Payment for evening dog sitting - how much?

[SirChenjins]

Friend's DC (18) is looking after our dog while we all go out. DDog can cope with about 3 hours max on his own, but we'll probably be gone for about 5 hours. He'll be fed and walked before we go, but friend's DC will be in the house and give him a quick walk to do his business before his bedtime. Friend's DC will be provided with the usual snacks, wifi password, access to Netflix etc etc. How much would you pay them?

I paid £50 for professional dog sitters to sit in my house for 24 hours and look after three dogs. Worked out at just over £2 an hour.

I’d pay £25 for 5 hours evening dog sitting but a lot more for 5 hours babysitting (probably £50). For context I don’t have a dog.

I thought about £20 but Jeezo I see some saying £12-16 an hour. Surely that’s for a professional dog sitter. Overnight at the kennels wld be cheaper than that.

This is all a bit mental. Our dog sitter charges £15 for 24h, and there’s people here paying that for an HOUR. Our babysitter (a grown adult qualified preschool teacher) charges £10 an hour to babysit our two children.

Maybe not the best place to ask OP.

I would feel so embarrassed handing over 15 poxy quid for a 24 hour dog sitter

And not much to feel proud about handing over a poxy tenner, so below NMW, to a qualified pre school teacher for babysitting your two children

My dog walker charges £30 per night when our dog stays with him.

I was thinking exactly the same then questioning if I was tight 😂 but if so many people pay £80 to watch a dog and occasionally feed/let them out- sign me up now while I hand my notice in 🤣🤣

Imagine paying for insurance, tax etc, setting up a business, years of experience to have some 18 year old random get paid the same as you 😂

It’s no where near the same as looking after a child. And I say that as someone with a dog and children.

Children are far much more responsibility, so many variables.

My dog is usually out cold for most of the evening, might stir for a wee but that’s it.

Sounds spot on.

Sweet lord you either want someone to look after your dog or not. I think this is good value for peace of mind
last month I had to go into the office and my husband who is normally at home wasn't going to be at home either I arranged (very gratefull ) for a neighbours son ( who I know is good with animals) to come in twice to walk my dogs and check on them. I was so delighted gave him 25e voucher for a takeaway and a pack of fancy beer ( he is 20 and in college ) good trustworthy people to look after your dogs is hard to get if you don't want to pay then don't bother getting anyone

Does this mean you have never left the dog alone for 3 hours in the past? That sounds… restricting!

I do this often and give £25-30.

I know people are posting the hourly rate for dog sitters etc but this person isn’t a dog sitter! They are (I assume) not qualified in canine first aid, do not have insurance, no council licence fee to pay!

My Niece who does this for us, loves a free house. Is allowed to bring a friend and order a takeaway. She jumps at the chance! £30 to me seems like a good amount for a mutually beneficial deal!

Or a responsible dog owner!

So, what do you think?

Yes dog walkers charge upwards of £19per hour but they have insurance and experience which validates that fee. An occasional dog sitting evening by a teen is not the same. Id say £25/£30.

I have someone who does this, they charge £25 for up to 4 hours and £35 for anything over 4 hours.

My son (21, just graduated and not employed at the moment) just did an overnight dogsit for friends/neighbours. Afternoon through to morning, but he did pop back here for meals and a shower. Two dogs, took them for a walk once in the morning.

They paid him £40. He was happy to do that as a semi-favour for friends, but don't think he'd want to do it too often or for people he didn't know.

That's insane!

I am a licensed boarder and charge £30 for 24 hours.

At £16 an hour, it would be £384 a day, meaning the bill, if you went away for a fortnight, would be £5376.

Ha ha ha ha ha.

We have an as-and-when arrangement with our downstairs neighbour (17 yo) who’s reliable and an animal lover.
He’s delighted to get €10 an hour just to hang out with the dog at our place or his. 40 minutes’ walk and he’s laughing all the way to the bank (or the video games shop)!

£30

My dog minder charges £25 a night (£25 for a full 24 hours) so on that basis, I think £20 for the evening would be more than sufficient.

£50 for the evening

I don't have a dog to sit but I can't imagine paying a teenager lots for dogsitting, maybe a tenner for the evening, but I supposed I'd have to adjust to whatever the going rate was if I needed such a service.

I did dogsit for someone I work with and I said I'd be happy to be paid in cake because getting to spend time with the dog was a reward in itself (before I found out what a stubborn git his dog is, who would just sit down and refuse to move if I tried to take him in a direction he didn't want to go in for on our walks) but he gave me 50 euros and will take me up in his plane so that is a lot better than a tenner.