How do you go about asking HOs for compensation when expected to drive to the dog park twice a day? It was only an 8min drive but I was sitting for 10 days. I did it anyways cause the dog was super high energy. Fairly well behaved but lots of energy.
This is for future sits & I would ask before accepting if this ever comes up again. The listing said to bring the dog to the dog park 2x/day. I assumed it was a 8min walk. I should’ve asked them. I maybe shouldve rejected that sit. I couldnt do the dates that the HO asked me since the dates that I applied to just got taken. I politely declined since I would be out of town then. HO tried new dates 3x until we found ones that worked for the both of us. HO was very particular with how he like things done which is totally fine for some people but I try not to accept sits where the HO is like that just from personal experience.
I know that its a mutual arrangement & I’m happy to gift my HO’s flowers, thank you cards, & sometimes bake them something for when they come back, but this doesn’t feel balanced to me.
I think for this one @Smiley might have some insight into ramifications due to a recent ‘interesting’ experience
For ourselves one drive out per day for a different beach run in the car would be ok but I’d not want to commit to a car run twice a day, that means no wine with lunch for a start!
Is the HO providing a car or is it your car? What kind of compensation are you looking for?
I think if it was in the listing it was probably a miss on your part on asking if the dog park was walkable. Going forward, just ask where the dog park is and if there is an alternative to twice a day (maybe morning at the dog park and evening walk) and if not, then just pass on the sit.
I would compensate for gas if it were your car used but I wouldn’t compensate for time if I the exercise requirements were noted on the listing.
If it was UK then it’s approx £5 per 10 miles if you’re charging a business/reseller. Maybe say something along the lines of, just to give you a heads up that I spent approx $$ on fuel for ferrying the dogs back and forward to their walks every day. Happy with cash or a bank transfer as suits and see where that goes…. If they ignore or refuse please mention in the review. #fuelfriends
As @BonnyinBrighton says I experienced this on a sit over Christmas. There was no mention in the listing but I got a message before the sit asking if I was travelling there by car. When I said I was, the response was “good, because you’ll need it to take (dog) to his walks”. When I got there, seeing two cars on the drive I asked if I could use a car to take the dog to his walks but was told no. I had to take him out twice a day, approx total of 12 miles. There was no offer towards my petrol costs and my car still has his hair. I mentioned that they should consider offering petrol money to any future sitters if not offering their car. I did mention in my review that I had to drive the dog to his walks.
I must admit, I think it is a real cheek and yes, please do ask for petrol money, I didn’t and my hint obviously didn’t have an effect.
When I arrived to my current sit, the night before as she had an early flight, she asked me to drive her to the airport, in my car, no money. Like I was a free uber. I did it, but it truly put me out.
I also had a week sit, but it was second one, where I was expected to use my car to take the puppies to the dog run every day. I did it, it was second sit, didn’t know. I hate when these things are sprung on you when you get there.
I believe HOs ‘know’ what they’re doing, we got hijacked into taking a VERY reluctant dog to the Groomers, and no I didn’t pay having checked with the groomer who was paying for this event on a dry run for the dog to prep him….. the HOs suggested that they would reimburse me after- ‘Well stuff that!’ thought I and messaged ‘Actually no I don’t do that’ and that they could pay the groomer over the phone with a card. Who books a groomer appointment for a reluctant terrified dog during a 3 day trip away (for a sitter to supervise). I’ve been asked repeatedly to do more sits for them, I’ve refused each time.
Absolutely. Fuel and car cleaning, particularly if muddy. There should never be an assumption that you are using your car, it should be a request/discussion. I’ve only had one HO expect a ride to the airport; I didn’t move forward with the sit.
I wasn’t there. On the initial phone call they assumed I would arrive, empty my vehicle, and then take them to the airport in rush hour traffic in a somewhat large U.S. city. Along with checking in on their elderly parent who lived in a separate house on the same property during the stay. I declined.
I may go an another way from the different answers you already have here.
As we go to HO by car, I consider it’s a positive card on my belt. I’m sur we got selected on very appealing pet-sits because we came by car and put it on the table that because we were driving a car we could put the dog(s) in, HO can be sure we would drive dog(s) to places where they could go walking. - - Hope my english is good enough though I am not a native speaker - -
I would also consider that driving the dog to the park may be on the way to the shops or to the cafe so I don’t take the car only for the dog-park but on the same time to do the shopping or the visits.
So for me, I wouldn’t ask for a gas compensation. I would assume it is part of the deal.
And as far as driving HO to the airport or to the train station : I also do it with pleasure, and often suggest it. Without expecting money in return.
I would say that I consider free pet-sitting as giving a hand to a friend. I don’t consider it as a job. So I ask myself : Should I drive my friend’s dog to the park twice a day if needed ? Yes. Should I drive my friend to the airport if it is more convenient : Yes.
BUT in exchange I expect HO to treat me as their friend : when I ask I f I can receive my relatives for a coffee, for a lunch or for the night (if the house is suitable) : I expect a yes. And generally speaking I got a yes. Recently ,my mum (a recent widow) came some times to spend a couple of days and nights where we house sit. I always send pictures of her pampering and walking the dogs with me.
This is the way we do it and It has worked for us. We are not full-time pet-sitters but have done 40+ house sit and have been invited back by a lot of HO. Maybe it is the french way of life ?
I also totally agree with @lou28 that all these details should be discussed in advance. Everyone got his own limits. Ones can be driving to the airport, using his own car… mine is about the cleanness of the fridge : not the easiest point to discuss in advance , so I adapt (and clean the fridge if I consider it beyond my limits).
I think for future sits, I would plant the thought and see how they respond as - chances are - they just havent thought through the implications for you.
They indicate that you need to drive their dog for its walks. And then you ask, “OK, will you be able to leave me some cash to cover the fuel? Do you have covers for my back seat? How does Fido travel, is he good in the car, does he have a doggy seatbelt for me to use?”
(Disclaimer, I had no idea that dogs-in-sitters’-cars was such a hot topic until I joined this forum. They may be as clueless as me and just need a nudge )
I don’t think the problem is taking the dog in the car but for the HO to assume that it has to be done on a daily basis or even twice a day and spring it on the sitters when they arrive. If it’s a requirement, it should be clearly listed.
It’s not the same to take the dog along when sightseeing or walking for pleasure as being asked to take it specifically to a place on a regular basis.
with lunch for a start!
, so I adapt (and clean the fridge if I consider it beyond my limits).
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