Page 19 | To think this is a ridiculous price?

WatalotIgot · 15/01/2026 17:25

When they are in your house they are WORKING. Doesn't matter what they are doing: National Minimum Wage applies, if not more. They cannot go anywhere else, they are not on holiday. Just think if you were working in a care home at night. It doesn't matter how many times a bell goes off you are paid for your time, not what you are doing, in your place of work.

Sam9769 · 15/01/2026 17:26

VibesCurator · 14/01/2026 21:43

The sitter replied: My prices reflect the level of care 2 dogs require, I hope you’re able to find somebody who better fits your financial situation.

Is she calling me broke?

No, she's calling you tight which you are!

You're paying for her time as she's watching your dogs.
If a day is 7 hours, she's charging you £5.71 per hour well below the minimum wage.
How do you expect someone to live on less than that?
I'm not surprised that your relative moved away!!

Thehop · 15/01/2026 17:27

She's pointing out you're right

she's right

you think £40 for 24 hours work away from her own home is a lot?? I assume you work for a lot less then?

Zov · 15/01/2026 17:28

FunnyOrca · 15/01/2026 17:21

Our pets have needs that mean they need to eat every 12 hours (roughly). They need to be fed twice a day. They have access to food all day, but if they take a turn they won’t eat anything and need medication. Obviously, the only way to know they haven’t eaten is by visiting and feeding!

We think she visited once per day but missed two days entirely. We could tell because she would send photos with the wrong daylight for the time of day and if we ever asked she would say that she had “just left” and forgot to take photos. In the past, all the sitters were have used have been so enthusiastic and excited to show us what the pets have been up to so the lack of photos was unusual. Any questions got vague answers. Overall her messages were just so suspicious. A friend went over on the last day of our holiday to check in and found she had already posted the keys back through the door. There should have been 3 more visits at that point! Luckily our friend was able to do the last day and morning of our return. She sent us photos of the state they were in as they had not been cleaned up after 😢 we used the photos to argue a refund from where we had booked.

The part that really angered me was that the girl was a vet student! She knew the condition our pets have and knew, while unlikely, it’s still serious!

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Wow, I'm really sorry @FunnyOrca ❤ I am glad your pets are OK, but I am sorry you (and they) had to go through this.... Glad they managed to survive OK, but that's an awful thing to happen. Really worrying that this woman is a vet student! You sounds like a lovely, caring pet owner. This must have been awful!

.

Janie143 · 15/01/2026 17:33

Kennels for one dog £45 / day 2 years ago in Staffordshire. What a bargin you could have had OP.

Munchyseeds2 · 15/01/2026 17:41

Our dogsitter charges £35 a day and we think that's cheap
We are happy as long as the dog is happy

IndysMamaRex · 15/01/2026 17:47

That doesn’t seem too bad tbh. Think about it minimum wage is £12.21 an hour so you’re only paying for less than 4 hours a day. How much time are they spending with pets?

Mummaofthree555 · 15/01/2026 17:55

Have you tried Borrow My Doggy website? That’s what I’m looking at right now as I am with you on the prices being too much for the sitters. It’s worth to look.

Xcxlxn · 15/01/2026 18:02

VibesCurator · 14/01/2026 21:43

The sitter replied: My prices reflect the level of care 2 dogs require, I hope you’re able to find somebody who better fits your financial situation.

Is she calling me broke?

No she’s not calling you broke she is calling you tight

Which tbf in this situation would appear a fair assumption

Xcxlxn · 15/01/2026 18:07

You’re taking her away from her home and family life. She has the responsibility of your house and pets. She will be limited on the amount she can do both work and socially whilst house sitting. The national minimum wage is £12.21 so basically 4 hours of care yet she’s charging that price for the whole day! For 2 dogs I assume being walked each day as well, seeing as dog walkers charge £15 an hour per dog I’d say it’s a great price you’ve been quoted

JTBB33 · 15/01/2026 18:13

No, she’s calling you a tight arse!!

alligatorshmalligator · 15/01/2026 18:22

This has got to be a joke?! You want someone to sit in your house all day taking care of your dogs and you think £40 is expensive? I honestly refuse to accept this isn’t rage bait

Liftedmeup · 15/01/2026 18:29

FunnyOrca · 15/01/2026 17:21

Our pets have needs that mean they need to eat every 12 hours (roughly). They need to be fed twice a day. They have access to food all day, but if they take a turn they won’t eat anything and need medication. Obviously, the only way to know they haven’t eaten is by visiting and feeding!

We think she visited once per day but missed two days entirely. We could tell because she would send photos with the wrong daylight for the time of day and if we ever asked she would say that she had “just left” and forgot to take photos. In the past, all the sitters were have used have been so enthusiastic and excited to show us what the pets have been up to so the lack of photos was unusual. Any questions got vague answers. Overall her messages were just so suspicious. A friend went over on the last day of our holiday to check in and found she had already posted the keys back through the door. There should have been 3 more visits at that point! Luckily our friend was able to do the last day and morning of our return. She sent us photos of the state they were in as they had not been cleaned up after 😢 we used the photos to argue a refund from where we had booked.

The part that really angered me was that the girl was a vet student! She knew the condition our pets have and knew, while unlikely, it’s still serious!

Show quote history

Was she really a vet student, though?

bugalugs45 · 15/01/2026 18:29

I pay £40 a day for my regular dog walker to look after my boy , I’m happy that they know each other as I wouldn’t leave him with a stranger . My friend paid £60 for hers as has 2 dogs .
its quite a responsibility , they have to be around most of the time and possibly extra travel costs for
them. £40 is a bargain

CrayonCritic5 · 15/01/2026 18:30

VibesCurator · 14/01/2026 21:43

The sitter replied: My prices reflect the level of care 2 dogs require, I hope you’re able to find somebody who better fits your financial situation.

Is she calling me broke?

That’s the nicest reply she could have given, and yet you’re still acting entitled 🤷‍♀️

SnowWhitesAppIe · 15/01/2026 18:32

VibesCurator · 14/01/2026 21:32

First time getting a housesitter for my 2 dogs as a family member who used to watch them moved away. I got quoted £40 total per day by a sitter, AIBU for thinking this is ridiculous?

I'm not boarding them, the sitter would be staying in my house using my gas and electric. I have replied to them as much, but now that I am looking around at more sitters, it seems like an average price. How much does everyone else pay?

How much to board them?

Also your house is being protected and looked after along with the dogs

CrayonCritic5 · 15/01/2026 18:32

Trusted Housesitters. But if you don’t change your attitude, you won’t get any takers on there either.

Zov · 15/01/2026 18:40

I know you have had a hard time on here @VibesCurator so I don't want to join in and make you feel worse! (I mean, the hard time probably is justified but still! 😬)

But what I was going to suggest is ... Is there someone, anyone who could come and live in your house for the week or 10 days or whatever time you are away? (If not now, maybe next time....?)

My friend and her DP went away for 9 days in September, and the 18 y.o. daughter of one of her friends stayed in their house. For the 9 days. Took everything she needed (clothes and supplies and accessories and make up and meds and phone and laptop and chargers etc.... ) And she had plenty of food left for her, and Sky, Apple TV, and Netflix, the internet etc.... and it was like a home from home for her...

It cost the 18 year old nothing to do it, she had freedom and space, and could come and go as she pleased. Her college was just down the road, her mum and dad were a 5 or 6 minute drive away, and she able to look after and feed the cat, and look after and walk the dog, as often as needed really. My friend gave her £125 for it. She nearly snapped her arm off. £125 was a lot to her, the pets were looked after, and the house was lived in (so it deterred burglars.) And to her (the 18 year old) it was easy money.

Maybe something to think about for the future.

Rainbowpumpkin · 15/01/2026 18:46

Wow....here's a thought, you're now offering to do dog sitting in someone elses home - how much do you need to charge per day to make it a viable job?

MurkyMo · 15/01/2026 18:57

£40 is nothing. I wouldn't do it for £40. Not even with all your free gas and leccy

Rosebud987 · 15/01/2026 18:59

That’s £280 per week. People don’t even work 9-5 5 days a week for that…. Of course you’re being ridiculous. I don’t think anybody was calling you broke but I think expecting anybody to work 24 hours for £40 is crazy.

Dogmum74 · 15/01/2026 19:03

you are kidding right? £60 a day I pay which is still cheaper than kennels. And she minds the house

JosephineCornwall · 15/01/2026 19:08

VibesCurator · 14/01/2026 21:43

The sitter replied: My prices reflect the level of care 2 dogs require, I hope you’re able to find somebody who better fits your financial situation.

Is she calling me broke?

Yes, because you’re being tight AF!

AuditAngel · 15/01/2026 19:17

Last summer a professional dog sitter cost me £80 per day for 2 large dogs. My teenage daughters friend is doing this time around, £40

Pedallleur · 15/01/2026 19:26

VibesCurator · 14/01/2026 21:43

The sitter replied: My prices reflect the level of care 2 dogs require, I hope you’re able to find somebody who better fits your financial situation.

Is she calling me broke?

No. They (quite rightly imo) are saying you are a cheapskate CF
When you take your car to be valeted how much do you pay?