Having been let down by a 'friend' who was letting my dogs out during the day while I am at work, how much would you pay someone who passes your house twice a day (11ish and 1.30ish) to call in and let them out?  She literally drives past the door twice a day and has offered to do this for nothing, but I want to be fair and pay her.

I would suggest £5?  I know it's only £2.50 a visit, but if you were to give her this on a weekly basis, it would be a nice little unexpected sum - and would definitely give incentive not to "let you down."

Difficult to know how much an hour to advise really.  I have someone in during the day while I'm at work, so they can be let out as often as they want.  But I swear he spends most of the day laid on my settee, covered in dogs, watching John Wayne movies!  

It is such a relief to have someone reliable, you want to hang on to them.  :-)

I think £5 is about right, I let out a dog twice a week, and spend probably 20 minutes with it, and the woman give's me £10.

JeanSW and Kenya that is precisely the amount I was thinking of.  For her to call in five days a week would gain her £25 which I think would be a reasonable benefit to her, and I get equal (or in my opinion, more) benefit.  She comes in before she goes to work for a few minutes, then again after work, at which time she has a coffee and a bit of a relax while my older dog mooches about and my youngster plays in his 'play-pen' (which is 25'x8').  I think I'll pay her in full even on days when I'm not doing a full day and when she doesn't need to call in two times as then she gets the same money regardless, and during holiday times like Easter, as it will be an incentive to her to continue being reliable.  She's exceptional with the dogs (she used to be involved in obedience training) and is extremely safety conscious and sensible.

Thanks folks.

lucky in that oh comes home for lunch where hes not working from home but have to say 10 pounds a week seems fair.

Rather than pay, could you not buy her a nice gift? Voucher for a massage or something like that. If she doesnt want paying she may feel awkward accepting moeny but a gift like that  every now and again would show how much you appreciate it. You could even write it from your dog so she cant blame you or refuse to take it!:-)

That's a good idea too Freds Mum

I agree with Freds Mum (I especially like the idea of the gift being from the dog :-))

I sometimes pop in to see to my friends dogs and she leaves me £5 (even though its good to have a bit of extra cash, I would quite happily do it for free but she insists on paying me) - I always leave her little notes and tell her what me & the dogs have been up to.