I love the photo idea! Generally, I do just about the same things that you do. I will try to leave a handwritten thank you card to the client, as well as leave a toy or treats for the pet, and some candies or mint lifesavers for the clients. I am also an artist, so with some of my repeat clients I'll give them a portrait of their pet(s) as well that I have painted or drawn from photos that I have saved over time.
I love all of your ideas, and you seem like such a laid back, caring person which is great for your field. On my final day I used to strip the bed immediately and get the sheets in the wash, then realized that it immediately puts the dog into separation anxiety, even though me leaving is a good thing. If the dog has a yard I try to do as much of the big stuff and packing as I can while they're outside. Cleaning up is the only evidence of your stay that the owner sees, so it is important that it be done well, I always hear how happy they are with that. If they saw their home while I'm there... I'm a little messy. I used to travel light, I no longer do. I'm living away from my home more than in my home, I want some comforts of home with me
For my clients this past Christmas and Holiday season, I ordered mugs with pictures of their dogs on walks with me throughout 2022 and they were a BIG hit. I used Shutterfly and they were GREAT! I do exactly all you do at the end of a pet sit, even if I am doing drop-ins for say seven days straight. I believe in leaving the home in as good as or better shape than I found it...without going overboard. I do not do overnights (since Nov 2022) at the moment as I have AFib and I found it too stressful to drop in several times a day, take care of my other pets, feed my own cat, and then stay overnight with the dog sit. I do love all my pets, however, and I am glad I chose this profession. I am a retired nurse. I only work with dogs and cats. I only take as many as I can handle as an Independent contractor for a word-of-mouth pet service.
I so appreciate all your tips and advice. I have been walking dogs for just about two years. I do most of these things you suggest but I can’t wait to implement the new tips. Thanks again for all the work you do to help us out and for the pets
7:18 omigersh! So cute. My favorite part of pet sits is the dog walking aspects. I would have said playing with the dogs, but amazingly I come across a lot of dogs that don't have toys or don't play with toys. And so the only interaction I get with them is out and about on our walls. But when I do get a dog that is obsessed about their toys it is definitely a joy to see them enjoy themselves in play time
I have just come across your channel and found it really useful - thank you. I'm based in the UK, and when I lost my own dog after 12 years together, I decided to join a UK house and pet sitter website to get started. After several successful live-in sits and excellent reviews, I then went private and am now booked up into 2024. All of my jobs are live-in and much of what you recommend at the end of each sit I already do. My client appreciates coming home to a clean house with flowers, milk and bread on their return, especially if they have been travelling. I now have a lot of repeat business which is great as you know exactly what to expect. One thing to advise anyone thinking about starting in this business is to get insurance. It's cheap and covers you should anything untoward happen whilst living in someone's home with their animals. it also reassures first-time clients. You really do get to know how people live when you live their lives for the time they are away! It's the most fascinating and life-affirming job and I love it.
Hi Janine, I'm also in the UK and looking into starting my own pet sitting/dog walking business (hence me being here!) . However I need to replace my current wage so it looks like I'll be needing to earn £163 per day taking into account being able to pay myself holidays, pay tax, pay into pension and not lose any earnings. Its high! May I ask you what you charge per hour/per stay? I'm trying to get a feel of what prices tend to be! I've seen some crazy people charging like £25 for a whole overnight stay!! Madness
@@appalachiangirluk9960 Hi, nice to hear from you. When I got jobs through the website, I was not able to charge anything other than travel costs which is why I decided to go private. Hate to tell you I charge £20 a day for 1 or 2 pets and £30 for anything over that, plus .50p per mile for travel costs. It's unlikely you will be able to earn£163 per day unless you are somewhere like London or another big city where people might be prepared to pay better rates. Have a look at what they would be charged to kennel their pets and maybe set your daily rate accordingly. Also look on line to see what the going rate is in the UK. I am retired which is why I don't need to earn so much, I do this more for the love of it than anything else. Good luck, hope you are successful
Just getting into this here in Central Florida as well and trying to weigh the differences between starting with Rover or Self starting. Hopefully some of your other videos will help make up my mind. While living at a Rescue of sorts, often having my dog by my feet, as we slept on a twin bed, there were as many as 17 cats and kittens sleeping on the bed with us! Living and constantly cleaning there, we also helped another with about 200-300 at it. That woman and her MASSIVE Rottweiler literally slept on a bathroom floor and shower/tub area…even forfeited her own bedroom to the cause. One of her more affluent friends wanted me to stay at her home for about 2 weeks for free, because I should just want to stay at a nicer… home. No way was I going to upset my dog in the ways I was hearing but, throw the cats and kittens back home into a dither? Many there were straight up feral cats and kittens that I worked with to become less fearful and more domesticated with loads of cuddle time and play…Someone questioned my even watching this video, when I hadn’t even gotten started with it and it’s because this comes up for me, a lot more often than they realize, even without a business or pay, so I can only imagine when I get started at doing this professionally!lol. I’ve been entrusted in MANY homes and MANY very wealthy homes and families from Home Care to Hospice, with people of all ages and house and pet sitting in the past. Thank you for these informational videos that will help get me started, away from the emotional aspects and more into the business mindsets of it. The “Rescue mindsets” of both dogs and cats, are indeed diabolically hysterical at times, being driven by our sometimes wounded hearts, way more than common senses and even instincts, at times. I can help more in those areas, IF my finances are in a better position to do so. The amount of manipulations and claims to “need more hands on deck, boots on the ground…” are proven false by their own very obstinate ways and calculated efforts that faithfully bring about far more damages than any progressive movements forward and in head spinning ways, so much so that I HAD TO back out fully. Demanding I turn water to wine levels of insane requests or nothing, I opted with nothing UNTIL I get my OWN shored up! lol. I have my colony and help a different friend who has more, spread out and that’s it, until I get up and going.
Doug, I started pet sitting/dog walking 4 years ago. I'm great with pets and very accomadating to my clients. But I lacked knowledge on the business side of this career. I've learned so much from your content. Especially recognizing "red flags" and knowing my worth. Thank you so much for creating these videos!
Hey, I just found your channel! I primarily do overnight pet sitting and it’s the majority of my income. I want to get things more organized as a real business now that things have really picked up quickly! I started around December and I’m pretty much booked through the summer. Gonna be binging your content!
@@WZech-ly8dm Hey there- at the time I posted that comment, I was charging 60 a night and it did include mid-day visits. That is a lot less than I should have been charging but I also live in a rural small town. I have since raised my prices to 100 a night for clients other than a couple of regulars that I have. And I’m shifting gears to focus more on day only services.
I need to go up on my prices, I'm at $65/night and I'm there much of the day. My clients are insanely wealthy they can afford it. I've stopped doing pet sitting for people I know personally. It's too hard to establish a business mode with them and they always ask for more than I want to do. It's easier to have boundaries with people whom I met as offering my service.
That doggie looks so sweet!
I love the photo idea! Generally, I do just about the same things that you do. I will try to leave a handwritten thank you card to the client, as well as leave a toy or treats for the pet, and some candies or mint lifesavers for the clients. I am also an artist, so with some of my repeat clients I'll give them a portrait of their pet(s) as well that I have painted or drawn from photos that I have saved over time.
I love all of your ideas, and you seem like such a laid back, caring person which is great for your field. On my final day I used to strip the bed immediately and get the sheets in the wash, then realized that it immediately puts the dog into separation anxiety, even though me leaving is a good thing. If the dog has a yard I try to do as much of the big stuff and packing as I can while they're outside. Cleaning up is the only evidence of your stay that the owner sees, so it is important that it be done well, I always hear how happy they are with that. If they saw their home while I'm there... I'm a little messy. I used to travel light, I no longer do. I'm living away from my home more than in my home, I want some comforts of home with me
For my clients this past Christmas and Holiday season, I ordered mugs with pictures of their dogs on walks with me throughout 2022 and they were a BIG hit. I used Shutterfly and they were GREAT!
I do exactly all you do at the end of a pet sit, even if I am doing drop-ins for say seven days straight. I believe in leaving the home in as good as or better shape than I found it...without going overboard. I do not do overnights (since Nov 2022) at the moment as I have AFib and I found it too stressful to drop in several times a day, take care of my other pets, feed my own cat, and then stay overnight with the dog sit. I do love all my pets, however, and I am glad I chose this profession. I am a retired nurse. I only work with dogs and cats. I only take as many as I can handle as an Independent contractor for a word-of-mouth pet service.
I have done mugs before also and everyone loved them! Thanks for commenting!
I so appreciate all your tips and advice. I have been walking dogs for just about two years. I do most of these things you suggest but I can’t wait to implement the new tips. Thanks again for all the work you do to help us out and for the pets
7:18 omigersh! So cute. My favorite part of pet sits is the dog walking aspects. I would have said playing with the dogs, but amazingly I come across a lot of dogs that don't have toys or don't play with toys. And so the only interaction I get with them is out and about on our walls. But when I do get a dog that is obsessed about their toys it is definitely a joy to see them enjoy themselves in play time
I have just come across your channel and found it really useful - thank you.
I'm based in the UK, and when I lost my own dog after 12 years together, I decided to join a UK house and pet sitter website to get started.
After several successful live-in sits and excellent reviews, I then went private and am now booked up into 2024.
All of my jobs are live-in and much of what you recommend at the end of each sit I already do. My client appreciates coming home to a clean house with flowers, milk and bread on their return, especially if they have been travelling.
I now have a lot of repeat business which is great as you know exactly what to expect.
One thing to advise anyone thinking about starting in this business is to get insurance. It's cheap and covers you should anything untoward happen whilst living in someone's home with their animals. it also reassures first-time clients.
You really do get to know how people live when you live their lives for the time they are away! It's the most fascinating and life-affirming job and I love it.
Hi Janine,
I'm also in the UK and looking into starting my own pet sitting/dog walking business (hence me being here!) . However I need to replace my current wage so it looks like I'll be needing to earn £163 per day taking into account being able to pay myself holidays, pay tax, pay into pension and not lose any earnings. Its high! May I ask you what you charge per hour/per stay? I'm trying to get a feel of what prices tend to be! I've seen some crazy people charging like £25 for a whole overnight stay!! Madness
@@appalachiangirluk9960 Hi, nice to hear from you. When I got jobs through the website, I was not able to charge anything other than travel costs which is why I decided to go private.
Hate to tell you I charge £20 a day for 1 or 2 pets and £30 for anything over that, plus .50p per mile for travel costs. It's unlikely you will be able to earn£163 per day unless you are somewhere like London or another big city where people might be prepared to pay better rates.
Have a look at what they would be charged to kennel their pets and maybe set your daily rate accordingly. Also look on line to see what the going rate is in the UK.
I am retired which is why I don't need to earn so much, I do this more for the love of it than anything else. Good luck, hope you are successful
Just found you! Can’t wait to explore all the other videos 😊
Just getting into this here in Central Florida as well and trying to weigh the differences between starting with Rover or Self starting. Hopefully some of your other videos will help make up my mind. While living at a Rescue of sorts, often having my dog by my feet, as we slept on a twin bed, there were as many as 17 cats and kittens sleeping on the bed with us! Living and constantly cleaning there, we also helped another with about 200-300 at it. That woman and her MASSIVE Rottweiler literally slept on a bathroom floor and shower/tub area…even forfeited her own bedroom to the cause. One of her more affluent friends wanted me to stay at her home for about 2 weeks for free, because I should just want to stay at a nicer… home. No way was I going to upset my dog in the ways I was hearing but, throw the cats and kittens back home into a dither? Many there were straight up feral cats and kittens that I worked with to become less fearful and more domesticated with loads of cuddle time and play…Someone questioned my even watching this video, when I hadn’t even gotten started with it and it’s because this comes up for me, a lot more often than they realize, even without a business or pay, so I can only imagine when I get started at doing this professionally!lol. I’ve been entrusted in MANY homes and MANY very wealthy homes and families from Home Care to Hospice, with people of all ages and house and pet sitting in the past. Thank you for these informational videos that will help get me started, away from the emotional aspects and more into the business mindsets of it. The “Rescue mindsets” of both dogs and cats, are indeed diabolically hysterical at times, being driven by our sometimes wounded hearts, way more than common senses and even instincts, at times. I can help more in those areas, IF my finances are in a better position to do so. The amount of manipulations and claims to “need more hands on deck, boots on the ground…” are proven false by their own very obstinate ways and calculated efforts that faithfully bring about far more damages than any progressive movements forward and in head spinning ways, so much so that I HAD TO back out fully. Demanding I turn water to wine levels of insane requests or nothing, I opted with nothing UNTIL I get my OWN shored up! lol. I have my colony and help a different friend who has more, spread out and that’s it, until I get up and going.
Doug,
I started pet sitting/dog walking 4 years ago.
I'm great with pets and very accomadating to my clients.
But I lacked knowledge on the business side of this career.
I've learned so much from your content.
Especially recognizing "red flags" and knowing my worth.
Thank you so much for creating these videos!
Doug your awesome.
Thank you so much!!
Gidget is so friggin cute
Hey, I just found your channel! I primarily do overnight pet sitting and it’s the majority of my income. I want to get things more organized as a real business now that things have really picked up quickly!
I started around December and I’m pretty much booked through the summer. Gonna be binging your content!
Congrats on your new business! And thanks for watching and commenting! Reach out if I can be of help!
Wow, congratulations! Just curious what price range your Overnight stays are, and if they include mid-day visits, or strictly Overnight hours?
@@WZech-ly8dm Hey there- at the time I posted that comment, I was charging 60 a night and it did include mid-day visits. That is a lot less than I should have been charging but I also live in a rural small town. I have since raised my prices to 100 a night for clients other than a couple of regulars that I have. And I’m shifting gears to focus more on day only services.
I need to go up on my prices, I'm at $65/night and I'm there much of the day. My clients are insanely wealthy they can afford it. I've stopped doing pet sitting for people I know personally. It's too hard to establish a business mode with them and they always ask for more than I want to do. It's easier to have boundaries with people whom I met as offering my service.
I do pretty much the same things you do. And I also always leave a thank you card at least for the first time I do it or if it's especially long stay.
Nice!
I love doing overnight pet sitting! I do some of the things you’ve mentioned as well but also have some things to consider!
I love it too! Thanks for watching and commenting!
Thank you, Doug!
Great ideas Doug. I also love your 'Traveling Gigs'. I'm interested in your Pet Sitting Course. Is it on your website? I'll take another look.
Thank you! The course isn’t available yet but will be soon! I’m still working on it!
@DougtheDogGuy That sounds great. Let me know right away! I left my Email in your newsletter thingy..
Erik
I'm also waiting for your pet sitter course. Can't wait!
Addendum to my previous message: I use Whatsapp to communicate with my clients, send them photos and also a report just prior to their return
What company do you use to create branded newsletters and thank you cards?
I use Vistaprint for most things
Thank you very much for the informative vids, I appreciate it very much! And for that..thou hast Subsribed to thine You Tube Channel.👍
Thank you so much!!
I love doing overnight pet sitting! I do some of the things you’ve mentioned as well but also have some things to consider!