Is pet sitting your dream job? Or are you looking to hire a pet sitter for your furry friend and want to find out more about pet sitting rates before you make your mind up? Look no more, you are at the right place to find all the information about dog sitting rates.
As a pet owner, you want what’s best for your furry friend and when you are going on holiday, on a weekend or have to spend the whole day at work, you will want to hire a trustworthy person to care for your beloved pet. There are many pet care services available: kennels, dog walkers, pet sitters. If you decide to go with a pet sitter make sure you do your research.
Pet sitting daily rate: How much do pet sitters make in the UK?
The average salary of a pet sitter in the UK is £24,218 per year. As a pet sitter you will have a few tasks and depending on these, the price range will vary. Here are some benchmark figures of how much you could earn as a pet sitter:
- Looking after pets while its owner is at work or away for a few hours: £10 to £15 per hour
- Dog walking: £10 per hour (extra charges if there is more than one dog)
- Looking after an animal overnight: rate could start at £25
Keep in mind that these figures are an estimation, depending on where you live, which pets you are looking after, and what is asked from you. If you wish to earn more, you can always go an extra mile and suggest watering plants, picking up the post or house sitting.
How much should I pay for pet sitting?
Dogs and cats usually feel more comfortable in their own home. Having an experienced pet sitter come to your home to feed your dog or cat, take your dog for a walk and play with your furry friend, will give you peace of mind but will also help your animal not to feel lonely. You will have to decide if you wish to have the dog sitter or cat sitter visit your home on a daily basis, or have them stay in your home for the length of your trip. Pet sitting rates will vary depending on the service you ask of them.
Pet sitting in the UK costs approximately £10 to £15 per hour. Of course, this rate varies depending on the level of care your pet needs.
How much money can I make as a pet sitter?
Pet sitters will usually charge per pet and per hour. Rates tend to range from £10 per visit up to £25. Therefore, a pet sitter could make between £10 to £50 a day for a couple of visits. If you have visited three or four houses, you could earn up to £200 a day.
Dog sitting rates: How much is dog sitting?
There are a few tasks requested as a dog sitter and the more tasks, the higher the price. A dog sitter could have these different missions:
- Pop in the house to make sure the dog is ok, has food, water and goes for its toilet break
- Walk the dog
- Stay with the dog for a few hours
- Stay with the dog overnight for a weekend
- Stay with the dog for the length of the dog owner’s trip
- House sitting
Depending on the service you require from a dog sitter, the price will vary. On average a dog sitter earns £10 per hour. Doggy daycare in a pet sitter’s home is often between £30 for half a day and £40-50 for a full day. If a pet sitter comes to the owner’s home for 24 hours, it will cost around £60.
When it comes to short visits such as dog walking or popping by the house to make sure the dog is fed, and entertained, the hourly price range varies between £10 to £25 (again depending on what is required from the pet sitter).
Overnight dog sitting: How much to charge for a dog sitting overnight?
Dog sitters who stay overnight will usually charge approximately £50-60. This price will vary depending on the duties required (dog sitting, house sitting or house duties) and if the dog sitter is required to stay the whole day too.
What is the going rate for house sitting with pets in the UK?
House sitters usually charge from £60 to £75 for a full, 24-hour (overnight) assignment. This price will vary depending on house size, pet type, and assignment duration.
Do I tip my dog sitter?
Some dog sitters work for a company and earn a salary, other dog sitters are freelancers and are paid per house visit, so tipping is totally up to you! Tipping a dog sitter will definitely be appreciated but it is not expected or required. If you decide to tip your dog sitter you can do so at the end or the beginning of the visit, while you're on holiday, or occasionally. You could also tip a dog sitter if your dog required extra care (like having to take medicine for example).
If your dog sitter has done a great job but you don’t wish to tip her, make sure you tell her what a great job she did, they will always be happy with a compliment.
Do I pay for my dog sitter’s travel costs?
This should be discussed with the dog sitter. Some dog sitters might have travel costs included in their prices, while others won’t. If the pet owner drops their animal at the pet sitter’s home, then no traveling cost will be involved. However, if the pet sitter has to travel to go to someone’s home, then yes, they will have travel costs. Discuss this directly with the dog sitter.
Should I leave the dog sitter money?
If a dog sitter stays for a long period of time (because you are away on holiday for example), there will probably be some financial responsibility. Your dog might need some extra supplies and it will be easier to make sure your dog sitter has the necessary funds. He or she might need to buy more food, poo bags, or toys (if your dog has destroyed them, it would be a bummer if he starts attacking your dog sitter’s shoes).
Anyhow, make sure you stock up before leaving so that the dog sitter doesn’t need anything, except maybe something you might not have anticipated. You can therefore leave some money for your dog sitter, or if you don’t feel comfortable with that, ask her to advance the money and pay your sitter back when you return.
