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View Full Version : Is this too much to charge for dog walking?


adrianacpiranha
Jun 29, 2010, 02:46 AM
I'm 13 and unprofessional but I want to earn money this summer by dog walking. I DO have experience because we've had dogs my entire life. I'm also offering short-term pet service. So like when your on vacation I stop by and feed your pets and walk them, etc. Here is my charge:
2 visits per day:
$8/day. $45/week(7 days) w/walk; w/ litter box
$5/day, $30/week(7 days) no walk; no litter box
1 visit/day: $5 with or without walk
Just Walking: $12/half hour ($6 for 15 minutes so it sounds OK.. )
Multiple pet: +$1/day per pet

(in case you were wondering, I charge more for walks because visits do NOT guarantee full 30 minute walks, depending on how long everything else takes) Now there is no competition like ME. (unprofessional) There are professional dog walkers that charge $16 for a walk and $28 for a twice daily visit. But they have insurance, licenses, etc. So am I charging too much? (I plan to bring water, offer doggy raincoats and sweaters according to weather and scoop poop) Please any other advice will be MUCH appreciated. (PS I live in big-small city, if it makes sense)
2 hours ago - 4 days left to answer.

Aurora_Bell
Jun 29, 2010, 04:20 AM
I think it sounds reasonable. Although I am not sure if $45 a week would be reasonable, but I have never paid for those types of services before. Would you reduce the price say if it was one dog, 2 visits with 2 walks and no litter box, or are those the going rates? What about if it was just 2 visits a day and a litter change a day? (No dogs, just cats)

I like the idea of you offering to bring water, doggy clothes and pooper scoopering. Compared to the professional dog walkers, your prices seem very reasonable.

adrianacpiranha
Jun 29, 2010, 05:27 AM
Well, 8 times 7 is 56. So you'd be saving $11 that's more then a free day(: and by walk and litter box I mean if you have a cat or dog. If you have a dog that's with a walk. A cat that's with the litterbox. And if you have both I just charge one more dollar a day for multiple pet (: But still thank you so much!

Aurora_Bell
Jun 29, 2010, 07:59 AM
Okay I get it, and since you put it that way, it sounds pretty reasonable. Good luck and be careful! :)

Alty
Jun 29, 2010, 11:44 AM
Wow, you put a lot of thought into this. I'm impressed.

I think your prices are very reasonable, the only thing that I'd be concerned about is the number of visits per day. If it's a cat, 2 visits a day is reasonable. They use a litter box, and they're usually very independent animals. Dogs, well, 2 walks a day, 2 visits, I don't think that's enough.

As a dog owner I'd want someone that would come at least 3 times a day, or more, just to spend some time with the dogs, make sure they get a chance to go outside, have fresh water, haven't eaten my house. ;)

That's the only suggestion I have, other then that, wonderful service and very well thought out. I hope it works out for you. :)

Sariss
Jun 29, 2010, 05:13 PM
I think they are reasonable. I dog-sit on the side, but I don't go and visit, I live in their house.
I charge generally $25 a dog, $15 a cat per night, but I tweak it based on certain clients, how difficult/easy they are to deal with etc etc. Though I think I can get away with it as I'm a Vet Tech.

Good luck!

Alty
Jun 29, 2010, 05:39 PM
Sariss, what are you doing in August?

I'd love to find someone willing to stay here while we go away. We'd love to go camping this year, but Indy is just too old to take along. I'm not comfortable having someone just pop in a few times a day, and a kennel is out (he's 15 years old). Also, there are the bunnies (4), the bird, and the fish.

At this point it's cheaper to stay at home. :(

Sariss
Jun 29, 2010, 06:03 PM
Sariss, what are you doing in August?

I'd love to find someone willing to stay here while we go away. We'd love to go camping this year, but Indy is just too old to take along. I'm not comfortable having someone just pop in a few times a day, and a kennel is out (he's 15 years old). Also, there are the bunnies (4), the bird, and the fish.

At this point it's cheaper to stay at home. :(

Hehe I'm catsitting ALL MONTH!
Call your local clinics. A lot of time they know who does it.

KISS
Jun 29, 2010, 08:59 PM
I cat sat for a week when I friend when for training, Sleep over cat sat and I've owned dogs and eat rabbits. I trapped birds and had had fish. AND. I have a valid passport. I promise I wouldn't eat the rabbits. I get along well with dogs and rabbits.

Alty
Jun 29, 2010, 09:16 PM
I cat sat for a week when I friend when for training, Sleep over cat sat and I've owned dogs and eat rabbits. I trapped birds and had had fish. AND. I have a valid passport. I promise I wouldn't eat the rabbits. I get along well with dogs and rabbits.

KISS, as soon as you said "I eat rabbits" I pretty much stopped reading. ;)

KISS
Jun 29, 2010, 09:26 PM
I know. I know. I promise not to eat the rabbits. I had a GF that had a litter box trained one and I had no intention of using him or her for food.

There's at least one cute one out in the yard eating my beans and nectarines though.

Alty
Jun 29, 2010, 09:49 PM
I know. I know. I promise not to eat the rabbits. I had a GF that had a litter box trained one and I had no intention of using him or her for food.

There's at least one cute one out in the yard eating my beans and nectarines though.

One of mine is litter box trained, the other 3 were too old when we got them, refused to learn.

Sadly I don't think a vacation is in the cards this year. I want to, but even if we did find someone to come watch the bunnies and Indy, I'd feel horrible if something happened to Indy while we were gone.

Maybe next year we can finally go camping, if even for just a weekend.

cheekyasbaby
Feb 21, 2011, 10:51 AM
Hi, if I had a dog I b happy to pay that price for 7 days.. sounds reasonable price.. its a good price I rekon..