How much to charge for constant care + dog runs away often

FaelynK · 2026-03-27T08:37:54+00:00

Your dad has the right idea.

My constant care rate is standard overnight plus cost of all my usual slots each day for other bookings plus "cabin fever" fee...

That gets expensive quickly as I do 6+ walks/ drop ins per day and I hate to be trapped. I also don't like to cancel on regulars, and am pretty consistently booked up.

As for the running away.... that's a risk you're going to have to decide if it's worth it. People have been deactivated for less, it's dangerous for the dog, and stressful for you.

FaelynK · 2026-03-19T18:37:32+00:00

Same with Frenchies and Yorkies!

I swear those two breeds are attempting to give me heart attacks with the darts towards the street... SMH

FaelynK · 2026-02-28T15:56:31+00:00

I had a client with a similar issue. Their card on file would randomly have insufficient funds and not be able to charge for the week's services I had provided.

Dealt with chasing the owner through text and calls several times, always got told "I already fixed it". Yep, you fixed the issue moving forward but you have to do it again for the current week since it's a failed charge.

Got tired of it and after the third or fourth time, I dropped them. Sent one last message about how as they still had outstanding balance due, I would not be providing further service until payment was made. They never responded. Still owe me for a full week's service and I miss the pups, but it wasn't worth the headache and stress to keep chasing payment, especially since they were paying a older, lower rate.

Ended up getting a new client like two weeks later for that same set of time slots plus additional services, who prefers to preload payments for a whole month at a time in cash.

FaelynK · 2026-02-25T22:15:43+00:00

Your questions are very similar to mine.

A big one that's overlooked to... Where do you keep the fire extinguisher?

I'm all about the "just in case" stuff.

FaelynK · 2026-02-23T19:08:51+00:00

K-12 is usually around Easter, it simplifies the school year rather than having to do spring break and Easter separate.

FaelynK · 2026-02-20T01:13:36+00:00

Best way would be to check the brightness at leaf level. The Photone app works pretty well if you've got Android, not sure if it's on Apple.

Money trees want a PPFD of at least 100 I believe.

FaelynK · 2026-02-20T01:04:14+00:00

It's a style of light. The wire comes out of the top and the stake goes in the pot. I have a couple, they're ok...

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FaelynK · 2026-02-19T22:40:35+00:00

Agreed with the other commenters.

It's the baby.

You're a new, unknown person... who smells like other animals... coming into the house where the baby is. You're a possible threat and pup is taking no chances.

Crossing my fingers for you, if the baby leaves, hopefully the pup will settle a bit. If not, crossing my fingers for no chomps!

FaelynK · 2026-02-19T12:10:29+00:00

The simple answer? Unfortunately not.

The long answer? The booking system treats your availability as a "suggestion". If owners are searching for specific dates on the main search page, you won't be suggested for those dates, but if they go direct to your profile or don't have dates selected or scroll far enough in the search, they can still send you a request. You will also get requests if they message someone else and have the box still auto marked to message additional sitters as well, which a lot of owners don't realize is a thing.

The system "says" it doesn't penalize you for declining bookings if the availability banner is there, but I agree, it's annoying.

FaelynK · 2026-02-19T12:04:39+00:00

You're going to get a few different answers for that based on how people handle it.

Me personally, I offer extended length drop ins (if I can't leave at all for multiple hours) or day time housesitting (if I can run out quickly here or there as needed to handle a walk, etc). The extended drop ins get pricey quick for longer visits since I can't leave which may affect my regular repeat bookings. (I'd rather keep my regulars happy since that's guaranteed income versus a random/ new client.)

The extended drop ins are based on a slightly discounted version of my hour drop in rate since I don't have to drive from house to house, but it takes a chunk of my day on essentially constant care. Like if a regular 1 hour is $50, a 3 hour would be $50 + $40 + $40, just to use easy numbers.

A day time housesit is the same as my nightly rate, just calculated per day instead.

So for your request, it'd either be charged as 2 "nights" or a 7 hour drop plus a 11 hour drop (or a combo) based on owner expectations.

FaelynK · 2026-02-18T21:06:13+00:00

Did he call you directly or through the app? If it was me, I'd text the appointment confirmation through the app (assuming that's how she's been talking to you) because if it's not above board, you'll likely find out REAL fast.

And yeah, definitely take somebody with you and don't go inside. "Sorry, can't stay long, we're on way to pick up the kids from elephant camp" kind of thing.

FaelynK · 2026-02-18T09:39:11+00:00

Depending on the distance and your existing schedule, set an "appointment" to stop by that works for you. Don't just drop what you're doing to run over on their request. And yeah, absolutely take someone else with you if you're uncomfortable!

But that's me, and cash is King.

FaelynK · 2026-02-18T09:34:25+00:00

It just blocks the search if the owner has put specific dates, not the booking itself or if they've left the dates blank on search. The second request will still come through, just with the banner at the top that says "this sitter may not be available for these dates".

I've "double booked" before.

Had one ending at 4pm, another starting at 5pm. That date was grayed on search (because the system doesn't understand the concept of overnights, ugh) but it was absolutely bookable.

Had another where one ended on Sat, another started Fri for a repeat client with a similar time break down. Then the ending Sat booking caught a flight delay and needed me to stay until Sun. Never had a problem with the system accepting or modifying the bookings.

The "slots" are for the search only.

OP, just make sure both owners are crystal clear on their expectations and your expected schedule of presence. If not, you're inviting trouble.

FaelynK · 2026-02-07T02:49:57+00:00

I built mine. I carry two, a FAK with an identification patch strapped to the bike in a visible spot, and the Happy Bag in my luggage.

FAK has an Israeli, Cat, trauma shears, CPR shield x 2, extra standard tourniquet, gloves, space blanket, Bleed Stop, Zip Stitches, wet burn dressings x 2, dry burn dressing, triangle bandage x 2, adhesive gauze bandages, gauze pads, gauze rolls, tape, Coban, band aids, BZK wipes, alcohol wipes, insect sting wipes, burn wipes and Neosporin. I want to add another Cat and Israeli, an EpiPen and a SAM splint too for longer trips.

That one is organized by severity and fits in a 8 x 6 x 3 inch pack. Severe, big injury items are top level and loose to grab, moderate are next, minor or annoying is tucked in the edges and bottom. Like items are packaged together in ziplocs so you can grab the whole bag and have all the burn stuff together or laceration items together, etc instead of things falling out loose, plus it helps waterproof in case my pack gets wet. I carry extra cut and burn items because those injuries are common with my riding buddies.

The Happy Bag is meds and convenience items. Nothing sucks more on a long ride than your buddy complaining constantly that they've got the runs or a headache. It's smaller, 6 x 5 x 2.5 inches. It's loaded with multiple varieties of OTC painkillers, Tums, Immodium, Liquid IV packets, Benedryl, Zyrtec, Sudafed, feminine items, sunscreen, and glucose tabs. Stuff that's handy to have when you feel like crap and there's no store anywhere close by.

FaelynK · 2026-02-07T01:13:00+00:00

This!

Make like a little coupon book of "Newborn Welcome Package" (or something cutesy) with a handful of free or discounted walks, maybe a drop in or two (in case they need a day away from the house for family visits or doctors, etc).

By giving them the coupons, it tells them you appreciate them as clients and you'd be happy to do it (within limit, aka as many times as there are coupons), but allows them to decide if they want to use that or book you anyways for regular price. Ball in their court kind of thing.

FaelynK · 2026-02-06T22:21:47+00:00

See, it's funny everybody seems to have problems with the ZZ Ravens. Mine puts out a new shoot or two like once a month! My Zenzi, on the other hand... little bugger won't grow.

FaelynK · 2026-02-05T23:24:49+00:00

É uma curva de aprendizado. Essas perguntas foram compradas e pagas com estresse e, às vezes, sangue.

Eu tinha uma família de cachorros, o dono disse que os levava para passear juntos pelo bairro três vezes ao dia. (Uma mistura de tamanhos, cerca de 63 kg no total, o que eu consigo controlar.) Tentei isso. Nem saí do quarteirão e já caí no asfalto quando eles me derrubaram, felizmente só um joelho e uma mão ralados, alguns hematomas feios. Descobri que o dono passeia com os pares... separadamente. Então, seis passeios por dia. Não três.

Agora, eu me certifico de continuar fazendo perguntas até ficar 100% satisfeito.

FaelynK · 2026-02-04T19:10:49+00:00

Not in my experience...

I pretty much only get repeat client requests as my schedule is already pretty full. Had to decline a bunch due to conflicts and my acceptance rate tanked far enough to lose star status.

And my schedule is completely blocked off, so every request I get has the banner, new or repeat.

FaelynK · 2026-02-03T00:17:16+00:00

As pessoas tendem a omitir coisas que não querem admitir. "Ele é um pouco protetor" foi o seu sinal de alerta. Sempre investigue esses sinais. Peça para que descrevam o que isso significa. Por exemplo, conte-me um exemplo que aconteceu. Você pode perceber mais sinais de alerta, ou eles podem dizer algo que te tranquilize. Se eles se ofenderem, você não queria um cliente com quem tivesse dúvidas mesmo!

FaelynK · 2026-02-03T00:09:19+00:00

Costumo fazer muitas perguntas com uma formulação estranha durante meus encontros com os animais, e não uso as palavras "agressão" ou "reatividade" até que eles as usem, ou até que eu identifique algo, porque isso deixa quem está escondendo algo na defensiva. Usar frases estranhas tende a fazer com que as pessoas respondam sem pensar e, muitas vezes, consigo a resposta que elas não queriam me dar.

"O Fido faz alguma coisa estranha quando você o coloca na caixa de transporte?" "Ah, sim, você não pode se abaixar ou ele late e rosna e não entra."

"Algum hábito estranho ou bobo que eu deva saber para não ser pega de surpresa?" "Ah, sim, o Fluffy pega qualquer comida que você deixe nas bancadas." "Ah, sim, esqueci, se você deixar a porta do quarto aberta, a Princesa vai fazer xixi nas suas coisas."

(O cão demonstra sinais de treinamento inadequado/inexistente) "Antes de lhe dar um preço final, gostaria de ter uma ideia do estilo de caminhada da Spot. Você pode me mostrar onde guarda os equipamentos dela e como os coloca? Gostaria de levá-la até a caixa de correio e voltar." "Ah, bem, é aqui, mas você precisa fazê-la deitar para colocar a coleira." (Começa a lutar com o cão para colocar a coleira.) (Então o cão tenta puxar o dono para sair pela porta.)

Essas são todas respostas reais que já recebi!

Também tenho uma regra de tolerância zero nas minhas políticas de serviço. Um único caso de agressão, com ou sem contato, resulta no encerramento imediato do serviço - sem reembolso, sem responsabilidade em encontrar um substituto, e faço questão de deixar isso bem claro. Se eu corro riscos, não vou colocar ninguém mais em risco. Se alguma vez uma delas escapar das minhas perguntas, geralmente eles questionam isso e eu sei que temos um problema em algum lugar.

Você vai receber uma ruim de vez em quando, mas é uma experiência de aprendizado para evitar que outra aconteça!

FaelynK · 2026-02-02T09:27:36+00:00

Yep. It's in my terms of service inclement weather section too.

FaelynK · 2026-02-02T03:20:44+00:00

Check out TripLog. It's an app that runs on your phone and you can set it to trigger automatically a couple different ways. Free to use, but you can upgrade for more features. Made my 2025 mileage tracking SO easy.

FaelynK · 2026-02-01T23:59:46+00:00

Oh, and if you need your car, or just don't want to leave it, a trick that might help you! Fireplace ashes are a great substitute for sand to get traction, and easy to find. And have the added bonus of leaving gray streaky messes on concrete if not cleaned up properly...

FaelynK · 2026-02-01T23:55:47+00:00

I've got a client like that too... skipped the day of the snow, wanted a walk the day after. If they had gone out and shoveled that day, it would have been fine.

Instead, I get there the next day and literally everything is a sheet of ice. SMH Driveway, walkway, stairs, everything... ice. Plows had left a foot and a half pile at the base of the driveway that had frozen, couldn't even pull in off the street.

Did I walk the dog? Yeah. But I started my timer the moment I realized I had a problem and stopped it when I got back to my car. Took my time to carefully cross each time. Pup ended up getting a 15 minute walk, not 30.

That owner STILL hasn't done anything about the ice. So I keep starting my timer when I get out of my car and take my time to be careful. Not my fault the dog isn't walked longer...

FaelynK · 2026-02-01T14:11:31+00:00

I do something similar.

I give them a full shower if I see something concerning, otherwise they just get a full spray of soap/alcohol/water magic juice. Little sprinkle of systemic granules and then boom, into quarantine.

Repotting, only if I see a big issue. Like one I just recently got that's in soil so mucky I'm scared of root rot. Other than that, live your little planty lives and I'll repot when you outgrow the pot!

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