What would be a fair charge for caring for two dogs?

[TemporaryArmadillo]

3 weeks

2 large energetic dogs

3 walks a day including early morning, afternoon and around 9-10pm at night

One rolls in dog and fox poo nearly every day so washing down at home included

Also feeding them twice a day

Keeping an eye on house, and eye on both cars.

Midlands. Family know how much it is to have put them in kennels.

Im not actually sure if I’m going to be paid, as I normally walk them for free occasionally after I’ve done nursery runs for their child!

They’re a ten minute drive across town for me, 3 times a day. My car is not fuel efficient at all.

Should I just ask for fuel costs?

Thanks!

Kindly op, if you know so little about dogs as is clearly the case, how on earth will you spot the signs of illness? Especially on a tiny pop in?
I’ll ask again. How long have they been away so far?

I can’t stay at their house, I have teenagers at home, one of whom has just returned home from hospital. Neither teenager is independent enough yet to cook for themselves, and I need to be here during the other one’s recovery.

If this is genuine then if I knew where the dogs were I’d report the owners. Terrible lack of proper care.

Honestly, I probably wouldn’t. I have been to the local vet already however to ask if they’re registered there and if so any known issues.

They’ve been away a week so far.

This is inappropriate and the fact you’re doing this without even agreeing a decent fee not only undermines your own earnings but undermines all the professional sitters and walkers in the area. Poor dogs

It is genuine. Mumnest can verify I guess if they look at my other threads they’ll see correlations between the dogs and this family.

Yeah sure. So they didn’t tell you the vets either. Pull the other one. Long dog story drip feed 🥱

Ffs! Thank you for being honest at least. They’ve well and truly shafted both you and more importantly, 2 defenceless animals. I hope you can see exactly what sort of vermin these people are now?
So, now what?

Evening walk time now anyway will catch up later Thankyou for input so far everyone

That’s correct. I did ask and they vaguely mentioned a vet. I took it upon myself to find out.

Whilst I’m with them the dogs are getting the absolute best care in terms of feeding, exercise and affection/company. For now that’s all I can do. I adore those dogs. I’m just not experienced with being a dog owner. I was effectively an immature young adult when myself and boyfriend had a dog 30 years ago. Be assured these two are getting as much love and care from me as I give my own children .

If you can’t tell if they are ill, you are NOT giving them the care they need.
which is something you’ve admitted already. And you are now knowingly leaving them to suffer for the next fortnight

just as an example - large dogs should not be fed an hour either side of exercise due to the risk of bloat.
which will likely kill them overnight if no one is there to spot the signs early.
if you are popping in, I can guarantee you aren’t waiting the appropriate amount of time before feeding them and you obviously won’t be able to notice their illness if you aren’t there!

Our dog boarder charges £45 per 24hour period with a 10% discount for the second dog.

So really it’s a moot point if you’re already a week in.

i had someone stay at my house, looking after one dog for a week, and paid £35 a day, provided food etc, and gave them a ‘fact sheet’ with information about my dog’s routine, vet details, food etc. I thought that was cheap.

i actually don’t think you’re going to be paid if nothing was discussed beforehand, apart from a bottle of wine and a ‘thank you for looking after my dog’ box of chocolates.

Dog walkers can charge £15 per walk, so you’re looking at £45 per day before you start! So, definely £1000+ but I think you’ll be lucky to get it.

I’m paying over £1000 for three dogs to be cared for in my home for two weeks this Summer (sitter staying in my house). £50 per night then another £10 a night for each additional pet.

When I used to pay a boarder in their home, it was £30 per night per dog and this was around 8 years ago.

That’s absolutely awful they can’t just leave the dogs in the house with no one there except to walk them! Those poor dogs, they should be reported! I would never ever do that to my dogs, if they can’t afford proper care for them then they shouldn’t be going on bloody holiday!

Forgot to say, wishing your son a speedy recovery from his op. You have a lot on at the moment, with that alone. I know you like to help, but you could have easily used this as an excuse to back out. The fact that the family didn’t let out the duration of the holiday initially, or discuss payment, even petrol costs, or discuss their vet details, shows what a user they are.

Once this is over, can you break away from them, and put yourself first. Look on Facebook, is there a woman’s group you can join? A Bookclub? Netball? Anything to help you feel a bit more involved and/or providing friendship.

I can’t believe this . They really did see you
coming OP. They are negligent owners and taking advantage of you . Not in a million years are my dogs left home alone , they would be anxious for a start . I am lucky I pay £36 a night for overnight care and if I had no proper sitter I don’t go away , simple .

Just say it's more than you had realised and with your teens just hime from hospital, you need to concentrate on their recuperation.

You gave a cast iron excuse to get out of this. Either that or charge them a grand.

Ok I’m back now.
Someone mentioned not feeding them an hour either side of exercise. I didn’t know this.

They're having two feeds a day, after we’ve returned from a walk.

Surely in a kennels though the dogs are going to be left alone without observation overnight?

Their last walk of the day ends around 9.30-10pm and I return between 8-9am

Any tips welcomed on how I can make the best of the situation then. The owners are abroad - a very long way abroad … - so there isn’t much else I can do about the situation.

You can ring the RSPCA.

Can you message them and say your circumstances have changed due to you needing to be with your son, and you’re unable to look after them, or can only do one walk a day going forward etc. They can google kennels etc from afar.

I would tell them you hasn’t realised they are away for so long and you can’t commit to 3 weeks. Ask which kennels or dog sitters they’ve used previously and ask if they’d like you to book them
in or whether they’ll sort it themselves.

If you’re going to carry on you need an hourly rate for working for them. What do you charge per hour for child care? Use the same rate? Make sure it’s above NMW. Work out the time from leaving your house to returning and use your hourly rate to calculate the cost.

This is so very wrong on many levels, can’t believe what I’m reading tbh.
These “owners” need reporting for animal neglect for starters.
Happy to go on a jolly for three weeks but too tight to get their dogs looked after properly with 24/7 company!
You’re being taken advantage of big time.

Sadly those poor dogs didn’t have that choice….