Tipping a dog boarder?

[cantdrv55]

There’s a lady in town who takes in dogs for boarding for extended stays. She runs the business from her home and has 3-5 dogs at a time. We left our dog with her for 12 days and will be picking up our pet this Sunday. Is a tip customary? She charges $75 a day to house dogs but you provide food and bedding.

[LWJ]

Someone told me that if you are dealing with the owner, a tip is far less important. This seems the case here. If she does an exceptional job you could bake her brownies or something. $75/day is a boat load. We pay top shelf rate in Oregon and I think it is $50/day? Also, I never tip our dog boarding people - they are owners. Just like my clients never tipped me. I'm ok with this.

[Alan A]

75 a day is cheap. it's 2x that here.

[masraum]

If you think you're underpaying and you think that they did a great job, then I think you should tip.

I haven't put a dog in a kennel in many years and can't remember what it cost when we did, so I can't help determine if $75/day is high or low or what (and I suspect that's regional and based on the facility and what that boarding includes).

[Baz]

I would GLADLY pay MORE than a measly $75/day if some did a responsible job looking after my babies while I was away.

I have no idea what the norm is - I always do what I feel is right.

If they did a good job I would tip them at least a $100 bill inside a nice THANK YOU card. And make sure you say some nice things in that card!

[Roswell]

If they did a good job I would tip them at least a $100 bill inside a nice THANK YOU card. And make sure you say some nice things in that card!

Yep...in a heartbeat.

[70SATMan]

Other than the dog not being obviously injured, underfed or traumatized, how would one even know if a “good job” was done?

[varmint]

Originally Posted by 70SATMan

Other than the dog not being obviously injured, underfed or traumatized, how would one even know if a “good job” was done?

Last time the boarder would send daily proof of life videos. The dogs running around playing and generally being happy. I consider that a good job.

Hav-e a fear that the boys would just be stuffed in crates for a week.




But times four dogs it’s just too expensive now. We are trapped forever.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by 70SATMan

Other than the dog not being obviously injured, underfed or traumatized, how would one even know if a “good job” was done?

If the dawg wags their tail when ya pick 'em up ?

Left mine once ... her tail surely was ....as she blew past me too check out the two young ladies entering the front door behind us... I wuz crushed

That's my only experience .... I didn't tip

[70SATMan]

Originally Posted by varmint

Last time the boarder would send daily proof of life videos. The dogs running around playing and generally being happy. I consider that a good job.

Now for that, I'd consider a tip.. We've only boarded ours twice and it killed us to do it. Luckily, we've a daughter that's only a half mile away. She gets paid well, "No Tip for you!"

[Randolph]

Cost is definitely location dependent. My mom boarded her little dog for 7 days, daily videos were sent of running around the yard with other dogs, playing. Nightly updates on him. Cost was $250 for the week, my mom did bring the food he likes. I know she tipped just not sure how much. She lives in western Mass, rural suburbia.

[dad911]

We used to use a local woman also, miss her, she retired.

Always tipped her.

[Steve Carlton]

I'm gone to work 11 hours/day including commute, so I have someone let the dogs into the yard on those days. I don't like the idea of leaving them in a kennel, so I have the girl who lets the dogs out stay in my house when I go out of town. I told her I thought $75/day was fair and she agreed. I don't know what 3 dogs would run at a kennel.

[Bill Douglas]

Bring her a nice bottle of wine as an extra thank you.