We plan on leaving our dog for 2 weeks. The price is very high and we were wondering if there is any kind of long stay discounts. We might have to cancel our dog's stay and really don't want to do that.
I don't discount long stays but I do discount for a 2nd and 3rd dog. I have a customer that travels so I have her dog 2 weeks on and 2 weeks off. I have had customers dog(s) from 3 weeks to a month and more. If a customer needs a discount, that would need to discuss it with me before booking and I would consider on case-by-case situation. How young and active is the dog? What are the needs of the dog, i.e. still potty training, lots of walks and/or activity to release energy, older and/or easy going, etc. Kathleen D.
Every sitter sets his/her own rates and policies. Two weeks may not necessarily be considered a long stay to every sitter. From what you've written, you have already booked a stay with a sitter and didn't ask about a discount before you finalized arrangements. Yes, you could cancel out on that sitter. I do hope that the sitter hasn't turned down other dogs in order to accommodate you.
Yes, sometimes sitters will discount their rate for long stays. I'd suggest asking the sitters you're interested in if they could offer you a discounted rate and let them know what you're thinking.
Many sitters offer discounted rates for a longer stay. It sounds like you've booked with someone already, in which case you need to discuss with that sitter whether or not they could offer a discount. They can contact Rover to refund a portion of your total without canceling the stay. However, depending on the sitter, they may not offer a discount (or you've already paid the discounted total, since Rover automatically uses their extended stay rate when you request a booking for a date range long enough to fall into that sitter's extended stay parameters. If you haven't yet booked with someone, be sure to discuss rates and discounts before finalizing the booking.
Pet care is a significant cost of travel, much like booking a hotel for yourself, except that pet sitters are generally much cheaper than a hotel and provide way more for your pets than just a bed to sleep in and a continental breakfast. A lot of pet owners assume that because sitters are dog lovers they should jump at the chance to watch their baby for little or nothing, but it's a lot more like child care. You'd never expect a daycare center to just want to watch your child all the time, no matter how wonderful they are. You can get a cheaper rate using a friend or family member, or the high schooler down the street, but if you want professional care from experienced providers, you're going to pay quite a bit more for all the benefits that includes.
Some sitters, myself included, offer a discounted rate if the stay is for more than 5 days. Other sitters charge full rates for the entire stay, regardless of the length. It's up to the individual sitter what rates to charge and what discounts to give. This is something that should be discussed at the meet & greet or at the very least before the booking is finalized. If you have already booked and paid for the stay, and only now realize you can't afford it, you will have to cancel the stay and look for another sitter who offers either a lower rate or a discount for longer stays. If you have not booked and paid for the stay, discuss the charges with your sitter. Explain the situation and ask if they can either lower the rate or offer a discount on part of the stay.