how to tell boss I won't pet sit over the summer?

[Anonymous]

My boss has two dogs that are untrained and not house broken. They pee and poop everywhere and have to be let out every two hours. I typically dog sit in the summer for the family I work for who travels a lot. The mother requires that I either spend the night at their house or bring the dogs to my house. That was fine. Except she only pays me $30 a day/night and I recently befriended a dog sitter who told me I am getting way ripped off. She said normal rates for multiple visits and over night would be more like $150. The problem now is that I am recently married and live in a rental so my husband 1. Doesn't want me spending the night away 3/4s of the summer and 2. Bringing two untrained dogs home to our house where we are not allowed to have pets. I'm pissed that she has been way underpaying me for this service but she is a bitch and gets furious when I say I can't watch the dogs and she has to pay an actual dog sitter. She has said before that summer dog sitting is a deal breaker for her. But for $30 this is no longer worth it to me. I don't want to lose the job and I want to politely find a way to tell her I can't do it. Any advice?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My boss has two dogs that are untrained and not house broken. They pee and poop everywhere and have to be let out every two hours. I typically dog sit in the summer for the family I work for who travels a lot. The mother requires that I either spend the night at their house or bring the dogs to my house. That was fine. Except she only pays me $30 a day/night and I recently befriended a dog sitter who told me I am getting way ripped off. She said normal rates for multiple visits and over night would be more like $150. The problem now is that I am recently married and live in a rental so my husband 1. Doesn't want me spending the night away 3/4s of the summer and 2. Bringing two untrained dogs home to our house where we are not allowed to have pets. I'm pissed that she has been way underpaying me for this service but she is a bitch and gets furious when I say I can't watch the dogs and she has to pay an actual dog sitter. She has said before that summer dog sitting is a deal breaker for her. But for $30 this is no longer worth it to me. I don't want to lose the job and I want to politely find a way to tell her I can't do it. Any advice?

From how you are describing this MB it doesn't sounds like that will be possible but why do you want to keep this job anyway if she is so awful? My suggestion would be to look for another job and have one lined up before you tell her.

[Anonymous]

I'm a nanny but I also work as a dog sitter.
For dog sitting (staying at a family's house overnight) I charge $100 per 24 hour shift.
That includes letting them outside 2-3 times a day and 3 20-30 minute walks a day. There are two dogs, both housebroken.
This in not a family I nanny for.

My previous nanny family also had two dogs and when they went on vacation, I was paid my regular weekly pay + $50 for every overnight. That job ended a few years ago (lasted 8 years), so I think it would be a bit more now.

Maybe you could ask your boss to pay you a little more for pet siting?
If I were you, I would ask for a certain amount for overnights and certain amount for every visit/walk. Or just come up with a price you are comfortable with.
Considering she is only paying you $30, I wouldn't quote your friend's rate, however I would definitely raise my rate based on the dogs not being housebroken.

[Anonymous]

I am confused by your post and the situation. It sounds like you are a nanny and when your nanny family goes on vacation, they expect you to pet sit. If they are paying you your regular salary, they told you up front this was part of the job (which it sounds like the MB did if she said not doing this was a deal breaker), and you still get whatever contractual vacation time you have, without the pets, then it doesn't sound like the $50 additional on top of your salary is unreasonable. I'd ask if your husband can come stay with you at their house since you can't have pets in your rental. If any of the above is not true, I think whether or not you can renegotiate your pay is dependent on your contract/agreement terms, but if doing this for the amount they pay you is a deal breaker for you, what do you have to lose by asking?

I'd also address the issue of the dogs not being housebroken separately - surely that is a problem for the family as much as it is for you? I can't imagine it's their long term plan to do nothing about it, so you can ask what their plan is for training the dogs. When did they get the dogs? Did they have them when you were hired?

It doesn't sound like it's going to work for the family for you to NOT take care of the dogs but if you are unhappy with the job anyway, it sounds like it may be time for you to move on. It happens - sometimes jobs just aren't a good fit.

[Anonymous]

MB here. I wouldn't confuse the issue by haggling over rates (unless you would change your mind if she paid you enough).

Just say "I'm very sorry but I cannot dogsit anymore. Our new apartment does not allow pets, and now that I'm married staying at your house isn't an option for me."

[Anonymous]

"I am confused by your post and the situation. It sounds like you are a nanny and when your nanny family goes on vacation, they expect you to pet sit. If they are paying you your regular salary, they told you up front this was part of the job (which it sounds like the MB did if she said not doing this was a deal breaker), and you still get whatever contractual vacation time you have, without the pets, then it doesn't sound like the $50 additional on top of your salary is unreasonable"

+1 are they paying you the token amount on top of your salary and made clear from the outset that pet sitting was part of the job?

[Anonymous]

It sounds like the question at hand is... Are they paying you your salary plus the $30? We need to know that before we advise.

[Anonymous]

Okay OP here. I am not getting my salary on top of $30 extra. When they go on vacation I am not paid. This was not part of my hiring or in my job description. I originally did it as a favor to them. I just did not realize how little they were paying me. They literally pay me $30 each 24 hour period I watch their dogs. The house training is a huge issue but they seem unwilling to discipline or put their dogs in training. When I mentioned training before the mb said it was too expensive and they just need to make sure dogs are let out every 2 hours and crated when no one is home. Each time I have told her I couldnt dog sit in the past she has gotten an attitude and then was pissy about having to pay so much for an actual dog sitter.

[Anonymous]

Another doormat nanny.

[Anonymous]

Just nicely state that you are now a married woman and your life dynamic is totally different now.

She should understand that you have a husband now and would like to spend some time with him.

If she doesn't, then she is just a selfish and inconsiderate bitch and I wouldn't want to associate myself w/her anyway.

[Anonymous]

Are you looking for a new job or do you enjoy being taken advantage of?

[Anonymous]

Oh wow you're not oaks when they go
Away? Yeah tell her THAT is YOUR dealbreaker!! Bye!!

[Anonymous]

*paid

[Anonymous]

I am a dogsitter and charge $35 for overnights. That said, if you don't want to do it, just say 'That won't be possible for me. Have a great trip!'

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a dogsitter and charge $35 for overnights. That said, if you don't want to do it, just say 'That won't be possible for me. Have a great trip!'

Do you charge $35 for overnight plus round-the-clock short walks every 2 hours?