How much do you pay a teenage dog sitter - (explained) (2023)

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High school often comes with a big milestone: make your own money! Many teenagers and high school students love dogs and have cared for pets for several years. Because of this experience and passion, teenagers often offer pet care services to their family friends, neighbors, and family members.

But how much should you pay a teenager to babysit your dogs?

Teens can afford to charge a lower fee for pet sitting, typically $10 to $15 per hour for visits or walks, or $25 to $50 per night for overnight stays. Most high school students have a school schedule to take care of, so determining the weekly and monthly rates can be difficult.

As you can see, hiring teenagers and high school students is much more cost-effective. However, hiring a young and in-school employee comes with its own set of challenges. Let's look at how much you should pay a teenager for each service, as well as the pros and cons of hiring a teenager for your pet sitting job.

How much do you pay a teenager: quick guide

We'll explain exactly how we arrive at these numbers, but if you just want a quick look, you can check out this table:

How much do you pay a teenager to drop in?

If you are looking for a teenage pet sitter, the best way to visit is on an impromptu visit. Drop-in visits mean the teen only has to come to your house to look after your dog and this minimizes the chances of incidents.

When considering how much to pay your teenage pet sitter, there are a few factors to consider.

Drop-In Obligations

Teens and high schoolers are capable, burgeoning young adults, but they are still children who need guidance and patience. If you are hiring a teenage dog sitter, remember that they are not professionals and may need to have easier or fewer responsibilities to be successful as your pet sitter.

The responsibilities of the drop-in sitter greatly affect how much they should be paid. A sitter who simply has to potty the dog and feed him dinner will earn a lower fee than a sitter who has to walk the dog, feed him, scoop out the litter box, administer medication, etc. These tasks will take more time and effort and should also be paid more for teenagers!

Multiple pets

For almost every sitter, friend, teenager, or professional, the more pets you have, the more labor intensive your job as a pet sitter becomes. Although related to tax obligations, households with multiple pets require more time, effort and often entail greater risk.

Walking two dogs can be much more difficult than walking one dog and requires a certain level of skill to be successful. I have seen that people of all ages possess the skills required to successfully handle a dog or dogs and they deserve fair reward for this very special skill!

number of visits

How often your sitter has to come to your home can have a large impact on the cost of their services.If your pets require multiple visits per day, the pet sitter must account for that time, the commute to your home, and the disruption to their day. Because of this, they often charge per visit or a higher daily rate.

It can be difficult to find a teenager who can fit into a multiple appointments per day schedule, especially during the school months. The summer months are a lot easier to plan with high school pet sitters, but remember, they're still kids and out to have a lot of fun! For dogs that require more specialized care, a teenage sitter may not be ideal.

Summary:

• $10-20 an hour
• $70-100 per week (1 visit/day)
• $250-400 per month (1 visit/day)

It can be difficult to determine exactly what to pay your teenage friend to visit your pets. Teenagers are often looking for extra money to spend so they can afford to take lower-paying jobs. However, they still deserve a fair price for the hard work and love they give to your pets. On average, most teens are content to pay $10-20 an hour, $25-50 a night, and $250-400 a month for a one-day visit.

Longer stays can be difficult to plan with a teenager. If they are at school several hours a day, they probably cannot take jobs that require more than one visit per day. Also, many teenagers don't want to commit to a month-long job because their schedules are usually packed with sports, homework, and family activities.

How much do you pay a teenager for a walk?

While some pets have a backyard where they can be easily let out and exercised, some pet owners are apartment dwellers who need to walk their dogs in their neighborhood or at a local park. Walking the dog is a chore that many parents impose on teenage and teenage family members, so many teenagers already have some experience of dog walking.

There are a few questions to ask yourself when considering how much you should pay a high school student to walk your dog.

How easy is the dog to walk?

We have all seen or experienced the uncomfortable experience ofTry walking a dog that is stronger than youAnd drag you down the sidewalk Nobody wants to be in this situation. This is not only unpleasant, but also dangerous! Especially for a teenager who might not know what to do in an emergency situation.

Unfortunately, not every dog ​​is taught to walk well on a leash. Dogs that are used to walking tend to do much better than a dog that is not used to being on a leash. If you're planning on hiring a teenage dog walker, make sure your dog is well trained on a leash. If you can't do this before hiring a walker, it may be worth looking into the more expensive but safer option of a professional trainer offering walks.

Several dogs can also make a walk difficult. Controlling a dog is easy enough, but controlling two dogs on the same walk can be challenging even for pros, let alone high schoolers! The difficulty of the walk you are asking the teenager to take should be discussed and factored into the payment.

How often?

The number of walks required during the day has a big impact on the price. High school students are in school for most of the year, so it may be difficult for them to arrange multiple daily visits during those months. Summer is easier, but not all teenagers can drive, which creates another obstacle for them to make as many visits as their pets need.

If the teenager you are hiring has no problem coming to your house several times a day, they should be paid for that time and effort. Often times, pet sitters for teens live close to their clients, so you might find a great pet sitter in your neighborhood that still commutes by bus!

How long should the walk be?

Not every dog ​​needs the same type of walk. Older or smaller dogs may be satisfied with a 15-minute lap around the block, but energetic dogs may need a full hour of active exercisemeet their mobility needs.

Before you decide how much to pay your dog walker, first decide how long your dog will need to walk. The longer the walk, the more the teenager deserves to be paid.

Summary:

• $15-20 per 30 minute walk
• $100-$200 weekly (1 dog/1 walk per day)
• $350-500 (1 dog/1 walk per day)

Teens are great for light walking jobs. They are ideal for pet owners who need to walk their dog after school or who live nearby. Young people should only be hired to go for a walk with well-behaved and safe dogs! Reactive dogs, dogs with poor leash manners, and aggressive dogs can be difficult even for experienced dog walkers, so expecting a teenager to take care of them is dangerous.

A teenager or high schooler who would make a perfect dog walker is one who is close to your family or will easily fit into your routine. A neighborhood teenager, a friend of your children's, or even a family friend's child is a trustworthy individual who can easily be added as a reliable dog walker. They charge less than a professional and a personal connection can be invaluable!

How much do you pay a teenager to sit overnight?

Many pet owners prefer that their dogs remain in their own home while they are away. This often helps with dogs that are anxious, need special care, or are easily stressed. This can get expensive when you're looking for a professional pet sitter, especially if your pet needs 24-hour care.

For this reason, many pet owners choose to hire a trusted teenager to look after their pets while they're away. Teens are often a lot cheaper, but let's look at the factors to consider when deciding how much cheaper you are.

responsibilities

Every dog ​​has its own routine, so every job has different tasks to perform. It's important to remember that hiring a teenage babysitter often means lowering your expectations of responsibility.

Teenagers are capable young people, but probably not as professional as a pet care company. That doesn't mean they can't do a great job, just that important tasks should be prioritized during their stay to ensure your teenage sitter is set for success.

How long do they have to stay?

The amount of time it will take to stay at home is a big factor when considering how much to pay to be a pet sitter, especially a high school student. Most teenagers are in school, playing sports, or are still a regular part of their daily family activities. This can make it difficult for them to be away from home for several nights in a row. Parents can also feel uncomfortable when their teens are left somewhere alone for long periods of time.

Summary:

• $5-15 an hour
• $25-50 per night (room only)
• $150-300 per week (room only)
• $600-$800 per month (overnight only)

In most cases, you'll pay anywhere from $25 to $50 a night to have a teenage pet sitter stay at your home. Simpler jobs with one or two pets are likely to be a lot cheaper than jobs with lots of pets or lots of responsibilities. It's unlikely you'll find a teenager who can stay overnight for a week or months.

Many teenagers can't stay at your home all day during the school season, but may not mind so much during the summer months or on weekend days. Although many professional pet sitters would charge an hourly fee for this type of service, most teenagers may only charge a few dollars more.

Although a teenager is a much cheaper option than a pro oradult friend, they should be paid fairly so they can build trust in their pet sitting services.

The ins and outs of being a teenage pet sitter

Animal care is not a job to be taken lightly. Pets are not only our close companions, they are also our best friends, fur babies, and beloved family members. The person assigned to look after them while you are away should be reliable enough to treat the pets as if they were their own.

Teenagers are a common consideration when we consider pet sitters or babysitters, although there are several pros and cons to using a teenage pet sitter that need to be considered when making the pet boarding decision.

Advantages

Teenagers are no longer children, but they are not full adults either. Despite their reputation, there are definitely advantages to hiring a teenager instead of a professional or adult.

The overall cost is lower

Young people often still live with their parents and have low living expenses. This means they are willing to work for a lower wage than some adults or professionals, who might use the money to pay their bills. While a teenager should be paid fairly for their time and effort, it probably costs half what a professional pet sitter does.

A close connection is priceless

Most pet owners who hire teens to pet sit have some sort of personal connection with the teen in question, which could mean that the dog already has some sort of relationship with the prospective pet sitter.

This is perfect for pets who are afraid of new people. Professional pet sitters always start new clients with an introduction to build a relationship with the dog. Hiring a pet sitter who has been around the dog multiple times is like multiple meetings and greetings to build trust between your dog and the pet sitter.

Encourages a young entrepreneur

Teenagers are burgeoning young adults who represent the next generation of society and should be encouraged to pursue new passions. Every professional pet sitter, veterinarian, groomer, or trainer had to start somewhere. for many of us as teenagers, petsitting for friends and neighbors was the logical first step.

A love of other pets and an obsession with giving them excellent care should be encouraged. It is leading to a new generation of pet professionals who have dedicated years of their lives to their pets.

As a pet professional, I have always been grateful for the people who gave me my first opportunities with dogs at any cost!

Disadvantages

Teenagers have a reputation for being carefree and unreliable, but that certainly doesn't describe everyone. Passionate teenagers can make excellent caretakers and have a tremendous amount of expertise in pet sitting.

However, due to their age and the nature of the pet sitting business, there are disadvantages to hiring a teenager instead of a professional pet sitting service.

Inexperience can cost

Teenagers often begin caring for dogs by doing childhood chores like feeding and walking their family pet. This is a great experience to start with, but is very limited to your dog. It doesn't take into account learning different dogs' body language or how to deal with situations outside of their usual routine.

Through no fault of their own, most teens simply don't have the experience that may be required with dogs with medical needs, dogs with behavioral issues, or even unforeseen emergencies. It can end up costing you more for vet visits or worse over time.

No guarantee

High schoolers are unlikely to run a pet sitting business, so they almost certainly don't have the support that pet sitting companies do. Insurance, backup sitters, and professional CPR first aid training are just a few ways pet sitters distinguish themselves as professionals in their fields.

Teens don't benefit, of course, but that doesn't mean they're any worse as pet sitters. However, when you choose a teenage pet sitter, there is no guarantee that you can feel safe if something happens to the pet sitter or your pets. In the long run, this can cost more than just money.

Diploma

Paying a teenager to babysit your pets can be a great way to save some money and encourage a young dog lover's passion for pet care. There are pros and cons, a trusted high schooler could be the perfect pet sitter for your dog. At an average of $25 to $50 a night, teens want a reasonable age but don't need enough to pay bills. They love the savings and they love the opportunity and the extra cash!