I KNOW this in none of my business but is this reasonable?

[momtoboys]

Friends of our family went abroad for 14 days and asked one of my sons (young adult) to watch their 2 large dogs for themwhile they were gone. He took care of them at our house - waked them twice a day, played with them in the garden, fed them, cleaned up after them and treated one for the last week for a would caused by allergies. They had told him they would pay him for the service but no amount was discussed (mistake #1). They returned and gave my son an envelope with $125 (US). $125 for room and board for two weeks in my opinion is a cheeky amount to pay. If they had to board them in our area it would have been well over $1,000 (not that I think that they should have paid my son that much!).

Is this an unreasonable amount?

AIBU - It is a reasonable amount
YANBU - this was not enough compensation for the services rendered

Putting on my flak vest!

Ha yeah ok that’s a drip feed. So you were all on holiday together and your son cared for the dogs, and they gave him 100? I think that’s fine, they clearly didn’t see it as some form of formal dog sitting agreement.

Op do you not like the woman? You wrote this quite oddly. Are you looking for a reason to have a go?

That update blurs the lines a lot.
You actually all went on holiday together and your son looked after the dogs.
Perhaps they view you as one big family who holidays together and helps each other out, and the money was an additional token gesture rather than to be paid at market rate.

Exactly

weird the op didn’t mention that she was on holiday (for a fortnight!) with the couple in question 😆

Yeah very odd indeed. If I went on hols with my friends and my daughter looked after their pet, I’d expect nothing more than a little thank you gift. Not paid a going rate. Just very odd.

You’re clearly way closer than that if you’ve just went on holiday with them. Your writing like you barely know them, they are some random couple, and you barely know the wife. A few dinners a year. Except you’ve just been on a two week holiday together.

I wonder if the OP will be back

either way… very weird!

I thought dog sitting was a bit like childminding in that once you are paying someone for it, legally you are supposed to be registered etc. Maybe not where you are, but I think in the UK that's the case.
If he was doing it for the money, then he really should have clarified how much up front. Could he also ask to be reimbursed for any 'extra' costs - eg extra food, poo bags, travel expenses??

Yes I would be fuming on my Son's behalf too OP.

They will need his services again in the not too distant future, so look forward to see how they respond to the new payment terms😈and I would also be asking for this upfront to cover costs.

Don't trust anyone who is so unashamedly tight and takes advantage.

Oh.. Just saw your latest update.
That's quite a drip feed from your opener 🤨

it should be double

i dont think your update makes any difference!

It probably is regulated if you are running a business. This guy was looking after the family friend's dogs, so not much different to a friend babysitting.

I’m guessing two weeks together was too much, the op doesn’t like the woman and she’s looking for a reason to fall out.

IMO a drip feed is a revelation that significantly changes the OP. I don't think this qualifies

Then move on. You’re not in charge of what qualifies, 😂

Thank god! I'll leave that shit to Starmer

Pisstake and I would let them know I thought so.

It is a solid lesson for your son though - agree terms up front.

I once got stuck with a 'friends' dogs for 9 fucking weeks (and they were massive, giant breed) and I had to chase her for food money for them every week too. Didn't even get paid. I think she was in a bad situation and somehow decided I owed her as she once had my same breed dog (which she bred) for a week many years before... but the two situations were not remotely comparable.

That was my learning curve and as frustrating as it was, it was a valuable one!

I think they were very unreasonable but it is a lesson learned for him to agree a rate in advance

I’m back! I didn’t mean to drip feed, I didn’t think it really was important to the story. I like the dog owners quite a bit. We were not “together” on the trip but all abroad at the same wedding. I am not looking to have a go at them at all. I’m sure my post sounded that way but I didn’t mean it to. I’m over it. It is behind us. No hard feelings.

It’s not enough, but it’s a learning experience for you both. When my nephew house sat to look after dogs for a friend of Dh, I made sure dh indicated a suitable minimum daily payment beforehand.

Our local kennels would charge £420 and I assume a dog sitter would be more. I think £300 would have been reasonable.

Lesson learnt for your don discuss fee before agreeing!

If they ask next year he should say 'that's fine but it will be X amount let me know if you still want me. '

I think given the nature of the relationship if I were you I’d either feel I was going to cool it or say something. I think their behaviour is very disrespectful. Presumably they asked your son rather than him offering? “Hey you do realise if you’d used a professional you’d have been paying $1000+, DS rearranged his schedule and took such great care of the dogs, I think $125 really undervalues that”

CFs

if it happens again I would agree. Then at drop off when they are about to leave I’d explain that it’s $40/day or they take the dogs elsewhere.

Your son has looked after their two large dogs for less than $10 per day!