I've had some people not book with me because they expected me to discount the other dogs of they owned multiple. It's not been every multiple dog situation but I'm still curious
So far the 2nd dog has added entertainment value by watching them play!
I charge $25 for the first dog & only $15 for the second from the same household. They tend to keep each other entertained, curl up together & have the security of being together as a comfort in a strange environment.
You can also prepare a custom quote to discount on a case by case basis. Some of the dog siblings that I've cared for from a single household have been less work as other sitters also experienced... but sometimes one or both of the dogs may seem to merit your full rate, and then some beyond that!
I agree. It is perfectly acceptable to raise the price after the first stay or if at any point a factor changes that would require more work on your part than with another dog. Just be polite and explain yourself.
Your approach is different than mine. Most often, I don't discount 1st stay and find that was right decision when the stay proved to be way more than a handful. The owner even stated their friends&family told 'em 1 of 2 was worth full$. My rate doesn't offer discount-no need to explain.
I discount for the second dog because personally, I find it easier to manage multiple dogs from the same household than to manage multiple dogs from different households. They already have a similar routine and can provide each other some comfort during the transition from their home to mine. There's also less risk that there will be conflict between the dogs than if I were hosting dogs from multiple households. Finally, it's easier to coordinate meet and greets with one family at a time than multiple, so I would rather discount to encourage multiple dog families to book than take my chances hoping for more single dog bookings.
I agree that having multiples from one home is easier because the relationship is already established. You don't have to worry about conflicts.
Thanks everyone for the help! I agree with everyone about discounting as well. I try to confirm a pricing once I've met the dog and discussed how much involvement each dog will require.
Like Laura, I discount for multiple dogs. The first dog is at my full rate, then I discount $5 off for each additional dog. For example, dog 1 = $30, dog 2 = $25, dog 3 = $25, etc. I think having two dogs from the same family is a bit easier because they can entertain themselves and get along well together. I do not accept multiple dogs from different families, but I will accept multiple dogs from the same family.
I'm advertised as only one client dog at a time, so I don't normally get requests for multiple dogs. One time I did have a request to sit two dogs from the same household, and I took the same tact you did. $5 off/night for the second dog. That seems fair, to me.
I also discount for additional dogs after the first. I find it is nice to have an automatic multiple booking, with less stress on the dogs because they have their buddy with them.
It depends on the stay for me. Usually, I don't discount if there's only two dogs. Once it starts getting to three, four, five, etc, then I consider a discount. Also, if I've stayed with a particular pup multiple times, then I tend to give discounts. I make new clients aware of this when they ask about pricing -- I explain that I usually charge 20 a night per dog (or whatever my price is at the time) for the first stay because I'm still not entirely sure what I'm expecting and some dog situations may have unexpected complications. I'm more willing to give a discount the second time around if I know what I'm signing up for completely!
Yes, I discount for additional dogs staying from the same family. It is typically at $5 reduced rated per additional dog. The clients seem to appreciate that and it is nice to have same family members stay with us together too. It does make good business sense to give a small consideration in this way.
Rover has a feature for additional dog fee, I am guessing they did that because they seem to think this should be the norm. I discount for the second and any additional dog for the same reason that most other sitters do so: It isn't much more work to care/watch one dog than for two or more dogs that live in the same household. Specially if they are small dogs, friendly dogs or if you have a yard to just take them out at the same time instead of having to leash them one at a time.
I believe that a person shouldn't be punished for having a big heart. I have watched as many as 5 dogs at once from the same customer and it wasn't any more work than watching two (the owners are the ones to watch out for)
I not only lower the first dog rate but depending on how busy I am or how easy the dogs are to watch I lower the first dog too: Instead of doing each dog at $20 as advertised I do 1st dog $15, 2nd dog $10 for a total of $25 for both or 1st dog $15, 2nd dog $10, 3rd $10, 4th $5, 5th $5 for a total of $50 for five dogs.
I'm not in it for the money, but I do make money since I make many loyal customers.
I offer a discount for the family if they have multiple dogs. I just think it's good business practice for me personally. I get regular repeat clients this way. I know the dogs and know what to expect during their stay. It really is your personal preference if you choose to discount the second dog.