Tipping Guide for Pet Professionals
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Gratuities can be a bone of contention among many pet parents. They shouldn’t be, though. We entrust others with the light of our lives and they should be rewarded if they are trustworthy and go above and beyond the call of duty.
Good people are hard to find. Particularly when you’re trusting them with your kids and pets. This is why you’ll want to take care of the ones you have come to rely on.
Do you tip your pet sitters? Your doormen? Your trainer? If so, we want to hear from you. Let us know how much and how often you reward those who are care for you and your pets.
Meanwhile, here are our recommendations on tipping and gratuities (during the holidays and every other time) for all those who assist with your pet…
[heading style=”3″ color=”#006666″ style_color=”#006666″]Pet Sitters[/heading]
10-20% (each time) / Cost of one visit (per week of service) or 20% for daily visit
Our pets are our kids and if you have found a good pet sitter, one you trust implicitly, who takes time to leave you handwritten updates and who can be relied on in an emergency, it’s to your advantage to keep them happy and well paid. That said, you should tip after each trip and include a holiday bonus if you use them frequently.
10-20% (each time) / Cost of 1-2 grooming sessions (as a Holiday Bonus)
Good groomers can be hard to find, so if you find one you love, keep them wanting to help you and your pup. Most recommend doing an annual tip for the holidays in the amount of 1-2 grooming sessions.
[heading style=”3″ color=”#006666″ style_color=”#006666″]Trainers and Behaviorists[/heading]10-20% (each time) / Cost of 1-2 training sessions (Holiday Bonus)
A well-behaved dog and cat is priceless, so if your trainer has done an amazing job helping your dog or cat behave normally around company, you should reward them. the typical holiday bonus for ongoing training sessions during the holiday averages the cost of 1-2 sessions.
[heading style=”3″ color=”#006666″ style_color=”#006666″]Dog Walkers[/heading]10-20% (each time) / Cost of 1-2 daily sessions (Holiday Bonus)
A good dog walker is hard to find. If your pets jumps with joy at the site of your dog walker, you should reward them. The typical annual bonus is the cost of 1-2 sessions.
[heading style=”3″ color=”#006666″ style_color=”#006666″]Doggy Daycare or Kennel Staff[/heading]10-20% (each time) / Cost of 1-2 sessions (Holiday Bonus)
If you regularly leave your pets at doggie day care, you should definitely be tipping them. The normal amount is $10-20 per staff member, but you could also send a nice little basket of food (or maybe some doggy wine).
[heading style=”3″ color=”#006666″ style_color=”#006666″]Veterinarian[/heading]Holiday Bonus: Not needed (but you should consider a nice holiday basket as a gift for office staff)
Don’t worry about tipping your vet! That would be like tipping your healthcare provider. Instead, consider a nice basket of chocolate-dipped fruit, cookies, or just a thank you note to staff if your pet has been in on a regular basis.
