I may have a little problem!
We are hoping to go to Tenerife for a week in Nov. My lovley friend and neigbour would love to come too but that will leave me without a dog sitter. Can anyone recomend a sitter who could cope with three hulking great Berns for a week? Walking could be a problem I know as they don't all walk as good as they should but I can call on friends to help out there, but I do need someone to be in the house with them for the week, feeding, company, etc..
Recomendations greatly apreciated.
Aileen

Where are you Aileen?

Sunny Somerset!
Aileen

Been thinking about this problem for a while, we had pet sitter firm and they stayed at night but were backwards and forwards in the day which was not enough, what people need is house swap, so you exchange pets and houses for a holiday so the pet stays in their own home and you look after the exchange dog..maybe a sevice to set up...here on champdogs..
Why I was thinking of this, a lady I go walking with daughter lives in Barbados and she is coming over here for 3 months and a family are going out to her's to stay in her house and look after her dog, sounds like a good swap to me.

I'll do it!! :-)

Well I am stunned (For want of a better word that is not rude!) I had a quote from Homesitters, to come and stay for 8 nights.. food heating lighting etc,  Walk dogs for 1 hour a day, only leaving dogs alone for no more than 3 hours in daylight or 2 hours at night, use of a vehical, phone, internet connection etc.. was....£775.00 plus travelling expences!!!! Thats nearly £100 per day..I think I'm in the wrong job :0
Aileen

Local vets..some of the nurses will do sitting. It tops up there meagre wages.Ask to speak to the nurses though the vets can not offer the service, apparently!

That is rather steep £775 PLUS expenses... I see a new job prospect on the horizon

My friend charges £30 per night, plus mileage, but she's based way up here in Grampian.  That is a complete rip off!  £775?  How can they justify that?

I have now found someone from work who is 100% reliable and has done some dog sitting for a friend (Albeit small dogs). She and her "Man" are happy to move in for the week and although they both work shifts like me ( she is a Sister and he a paramedic) meaning some 7am till 2pm or 2pm till 10 pm shifts I have lots of very supportive friends who will fill in the gaps but could not commit to a full week because of either pets of thier own, work or children. It may not be perfect but I am totally happy with all the helpers and know they will stick ridgidley to a rota. Actually looking at it now I think I have more help than needed and the girlies will probably get more company and walks than normal!! And Jo is a fitness fanatic who loves running and walking so no shortage of exersice then!!
And I have had to twist her arm to accept any kind of payment!! But will obviously see her right regardless!
Thanks for the suggestions folks.
Aileen

In reply to GCG I would have been happy to pay up to £40 per night  and thought that was reasonable.
Aileen

It's good that you found someone!  What a headache though.  Our dogs mean so much to us, but how can anyone justify nearly a thousand pounds for a week's work?  It's just taking advantage isn't it?

....£775.00 plus travelling expences!!!! Thats nearly £100 per day..I think I'm in the wrong job :0
Aileen

:-O

gobsmacked,

>That is a complete rip off!  £775?  How can they justify that?

8 nights = 176 hrs (7x24h + 8hr)
Leave dogs no more than 5hrs per day, so that's 176 - 35 (5hrs x 7 days) = 141 hrs of dog sitting services, charged @ £775 = £5.50 per hr + expenses.

£5.50 per hour is less than the minimum wage for anyone over 22 years of age.

6 years ago, I spent 4 nights away from home for my daughters wedding.. I used Animal Aunts.  The cost was just over £300 for the 4 days, plus £35 for food,(they gave me a detailed reciept for purchases and my change)  plus travelling expenses.. so much per mile but I can't remember exact mileage now..

They brought their own bedding (so I had no washing etc to do), my dogs were looked after exactly as per my instructions, and my house was cleaner than I left it..

I would use them again if needed.. the cost is of little consequence for this service..

> £5.50 per hour is less than the minimum wage for anyone over 22 years of age.

Yes you're right, the nights must be charged at less, topping up the daily hr rate ? My mum works as a support worker, night shifts that she sleeps are paid at £30 per night.

I'll re-do the sums.
8 'nights' (8hrs), charged @ £30 per night = £240
£775 total charge - £240 nights = £535 for 77hrs* = £6.95 per hour.

*176 hrs = (7x24h + 8hr) - 35 (5hrs x 7 days) = 141 hrs - 64 hrs (8 night shifts) = 77 hrs

The last time we went on holiday we left 2 dogs, 3 cats, 3 rats and a budgie at the kennels we use regularly. The two dogs are kenneled together as are 2 of the cats and the rats/budgie go in their own cages. It cost just over £200 for the whole lot for the week (we supply their food so they have the same as normal). I thought at the time that it was a lot for the week but actually it seems really cheap now!! :-D

I pay £15 a day (for the two) and provide the food for my two a BC & CS so my holiday this year for 15 days = £225 plus I bring her two kids back a pressie.
Kelly has been having our two for about 20 months now for days or weeks, she is fantastic, the dogs rush to get in, their whole back yard is astroturf, the two kids love the dogs and they have three dogs of their own. They walk out twice a day and one sleeps on the bottom of their daughters bed and one either in the crate or with one of their dogs. I hope she never ever moves away! But I know I am lucky, she also would do home visits, take a dog to the vet if for some reason the owner cant. We arrange with our vet to treat the dogs if a problem arises and charge it to our mastercard.
Failing that my brother is in the same village, our young surveyor is and there is always my Dad. I think that covers our two. (Better cover than I had for my kids)!

I still miss Whistler heaps and get excited when its time to come home and see him! doopy or what?

Bit late but we use Doggy Delight in Bristol. Always very reliable and dogs seem to really enjoy their days there. They gave us a discount when we went on holiday and charged us £15 per day. We use them for dog walking too so check them out if you ever need to again http://www.doggydelight.co.uk