As sitters do you ever tack on an extra fee or anything for cleaning etc? I have spent most of the last 2 days chasing this ninja peeing pup all around. Just want to know how to handle it. I mentioned it to the owner and they just kind of brushed it off.
For this and other reasons, many sitters do not care for puppies (or not in their homes) or if they do, they charge more for puppy care. With a puppy away from home, the owner likely has no idea how the puppy will do away from home and how long it can wait to urinate. Even an adult dog can have accidents due to nerves or other medical reasons and of course there is also the possibility of marking. Although I've read that some sitters create their own contracts and try to collect $, Rover TOS basically indicates that sitters aren't able to hold the owners liable for extra charges like that or personal damage.
The best tips I can offer are:
I cannot state how valuable diapers and belly bands have been in preserving my home. I definitely recommend getting some disposable diapers in many sizes and washable belly bands.
Do you ask the owners if this is okay to use first or no? I watched an older dog that was marking my house as his territory :(
Not really. I usually say something like, "Rover seemed to smell the previous dogs in the house and was marking his territory. I put a comfy belly band on him, and it seems to be helping. In fact, it hasn't bothered him a bit." That's prompted several clients to tip at the end for the trouble.
It's normal for puppies to have accidents. Even adult dogs will have accidents at new place. When you accept a puppy, you're accepting they're probably not potty trained
If you accept puppies you also accept the fact that you will be reinforcing potty training which means alot of extra work, lots of extra outdoor runs and probably some accidents, even if at home the pup is good, a new environment and routine can set him back on his potty training. To reinforce potty training, you need to be directly supervising this pup and take him outside as soon as he gets into his pre-business rituals like sniffing the floor in a circle and reward him when he does his business outside. I would remove any rug as well. You can use baby gates or puppy pens to help you keep the little pee monster near you so you catch him every time.
However I would not use belly bands while allowing him to roam freely, instead of reinforcing the owner's hard work in potty training, you are letting the puppy pee where ever and when ever he wants, basically undoing all of its owner's hard work and the pee in the band that is on the puppy's skin might irritate his skin . I know as an owner I would not be pleased one bit if you accepted my pup, probably at a higher rate and instead of helping me out with the potty training and doing the extra work the higher rate is for, I would see as you taking the easy way out by allowing my pup to pee in a diaper.
So if you are not equipped with baby gates and such or willing to take on the extra work of a pup, dont take pups.
Even the best of dogs usually have an accident in a new place and even more so for a puppy. Three of your greatest investments are belly bands, washable diapers, and a carpet cleaner for carpet or a steam cleaner for other floors.
I actually charge a few more dollars for any dog under a year old just because they are more work than an older dog. I have been blessed that the very few young dogs that I have watched were relatively good but accidents happen.
I actually use belly bands for most male dogs unless I have watched them before and know that they do not pee inside. It does not hurt the dog and saves my sanity!
I had this problem with an older dog that was marking up my home and I got the belly bands at Walmart. Very cheap and now whenever this particular dog comes back I use the belly band on him. Saved my sanity!