more than I choose to charge them, no matter what service I am providing. I am happy if they pay the price I choose to ask them to pay, happier if they pay it quickly, and very happy if they choose to return for more services at my set prices. I cannot believe someone would set a price for a service they provide, then expect customers to pay more than that price. It shocks me. If you feel you need more compensation, then charge more. It's more fair to you AND the customers who otherwise do not realize they are not paying your full rate and assume you are happy with them, not realizing that in reality you are looking down upon them because you actually expect them to pay more than you told them you expected. As far as rover.com's cut... every business has overhead, and I'll tell you it's generally a lot more than 15%. That percentage is a steal for the marketing and infrastructure that rover provides. Appreciate your tips; don't expect them.

Good Question. I haven't gotten tipped yet, other than some good reviews.
The only tips that I will "expect" are from regular customers over the Holidays, since it is a tradition. Any others will be much appreciated, since I have no other source of income currently.