To take advantage of this holiday time?!

[hungryhippo90]

Christmas is coming, obviously!
I look after a dog from 6am til 5pm mon-Friday. Sunday from 6pm, so actually the dog is with me till 5pm the following evening.
It's all quite well. I do extra evenings sometimes. All for £85 a week.

I had been asked to look after other dogs over the holidays, which I agreed to do.

In the past few weeks I left my husband, and I'm being evicted from my home, I've luckily found somewhere to live, and move in a few weeks before Christmas.

The dog owner has said a few times he may go away over Christmas.

Tonight he says, you'll be in your nice new home. You won't have the money to go away, so I'm thinking you should have the dog.

Now I'm feeling he's being an unreasonable arse, as he thinks he will leave the dog from the 24th till the 2nd, and after that he can live with me pretty much full time. Sun aft to sat aft.
I feel that's a bit of a piss take. I feel like £85 for that kind of time may also be a bit ....
And I feel like telling him that actually, no i have a child and it's Christmas and I want the week off... and I'd certainly not be happy to base my plans around his dog for £85, when that means I will need to spend my entire holidays at home... I was hoping to go out for Christmas dinner, and have a party for DDs birthday- just a small thing at home, but none the less.

I was offered £180 to look after other dogs. Not an option in new house though... everything is carpeted, and they are known to have accidents (not such a problem to clean up with wooden floor!)

Is boss just being a bit selfish? I can't take holidays any other time, I look after dog as he can't be at home when his owners working.

[hungryhippo90]

Thanks all, yeah I definitely feel he's taking the absolute piss, but I do jump to overreactions quite often, and I didn't want to risk the loss of money if I'm being a bit of a moo.
Turns out I'm not if your reactions are anything to go by.
I do feel like the "you won't have money to...." was a dig. It's fine, because no, I'm not going to take care of the dog at Christmas, and as of the first of January, there's a price increase of my services. Day rate is going up atleast a fiver a day..., you know, I might even afford to get away next Christmas!!

L

[ScrumpyBetty]

No way! Learn to say no. He is not your boss and he is massively taking the piss.

[Blu]

£85 a week including a Sun overnight is ridiculously cheap.

If you don't want to do it over Christmas, just be clear and say so.

Does he supply the dog food in addition to the £85?

You have enough on your plate without sorting out his life for him. What he said about 'you have your lovely new house ' etc is MASSIVELY presumptuous. Being glad that you have him as a customer dies not mean you have to let him take the piss.

[Hoppinggreen]

My dog sitter is charging £30 per overnight for Xmas eve, Xmas day and Boxing Day. Double her usual rate
This guy is massively taking the piss

[Trifleorbust]

Is there a reason you feel under pressure to do this? Would you be massively struggling without his £85? Is he a close friend or relative? Sounds like you are quite stressed over something you could just say "No, I'm unavailable over Christmas but will resume the usual arrangement on X date" to.

[YoHoHoandabottleofTequila]

Why does he bother having a dog?

[Ahickiefromkinickie]

As Penhacked says, he is your client not your boss!

£85 all day and all night from 24th to the 2nd is a joke. That's £8.50 per day!

He is massively taking advantage. And what's with the patronising 'you won't have money to go away' comments? Olease don't feel any obligation to this asshat.

[WeAreEternal]

I would say "yes I can have the dog for 9 days, assuming we are going to go with the usual fee of £85 for two days of care, that kind of money would make a huge difference to our Christmas, thank you very much."

[Penhacked]

You are self employed an he is not your boss, he is a customer. So you tell him the price you feel compensates you adequately or you tell him no. Price up doggy day care near you need undercut it slightly. Tell him your new prices and that this is cheaper than all other doggy day care options

[Lilaclily]

Sounds like he doesn't want his dog any more !

[OliviaBenson]

Errr in any other job you would be entitled to have leave. Just say no. You should also look at putting your prices up, that is very cheap. I pay my dog walker £10 per hour! Day care is £25 per day.

[tighterthanscrooge]

I'm confused as to how many hours a week you are working for £85?

[user1477282676]

Either tell him it''s time and a half or tell him no.