Do you tip your dog walker? Occasionally clients ask if they should tip their dog walker. For some people, tipping can be a touchy subject. With dog walking, tipping is not expected but it can be greatly appreciated. When I go for personal services such as a hair-cut or manicure, tipping is not only normal but required. That also applies to when I eat in a restaurant with table service or when I pick up food I ordered to-go. When I have repair work at my home or receive large deliveries, I often question if I should tip the handy-man, plumber, installer, or delivery man. I usually choose to give a tip to these people if they were on time, courteous, and did a good job to help build an ongoing relationship.
Tipping should only be done if you are comfortable with giving it and if you feel your dog walker deserves it. If your dog walker comes regularly and does an excellent job, below are times when it may be nice to leave a tip to show your appreciation.
5 suggestions when to tip your dog walker.
- On a major holiday such as Memorial Day, 4th Of July, Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year’s.
- If your dog walker spends more time at a visit than booked cleaning up a large mess. This could be torn toys, ripped pillows, or diarrhea and/or vomit if your dog isn’t feeling well. This could also be a mess from an overflowing sink.
- If you have often have last minute requests that your dog walker is regularly able to fulfill allowing you to keep commitments.
- If your dog walker goes above and beyond with the care for your pooch always being on time, staying longer than booked to finish the job so you always come home to a well cared for and happy dog.
- Just because…
A tip doesn’t need to be large. It is true that it is the thought that counts. Giving a tip to your dog walker making him or her feel appreciated and valued can go a long way.
Do you tip your dog walker? On what occasions do you give them tips?
Thank you for the hints on this touchy subject. I wondered about tips, now I know!
Hi Leah. We are glad you found our article helpful. 🙂
Great insight! I’m a dog walker/pet sitter & have found that tipping varies largely with the location your clients live in. I used to work in the D.C. suburbs, where many of my clients left me generous tips for Christmas, as well as throughout the year ~ always for going above & beyond the regular job 🙂 As you mentioned in your post, I accommodated many last minute clients, stayed longer than booked when accidents had to be cleaned up, or emergencies occurred while a client was gone for a longer time span. One of my canine clients had chronic bladder infections, requiring a mobile vet to come to the house and treat the pup. This happened frequently while the owner was gone, which meant that I had to contact the owner, the vet, my boss, and certainly stay long beyond the paid visit length in order to accommodate the pup & the vet.
Now that we live in rural NC, things are way different on the tipping horizon, mainly because people have a different perspective, as far as I can tell. I recently received my first generous tip for a well done bird job ~ however, the owners actually moved down here from the greater D.C. area as well….
Long story short, it’s always nice to receive a tip! It does, however, need to be earned, and shouldn’t be expected for “just” doing the job!
Hi Barbara. We are so glad you liked our article on tipping and for sharing your experiences receiving tips as a dog walker/pet sitter. We absolutely agree a tip should be a thank you for a job well down and not something that is just freely given.
Very nice write-up. I definitely love this website.
Thanks!