20 percent is a pretty standard rate for business overhead. The use of the app, sending the Rover cards-instead of you n...

I understand your predicament. Did the client cancel via the app? When we they do this brings your business cancellati...

Especially when things are odd, new to you and or client, there is no harm in doing a narrative when you get home. Just ...

When I am authorized to leave early, or client happens to be home, I leave notes in the Rover card that is sent to the o...

The recurring walks on the platform are a huge pain when the owner needs to change the dates. I only allow 5 day a week ...

I will often take a video, explain what I observed, chain of events-what I noticed. With the video -I send a link to the...

What is the purpose of them visiting their pet? ...

I would make it a written policy that a dog with fleas will get charged for the bath, and clean up Costs. Think of the ...

The “one time” booking is the better option for you and the client. One time=pick your dates, move them around as needed...

Of course you do-and they need to Agree. ...

When it feels sketchy-it is sketchy. You already have much knowledge in your Rolodex of experience. When you start expla...

You can state this in the narrative section of ur profile- use simple terms- my house and “ Your dog’s house 😉” ...

Luis, most folks booking on the site will not have a granular understanding of staying at your house vs a stay at the do...

You can limit booking numbers on certain days. So if there are 5 regular clients on Wednesday only have five slots. Then...

You can choose to allow Rover to post/use photos u take or not. I do not allow Rover to use photos I take of client dogs...

No Rover does not auto add charges to the booking. Doing so would put them in an “employer” role. Rover needs sitters as...

Are you in the create a profile stage before you select a dog walker? Do you want prospective walkers to see all of the...

Here is a link to Frank Abagnale on scams: https://youtu.be/d526OqZX_LI ...

There is also a value for your travel time. I live in a more suburban/rural setting and set a 10mile radius for my servi...

I state upfront that a key lock box, or garage code that gets me into their home is fine (though if there is no power to...

Ask the owner. Explain, you had some difficulty getting dog X to go beyond point A. When I find the brakes put on durin...

I had a similar experience with a scammer who tried to tell me that Rover wouldn’t take her card-oh it will be another week until the card clears. I thought, ( my gluteus Maximus) and wrote back to her and said, “OK when you get it all worked out, then we will do a meet and greet” never heard from the person again. Oh and I archived it right away.

Anytime new to you clients drum up emergency circumstances, sob stories, won’t take my credit card, play you later, pay u in cash-no no no nope. I am a big believer in the meet and greet at their residence for anything at their house. When they are boarding with you, meet and greet at your house with their dog is mandatory. Put that in your profile. That is your business POLICY. That other BS? Against Rover’s Terms of Service-and you would get suspended or dropped from the platform.

Remember it is the person’s problem-they are NOT a client until there is a confirmed booking. The clients who respect you as a professional engaged in a business will do right by you.

Good luck

The $50.00 bonus is ONLY when a never been on rover before puts your special website into the place one types whatever website they want. The person must then create their profile from THAT WEBSITE and then book with you-and that’s how you get $50.00 referral bonus. It doesn’t count if someone types in Rover and your last name and city in the search engine and then creates a profile and books you. So the $50.00 bonus borders on a specious promise to is. Since all the other ways people tumble into selecting your profile require that Rover is up and running, maintaining their website and apps-that’s why a walker only gets the $50.00 bonus in really limited circumstances.

The $20.00 off promo code for first time bookers works when they came to find you some other way. The $20.00 promo code Kinda falls flat when folks are getting promo codes elsewhere for $25.00 off their first booking. It is disappointing- I know I thought it would easier.

Key lock boxes are a terrific way to handle access to a residence. They are readily available at hardware stores and amazon. Real Estate Agents use them also.

My clients have mounted them outside the house, used the go around the door knob kind, and given me the code to their garage door, and then you can have separate lock box inside - or access through door. I do NOT like having a key to person's house full time - and I now refuse to take one. I explain safety wise it is better for them to have control of the key. should they have other contractors coming into the house - we can all use the same key. When someone is no longer authorized to enter the residence, change the code.

An interesting side benefit, is the times when the resident locks themselves out of their residence - a key is right there - no more having to break into your own home. It also allows me as the sitter to respond from anywhere - should the owner get stuck in traffic, the meeting that won't end - stuff like that. I don't have to worry about going home, getting a key, which vehicle I left the key in and all that.

I now require it of my clients. Clients who don't wish to, well.....that is their decision. I'm not a fan of people "just leaving the door unlocked". it really just isn't the best - and will often mean the insurance company does not have to pay for items stolen/trashed in a burglary. The other benefit to you is when there is a break-in or some other incident where the police ask "who else has access to your house"? - you only have access to the house when you are at the residence - and were across town - walking another dog etc.

Remember, you set the policies for YOUR business.

I agree with other answers, and want to add, Be direct advise the folks what you want/need them to do.

Send the PC (Potential Client) a note stating something like, “PC, I need confirmation in the Rover app before I am able to do the meet and greet.,”

When I am not getting the faster responses, I usually ask the PC, have you used the rover app before? Usually they haven’t and are not that comfortable working with it. I had one PC state, “this app hates me!” I laughed gently and explained that they app didn’t hate her, she just thinks differently that it does.

When things just get mucky on the app (and I have seen some doozies) you can always say to folks, Well the rover app can be a bit of a pain sometimes - so lets see if we can figure this out. 3/4 of my potential clients ran into trouble with the app - and just didn’t understand what it wanted.

When I don’t hear back from someone in 24 hours, I archive the message. - That opens the slots back up in your schedule.

You can scroll back through previous bookings - When on the INBOX screen —in the upper left corner of the app there is a file folder icon where you can see pending and upcoming Then if you tap the file folder icon it will bring up PAST and ARCHIVED. That’s where you can see cancelled ones.

I will tell you that they Rover folks gladly accept feedback on the app and its workings (or lack thereof). For instance, I wanted to know when I had more than one booking with a dog on the same day. So, I asked for the app to either show TWO entries for one dog, OR add on - a 1of 2 notation on the single looking entry.

It was disconcerting that you finish a booking, look down later and see it didn’t look like you had completed a booking. - it also threw off your day when you hadn’t mentally planned to go back to that owners house - cause the multi-walk day was planned a month ago and who remembers?

—-> Do you synch your Rover calendar with a calendar on your phone? I’ve found this to be enormously helpful. Since I have a couple of different calendars, I also use the app Fantasical 2 to consolidate all of my calendars into one easy to see deal. The only drawback, is that the booking comes in showing all day instead of the specfic time of day - and there isn’t a way to edit that in Fantastical2.

To get to communicate with Rover, contact support, you will have to go through a few screens of no it hasn’t solved my issue, and then it will let you send stuff. They allow you to attach pictures, reference a booking - stuff like that. Also explain what would help you work better - fix the issue. Analogies also are a huge help in communicating from the user to the coding wizards.

You can (and should) get additional insurance for yourself. If you a member of one or more professional organizations - a pet sitters association etc. Usually one of the best things is that your membership fee allows you purchase the insurance at a group rate instead of at an individual rate.

You can also discuss insurance questions with your insurance agent. Often an insurance agent will offer discounts for multiple policies (not always for this type of stuff).

Nothing will back cover - but you can look up stuff now

We’re the scratches HUGE? Are we talking like serious gouges from a screen door - that the owners are expecting you to pay for?

Your other option is to purchase a lock box at the hardware store or online, there are many types. For an apartment you may want the kind that is put around the doorknob. Some have cables - making them easier to use with the accessible handles.

If your garage is connected to your apartment and has the garage door opener, you can give them the code for the garage door, and then either leave the interior door unlocked, or have your locking device on that door, in a hide-a-key set up etc.

As a dog walker I require my clients to purchase one before I will walk their dog. I am not willing to keep track of someone else’s key. When the key is kept at the dog owner’s house, it is always there for me to use, the owner to use if they locked themselves out of the house. Also, they are in control of the combination, and can change it anytime they wish.

WAG walkers (different company) caters more to the spontaneous dog walks and I beleive provides a lock box for the key.

As the dog owner, you have every right to protect your home, belongings, dog, etc. When an owner and dog walker don’t agree, well, say thank you and politely decline the relationship.

As a dog walker, your safety and security is paramount. part of that is the piece of mind that you are not responsible for keeping track of the key to someone else’s residence. designated times - better for you - that also means no one could swipe the key from your possession and do bad things. - So keep the key with the owners at their house. -

Veronica, an idea for future overnight stays is to parcel out the dog’s meals in zip lock bags -one bag for each meal. When your dog needs medication put that right in the food. Pill pockets, peanut butter, etc. MountainSmith makes a “ K-9” cube that works really well for keeping meals, toys etc 2gt

Amanda, Tough situation you had in July, and I hope you were able to arrange things comfortably for you and the animals. In the future, have a short meet and greet prior to the stay with the dog (cat, parrot whatever) and their person in your residence. This will give both you and the client the ability to “size up” the relationship. Many times, when both parties observe things for themselves, there is agreement and no one ends up with hurt feelings.

I will state that I have lost several dog walking/visit clients because I wouldn’t budge on a conducting a meet and greet at the dog’s residence. I explain that this allows the dog to meet me, see that I am “authorized” to enter the house and take them outside, etc. It also allows me to see the layout of the residence, crate location, where is the dog allowed to roam if free?

The client sees you in their home, with their dog (or in your home) so can picture what happens when they are away.

The meet and greet at your residence - where the dog is staying - again, the dog has at least been there, smelled a few things, met the other animals and you - with their person there for reassurance, affirmation, and agreement that this place is acceptable. No matter how nice, sweet, mushy the dog is with their household, your place is different.

The meet and greet allows you to VERIFY what the owner says - as best you are can.

I agree with Walt and Cindy, Time is money. Think of it this way, as soon as you are traveling to a person’s house, you are “on the clock” - as no other clients may book you for that time frame (so that 20-30 minute drive =10 miles where I am).

I have a 9 box sheet for each client where I ask everything from food allergies, where do I dispose of full poop bags, where are the dog approved towels, food, snacks, etc. This usually does a darn good job of getting the stuff I need to know. I had one client who did pay for my time beyond the meet and greet appointment so that she and I could walk the dog together the first time - since some of the neighborhood dogs could get a bit excited and so could the client dog. I was paid full walk rate for that.

In the dog walking/independent contractor business, YOU have to take care of yourself first and foremost. There is no supervisor, Human Resources Department, parent, other responsible type person that is going to stand up for you - or admonish a client for taking advantage of you. When a person is unable and or unwilling to meet your requirements, there is usually a darn good reason, and you do NOT want that person as a client.

If you get that squirmy feeling when you hear “it’s all about the money” - It IS about what the money SAYS. The money the person pays demonstrates respect for YOUR time. - Your knowledge, skills and abilities with dogs that are not your own are WORTH paying for. Accept nothing less.

A sitter is not required to leave a review of their visit.

I don’t leave a review of the dog for ‘my personal recall’ Rover states that they are the only ones who see it - and well - everything is hackable, why would rover want information that you are not willing to share with the client? I don’t believe any of those notes get transferred when another rover sitter fills in for you.

I write a narrative for each visit/walk and paste that into the Rover card, that way - Both the client and I have a record of what went on, behavior notes, if the dog had loose/hard stools - stuff like that. This allows the client to answer questions from their vet, or other member of their dog’s care team (behaviorist, trainer etc.) precisely.

For instance, I am booked to walk Finton three days this week, I notice on day two that Finton’s stool is like melted soft serve. Same on day three. The client can trace that back to a change in food, maybe medication, or any number of other things. These and other small changes often don’t seem like much at the time - similar to “big data” put all of it together - and you are able to explain why or how their dog is “off”.

I keep a separate sheet on each dog with basic information on the dog, and the house - from lock combos, location of the dog approved towels, triggers (squirels, chipmunks, kids) - location of food etc. This is extraordinarily helpful - and right there with me.

Outside your Service Area - means you have no obligation to take the job, conduct a M&G etc. - and your rating doesn’t get dinged for declining the request, and then archiving it.

If you have your own well behaved dog, walking that dog in pet friendly places, talk to the people who want to pet your dog, strike up conversations - and hand out your business cards. Ive gotten a couple of clients that way - and not just from the person I handed the card to.

I now require owners to get one of those combination key holders for their key. The key stays with the owner, that way, I don’t have to remember to bring the darn thing, am less likely to miss-place it - switching cars and such. PLUS, they will no longer get locked out of their residence..since there is always a key there. There are so many different types, ones that hang on the door knob, screw to a wall etc. You can get them at Wal-Mart, Amazon, home improvement stores - so it isn’t tough. The owner can change the combination any time for security reasons - new contractors, all that stuff.

Ive also had clients give me the garage code and get in that way. When folks are not willing to get one of these before the visit, no dice. This is how I protect myself. Once I managed to accidentally bring the key with me instead of leaving it in the lock box thingy, and as soon as I discovered it, I texted the owner, let them know I would return the key to the box in the next couple of hours.

Keeping the key locked up - should their house get burglarized, when the police and the insurance company ask, “Who has keys to your residence?” They can explain that XYZ people have the code, and it is used by these people. When the Police ask me where was I on such and such a day, I can show them the Rover app, and explain any other time periods.

If potential clients are not willing to help protect their property - and me - I am not interested in having that person as a client.

An hour walk - tell the person to book two half hour walks back to back, as that is the only way Rover allows the walks to get booked (for some unknown reason). If she doesn't book two 1/2 hour walks back to back, then you only walk the dog for 30 minutes.

I tell folks upfront we will not go out in Thunderstorms. - Rain and snow, no problem, icy weather within reason - and I wear Ice Trekkers on my boots (Yak Tracks themselves are pretty useless where I am in upstate NY, and when I lived on a mountain.)

What I've done usually is get the dog(s) out when I can for pop and pee, and then bring them back inside and play, work on doing tricks, basic "find it" game with some of their kibble. - that way there is still exercise....or if the dog just wants to lay there and get petted, I will do that too. I usually try and get a picture of the "massage" with the blissed out look of "Best Human Ever"

I also like the bringing water along - and sometimes dogs will eat ice cubes rather than drink water.

When you communicate with the owner, be specific, and state what exactly the dog is doing that has you uncomfortable. I had a dog who just was not acting like her normal self, her eyes had no sparkle, and the corners of her lips were drawn up like she was in pain. I got her home, and she still didn't act like normal. So I texted the owner, explained what I saw, that she had eaten some ice cubes readily, and had water. I checked the house temperature - 73 degrees was fine. The dog perked up a bit after a bit, and I took the rest of the time to refill ice cube trays, put the cubes in a plastic container in the freezer and give her some in her crate. I advised the owner she was looking better, and I did not feel that anyone needed to race home early.

They reported later that the dog was her usual self when her people came home, and thanked me for making sure she was OK - I stayed longer than the 30 minutes to do all of that - but these are excellent clients and didn't bother with charging them extra.

Rachel, Please make an appointment with your veterinarian for a thorough check up. The dog could have a cracked tooth, toenails, and or other physical things going on that would cause this type of behavior change.

The guy sounds a little creepy. Something does not "smell" right. Absolutely, charge for the drop in - or walk. Also, if you feel comfortable with the dogs tell him that, and if he says he still isn't comfortable - be very direct and ask, what is he uncomfortable with - exactly?