puppy rates?
Can anyone tell me how much extra they are charging for puppy rates? I can go through profiles, but am trying here first. I'm realizing they take more care and can do more damage.
5 Answers
What I've seen is some sitters charge the same for a puppy and a dog and some charge up to $10 more. Actually, I charge the same for both, but don't accept every puppy or dog that shows interest in my services. It can be viewed both ways: Some dogs can take more care and do more damage than puppies too. It really depends on the training, etc.
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I've decided to charge $10 more as I've had puppy damage. One dog chewed a hole in my large area rug and also destroyed a $60 electronic pet door collar. Have no idea how he got it off his neck!
That's too bad that you experienced that. Most of the puppies I've hosted (which isn't a a lot) were really well trained little fur-angels. On the other hand, I've cared for some adult dogs that I opt to no longer provide services for.
I feel ya. I am considering raising my puppy rate. I had a 7 month old destroy 4 sets of blinds after breaking out of my kennel that is rated for a 200 pound dog! he was so destructive. As of right now, I will likely not take that dog back, at least not until he is neutered!
I charge $80 for overnight boarding 'cause most pups need to be taken out throughout the night, or pee, and I'm usually watching them 100% of the time. It's a lot because I really don't want to watch puppies too often and I want to make it worth my time when I do. For puppy daycare I charge $60
When I first saw Rover's subtle suggestion that sitters charge something different for puppies, I didn't really get it. Then I boarded an adolescent Golden Retriever. I'm totally on board now.
Like others have said, though, I've cared for some "adult" dogs that were more work than average and I wish I could charge more. I may follow Heather's lead and call anything under 2 years a "puppy"...
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I'm curious, what would you charge for a two month old puppy?
I would do $30 at least, possibly even something closer to $40.
I did a 13 week old Lab several weeks ago, and he was a lot of work: multiple play/training sessions per day and lots of management. He was here for a board and train, but I realized that anything that young would have needed it all anyway just to keep them occupied and out of trouble.
I charge $50 a night. I also extend the definition of what is a puppy to any pup under two years old. I have found the most destructive and naughty ages are 9 months to 18 months. After 15 months, if the pups truly is not a problem, then I go to adult.
I charge $6 extra per night, but I don't take puppies who look or act significantly under 1 yr old since my rental agreement doesn't allow puppies. The youngest I've taken was 8 months, and he was for daycare only and very well behaved. Even still, we spent most of the day at the park rather than in the apartment. The youngest dog I've boarded overnight was an 11 month old husky, who (aside from being pretty high energy) was a perfect gentleman in the house.
It may depend on the age of the puppy, whether you board the puppy in your home, whether you are caring for the puppy in the owner's home, the environment, and your schedule. I charge differently for puppies when I watch them in their own home because they have all the equipment there for puppy potty training (usually) and if they don't it's not a big deal about accidents as long as you clean them up with whatever they have given you to clean. Owners are pretty forgiving as long as you ARE watching the puppy. If it's my place and I don't have a puppy potty training system (like puppy pads or a puppy box) because I normally board grown dogs who are potty trained I have to worry about damage to my own property that Rover doesn't cover.
Also, puppies have a ton more energy than most of the dogs I sit in home. In fact, they wear me out! lol But I love it! They are a lot more work so I need to exercise them more than I would an adult dog that would normally nap more throughout the day. Sometimes, I've been surprised to find that all the puppy toys are outside and dirty when we live in a place that rains a lot so I always bring toys for puppies (just in case); therefore, I charge $60 a night for all the work that is involved. I may be scrubbing rugs and other things. I know some other pet sitters in my area that charge $75 a night, but they don't use Rover. I also had a friend who pet sits on Rover and she told me she went to take a shower while pet sitting and the puppy chewed up a carpet and left a big hole. Unless you have an X-pen or an area to put a baby gate to close them off into a small area while you have to get things done like showering, etc be prepare.
Also if they haven't had any formal training and they are a bigger breed you may regret not charging more. I had a large breed puppy that kept jumping up and pulling chunks of my hair out when I had it in a bun. lol I have never had that experience with any dog or puppy and I walked him a lot! He was only with me for less than a day, any longer I may have gone bald. haha