Pet sitters don’t expect a tip, explains Suzy Lins, certified etiquette trainer and founder of The Manners Maven. However, pet-sitting is deeply personal in many ways, and fostering a connection with your sitter can improve both of your lives. Showing gratitude is a superb way to do this.
After all, on one hand, you’ve been given some much-needed time away from home, whether it’s for a personal event like a party or family gathering, a professional engagement, or an emergency medical situation. On the other hand, they’ve likely formed a bond with your pet, and the best sitters consider your pet a genuine friend.
If your sitter has done a bang-up job and you want to foster a good relationship with them, finding small ways to show gratitude and boost their business can go a long way. Read on to learn more, with guidance from etiquette experts.
Do Pet Sitters Expect Tips?
No, pet sitters in the UK don’t expect tips. But that’s not just because tipping isn’t really as much a part of UK service culture as it would be in the US.
Self-employed pet sitters are generally recommended to calculate their rate to cover business expenses (overheads, travel costs, fees, etc.) without relying on tips. Because of this distinction, tipping is less expected for self-employed pet sitters, explains Nick Leighton, etiquette expert and host of the Raised by Wolves podcast.
Unpaid pet sitters, who care for your pet and home in exchange for a place to stay, also generally wouldn’t expect tips, Leighton says. But you can still express your gratitude in other ways.
How to Thank Your Pet Care Provider
There are plenty of ways to thank a sitter. Any gesture that supports their business, gives them a great night, is completely genuine, and has a personal touch can lift their mood and leave you both with a glowing memory of the experience.
This all helps to foster a great relationship with an essential service provider. When you show your appreciation for a pet sitter who does a great job, they’ll be more likely to prioritise your pets during busy holiday seasons!
A glowing Rover review and rating
Rover has a rigorous reviews section, and it’s a great way for potential clients to gauge whether a sitter fits their needs. So one of the most powerful thank-yous is to boost their business with a glowing review.
Be specific in your review. You can answer questions such as:
- What did they do well?
- Did they respond magnificently to any particular scenarios, like an emergency medical situation?
- How did your pet receive them, and how did they communicate progress to you?
- Were they diligent in keeping you up to date?
- How did they compare to other sitters you’ve had?
- Would you use them again?
By giving them a high rating, you can help them build a reputation as a highly professional sitter, which means they’ll show up higher in search results.
A referral to friends, family, or neighbours
You can also make a direct referral to people you know and love in the area. People with pets always need a reliable sitter, so you’re finding ways to help them out while issuing a ringing endorsement for the sitter who did such a good job.
While yes, pet-sitting is a business, hanging out with excellent creatures is one of the rewards of the job. So introducing your sitter to more furry friends will be a huge lift for them (while also drumming up some extra business in the process).
A thoughtful thank-you card
Handwriting a highly specific thank-you card is an ideal way to convey your gratitude when they’ve looked after your pet, especially if it was a long house-sitting stint or if an emergency unfolded that they handled with great professionalism.
Even better, write it from your pet’s perspective. Most sitters will genuinely miss your cat or dog after they stop hanging out, and having a little memento–perhaps with their picture personalised on the front–will mean a lot to them.
A gift card to one of their favourite shops or restaurants
If they’re looking after your pet for a single night, you can also order them a takeaway straight to the house if you have the time. While this is an extra expense for you, if they’ve covered you for what would otherwise have been a particularly stressful search or jumped in at the last minute, you can make their stay extra homely by offering to order their favourite comfort food.
If it’s not really appropriate (say, they’re only watching your pet for a few hours, walking the dog, or doing drop-in visits), you can leave them a gift card to somewhere they love to eat or something they love to do (like their local cinema or bowling alley).
Homemade snacks or sweets
You’re paying, sure, and a great sitter has plenty of expertise to offer your dog. But what they’re really giving you and your pet is time. So a gift that shows you’ve put in time and effort can be truly heartwarming.
Even if you don’t order takeaway, you can offer to make snacks or dinner (but don’t guess what they want—you don’t want to make spaghetti and meatballs for a vegan or give someone an allergic reaction). Take the time to make a tasty meal for them to reheat, or biscuits for them to take home afterwards. Pet parents who also pet-sit might appreciate homemade dog or cat treats to bring back to their own pets.
A small gift or souvenir from your trip
Any gift could work here, so long as you give it with gratitude, thoughtfulness, and attention to your sitter’s preferences. If you’re unsure what’s appropriate, it never hurts to ask! If they have a pet themselves, bring back a suitable toy or treat to pass on the love.
(And don’t forget to ask about their pet’s present, too, unless you want to accidentally buy a Pomeranian a KONG toy so big they can sleep in it. You can even say it’s from your pet!)
“The idea with this gesture is that you want your pet sitter to feel appreciated and respected,” Leighton says.
Reasons To Show Appreciation to Your Pet Sitter
When your pet sitter meets all your expectations and more, tipping is a thoughtful way to show your appreciation, Lins explains. This lets them know you value and appreciate their work—and it can encourage them to sit for you again in the future!
You might consider tipping your pet sitter if they do a particularly excellent job or go above and beyond the tasks required in your arrangement by:
- Staying for long-term sitting jobs
- Taking on house-sitting duties, like watering plants, taking out the rubbish, or bringing in post
- Filling in last-minute or during the school holidays, festive period, or other peak times
- Completing special or difficult tasks, like rushing your pet to the emergency vet or giving them medication
- Responding quickly and in detail to your questions or concerns
- Paying attention to small details, like opening blinds for a favourite birdwatching perch or cleaning food bowls
- Going out of their way to keep your pet comfortable, like adding an extra walk or play session if your pet seems bored
And, of course, never forget the value of a pet sitter who gets along with your pets! If your sitter earns your pet’s trust and affection, this can be a sign they truly understand animals and care for their well-being, and you might want to thank them accordingly.
