Dog Sitting Overnight Rates: How Much Should You Charge?
Okay, so I've been dog sitting for a while now, mostly for friends and family, but I wanted to, like, actually make some real money from it. The big question was, how much should I charge, especially for overnight stays? I had absolutely no clue where to even begin, it felt totally awkward!
Figuring Out the Basics
First, I started poking around online, you know, just to get a general idea. I asked in some local Facebook groups about pet care. What are other people charging in my area?
- Going Rate: Most people seemed to be charging somewhere between $30 and $50 a night. But, that's a pretty wide range, right?
- Experience Matters: I quickly saw that people with more experience, like, actual professional pet sitters, were at the higher end of that range, and sometimes even more.
- Extra Services: Then there were all these add-ons! Things like giving medication, taking the dog for extra walks, or even staying at the house during the day too.
My "Experiment"
I decided to start small. My neighbor, Mrs. Gable, needed someone to watch her little terrier, Sparky, for a weekend.
I Figured this be a good time to figure what works.
- I did my best to keep Sparky company.
- I made sure I stuck to the feeding schedule that Mrs. Gable gave me.
- I even played some fetch in the yard.
I ended up charging her $35 a night, a total $70 for the two nights. I felt that was fair. It wasn't too high, wasn't too low, especially since it was my first "official" gig outside of my close friends.
Tweaking My Prices
After a few more overnight stays, I started to get a better feel for things. I realized a few factors are super important:
- Dog Size/Energy Level: A giant, energetic dog is WAY more work than a tiny, chill lapdog. I mean, obviously! So, I started charging a bit more for bigger or more active dogs.
- Number of Dogs: More dogs, more work, more money. Simple as that.
- Holiday Demand: Turns out, people pay a premium during holidays like Christmas or Thanksgiving. Everyone wants to travel, so pet sitters are in high demand.
Now, I have a little pricing "system." It's not super formal, but it helps:
- Base Rate: $40 per night for one, "easy-going" dog.
- Add-ons:
- +$10 per night for a second dog.
- +$5-10 per night for bigger/high-energy dogs (depending on how much extra work I anticipate).
- +Holiday rates (Usually an extra $15-20 per night).
- +I tack on a little extra if they need me to do a lot of extra walks or playtime.
Honestly, the biggest thing I learned is to just be upfront and communicate with the owners. Don't be afraid to talk about the price and explain why you're charging what you're charging. Most people are totally understanding, especially when they know their furry friend is in good hands!
