Do you tip a pet sitter?

[divingbiker]

My pet sitter walks my dogs every day and I pay her very well, so I don't generally tip except at Christmas and when she goes beyond the call of duty. (Like on this trip, I'm not getting home until late in the evening so I threw in extra since she's feeding them dinner.)

If it's a one shot deal, I'd probably tip the amount you suggested just to make sure she'd be willing to make time for me the next time I needed her.

[badger]

When I went away for 3 weeks in May, I advertised my place rent free in exchange for pet sitting. Considering the going rate for rent around this hood is in the $1200/mo range, I literally had to interview people for the "job".

A young couple fit the bill, and they kept my place clean and nothing was broken or stolen. And most importantly, the cats were alive and well, so I gave the couple a $20 Starbucks card when I came home. I felt maybe I should've given them more, but hey, I saved them $900 in rent so I think it was a pretty sweet deal for them.


And going off on tangent a bit, but I hate the concept of tipping, especially in restaurants where the waitstaff give poor service and still feel entitled to a tip. What's most insulting is when they automatically charge a specified amount of tip to your bill - sorry, but tips should be earned, not expected.

[Thorn]

I don't tip, but then I pay above the usual fee...well, I guess that means I tip

My cat sitter is awesome. Nothing less describes her. My cats are not people cats, they're old and they're cranky. When other people -- nice people, who like cats and treat my house and cats well -- sit for the cats, the cats are basket cases for a week after we come back.

With my sitter, on the other hand, when we get home the cats are more like, "Oh, you're home? Is the sitter coming back?" I swear they like her more than me.

So....long story short, I've given the sitter several pay raises over the years from the fee she quoted. She's worth every penny I've paid her over the years.

[roadie gal]

The only time I've tipped was when we were planning a one month trip to Australia and the "friend" who'd been saying for months that she would house sit bailed at the last minute. We found a woman who was recommended by our dog breeder who agreed to come for 2 weeks on short notice. I paid her almost double what she'd asked. (The other 2 weeks were covered by the son of a friend. I paid him well, too.) I figured it was cheaper than canceling our trip, and I really appreciated her being there.

[WolfGirl]

You people made me paranoid ...we have a lovely sitter and we've never tipped her. She charges $20 a visit though, so she's being pretty well compensated. I tip just about everyone else but it never occurred to me to tip her. Now I'm thinking maybe we should...

[divingbiker]

You people made me paranoid ...we have a lovely sitter and we've never tipped her. She charges $20 a visit though, so she's being pretty well compensated. I tip just about everyone else but it never occurred to me to tip her. Now I'm thinking maybe we should...

I think you're fine. I pay $20 a visit, too, and I think the pet sitters much prefer a regular customer (and regular income) to an occasional tip.

[Norse]

We don't tip, but do give out X-mas bonuses in the form of cash or a Target gift card. Our dog walker is very appreciative of the bonus, our house/pet sitter believes we already pay her too much for "the privilege of staying in our lovely home" and is almost embarrassed about getting a bonus.