To expect dog sitter to....

[365BeachDays]

Walk dogs daily, regardless of weather, to an extent of course.

Clean up dog mess from garden.

Send updates/photos etc.

Keep house in decent condition - I.e, the way it was before.

I'd be interested to hear your thoughts.

TIA

Dog sitter jobs I did:
Walked dogs off lead for 45 mins twice daily
Groomed them once a week
Picked up poo
Fed them
Washed all bowls between meals
Did all housework before leaving
Washed sheets and put fresh bedding on
Got food basics in for their return
Cut the grass/watered all flowers and pots.
Cleaned out/fed/cuddles rabbits/put in day one for exercise.

That's my personal standard though.
Yours doesn't appear to be more than a house sitter.

To those saying you wouldn't expect a sitter to walk the dogs. They either do or they don't. In which case you pay someone else to do that bit.
It's all our nothing not two in a week

Before paying, I would absolutely confront her over this.

If you pay someone to dog sit, the whole point is that the dogs get to stay in their own home, they have company, walks, get fed, and as a matter of respect a dog sitter should clean up after themselves.

Dog sitters aren't exactly cheap!

If the neighbour said she was out a lot and the dogs have been on their own, and hardly walked, then I would tell her this (mention the CCTV and neighbour's concern) and say how disappointed you are, as you paid her to dog sit which she hasn't done. I would then say you don't feel it is fair to have to pay her the entire fee as she hasn't done what she was paid to do. If she disputes the lesser amount, then pay her in full, make it clear that you are paying under protest, and will me making it clear in online reviews how poor her service was.

I had a second job as a pet sitter for a bit (before it became big business and insurance requirements etc). I used to keep the animals to the schedule they were used to including walking and feeding. I always picked up poo/ cleaned litter trays and enclosures. It was pre-whats app so updates were limited but if people wanted them I'd give them.

Your pet sitter sounds dreadful. I wouldn't pay.

I think the problem is you should have raised the lack of walks when you noticed it eg the first day you saw she didn’t take them out. It’s tricky to wait til afterwards then say something.

It depends what was agreed but assuming there was a verbal or written agreement that she walks the dogs 1x or 2x a day plus feeds them / let's them out them out once a day, I'd work out how much time she should have spent on this daily (eg 2 hours for everything) and how much time she did spend and pay proportionately. I have never had a dog and even I know that they are generally supposed to be walked more than 15 min a day and not left on their own the whole time so I think its pretty much implied that a professional dog sitter would walk for a reasonable length of time

Please, please, please leave an accurate review on her page. The fact that your neighbour mentioned her absence to you is extremely worrying and although your dogs might have coped there may be other dogs in her care who won't.

I also wouldn't be paying her a penny.

I would raise the issues with her before payment and provide evidence. As for the mud of the floor I would have to had to hoover that up. I am OCD and that would bother me! It does sound like she has done the bare minimum. Surely she should have checked the garden daily and picked up where necessary. I would challenge her on these things and expect an explanation.

I dog sit for a friend - not as a professional
He has access to Strava to see walks
I set up a photo album for him on FB for him to see
She is walked (husky) a min of 10km a day, often further and I take her for group walks with a friend or swimming
I clean up the garden and wash her off (legs usually!) as needed
Make sure the house is secure
Feed as instructed

”Walk dogs daily, regardless of weather, to an extent of course.
No, she's a dog sitter not dog walker. The clue's in the name, the person is being paid to sit and watch the dog”

This is a ridiculous response. Part of pet care is adhering to their routine ie WALKING THE DOG!

I'm a paid pet and house sitter, I'd always make sure the house is clean and tidy.
The dogs get walked if that's what is agreed, usually if the family have land for the dogs to free roam they don't require walking or poop scooping.
I would never ignore a message or request for updates!

If i paid someone to babysit my children I expect them, to cover all the needs of my children in that time. Change nappy (pick up poo), play with them (walk them), give them affection. They don't sit and watch my kids, so I wouldn't expect a dogsitter to sit and watch my dog. They should be walking them at a minimum.

What would be nice is some decent information.

What did you arrange?
Did this person stay at your house full time?
Did they only pop round to feed and do a check-up on the house?
There are so many variables to this.

All of the dog services that I've come across have different prices for different things. If you want someone to pop into your house for an hour a day to feed, clean up and offer some brief company to your pet, then that's service A. If you want actual dog walking then that's service B. If you want both, then you need to ask for, and pay for both.

We've received your invoice but aren't satisfied that you provided us with the service agreed. The garden wasn't cleared of dog poo and our external security camera appears to show you only did two short walks in the week.
We propose we pay 50% of the invoiced amount. What do you think?

My dog would lose the plot if he was only walked twice for 20 minutes in an entire week and he's a lazy oaf. Poor dog, I would be so annoyed about that part in particular.

"They don't sit and watch my kids"
It sounds like you're paying a babysitter and expecting a nursery nurse or childminder.
With a babysitter, it's in the name... "sitter" - sit and watch. With no other expectations, apart from the basics of nappy changes and putting to bed at the agreed time, if the child isn't already in bed when the babysitter arrives.

I dog sit for friends and I walk the dog at least three times a day, one walk will be a big park walk with frisbee/balls etc to get them to use their mind and exercise. I usually send a good morning photo, then a brief text at the end of the day, with a cute picture and an outline of what the dog and I did that day and plans for the next day.

I leave the house clean, so pick up any ‘messes’ if they have a yard.

remake the bed with fresh linen and wash and hang out the linen I used

clip dogs nails if needed

usually buy a cheap £3 lot of flowers to leave on the table.

I would ask for a partial refund op.

YANBU at all OP I would be so upset and angry if our dog wasn't walked twice a day (appreciate all dogs are different). We are v lucky that a family member also has a dog and we mainly do reciprocal dog care. However we used a new sitter for a week recently, as family member and all 3 of our back up options were unavailable.

She left the house clean and tidy (though we had made clear we didn't expect her to act as a cleaner)

We got photos / quick update each day initiated by her

Dog was definitely walked twice a day as agreed and there was no poo in the garden (we had ensured was cleared before we went away)

We hadn't used this person before, but got good vibes from her as she came to the house to meet / walk our dog twice in the run up to her visit and refused to take payment for this. We have loads of dog owning friends locally and have recommended her to quite a few people now.

Crappy service experienced by you will likely be a pattern and I doubt this person's business will last very long. But do please leave an honest review as I'm sure lots of other owners would be grateful.

@365BeachDays
No way would I just pay her invoice! I'd 100% challenge her re. the lack of walks & not responding to your message asking if the dogs were ok. Those are both basics to be expected for the service she supposedly provides! I'd tell her the cameras & neighbours back up the lack of walks & WTF was she thinking? I'd leave her a shit review, too - she's massively taken the piss! Your poor dogs.

Would expect walkies twice/day for pre arranged amount of time per walk.
Dogs fed and cuddled.
House as I left it.
Poop in garden picked up.
Not rocket science job.
How much did she charge you? How do you know dogs didn't go out daily?
Dog sitter = caring for all doggie needs which include exercise.

WtF did she do all week?