Tip Dog Walker?

[gerberdaisy]

This sounds dumb, but how much/would you tip the dog walker/trainer in this situation?

First, we signed up for an initial 8 week training package, was with the owner of the business.  There was an option to tip, I did not. 

Now we are doing 2x/week group hikes.  Sometimes its the business owner, sometimes an employee of her, sometimes both.  I get billed every two weeks.  In the payment system there is an option for tipping. How much do you do? If 20% is the expectation, then I'll discontinue doing this, the price is already pretty high.  $5/time?

Edited with more info: they take my dog on a hike.  Its between 2-12 dogs (we don't have a say in how many) and 1-2 people.  We're paying around $50/hike. Sorry, realize this isn't very clear.

I'll refrain from going off on my soap box about how much I despise tipping in this country and not knowing the true cost of something anymore. 

[mustardseed2007]

So you're walking your own dog or the dog walker is walking the dog in a group?

I wouldn't tip if I had purchased a class.

[melmel48]

I am a dog walker and I have regular dogs that I walk weekly. I do not get tips.

[Jalapeñomel]

I’m guessing this is regional, as we would tip 15-20% here.

[Deleted]

I think I need some more information because I am not really sure what is happening here. Is this person taking your dog for a hike without you there? And there are other dogs as well that they take? Are you able to give a ballpark cost for this service? My gut reaction is to not tip the owner, but maybe tip the employee. But depending on the cost, probably not a percentage but more a set dollar amount.

[dochas]

I'm not sure what you're paying and what you're getting in this situation.

We use a small local "company" for dog walking. The owner sent a message to all clients through the app asking that when people tip the dog walkers they either do that in cash or write it clearly on the check what's payment and what is a tip. I was like, "Whaaa???". We don't have them walk, just let out and play in the yard. It's $22 for 20 minutes. I'm not tipping! We have the same walker every time and I give a gift at Christmas. We do 2 times a week usually so I do a week and round up to $50. I can barely afford it as it is!

[MDmomof2]

If you are taking your dog on a guided hike with this dog walking company, I would not tip. I assume they are being paid fairly for their time and this isn't a service like a hair cut or manicure (those I tip on although I assume they are being paid fairly for their time also!). I think some places just have tip questions built in and it can make me think I need to tip when I don't!

[gerberdaisy]

@sameoldstory, dochas, MDmomof2,

Sorry, I'm not very clear. They take my dog for a hike, I am not involved. It costs $50/time.

[dochas]

I really can't see myself tipping in this situation!

[letsgetweird]

I would not tip

[MDmomof2]

Oct 18, 2022 13:35:47 GMT -5 gerberdaisy said:

@sameoldstory , dochas , MDmomof2 ,

Sorry, I'm not very clear. They take my dog for a hike, I am not involved. It costs $50/time.

Gotcha, so they take your dog for a hike.  This is a tough one because it feels like a service like a haircut or manicure and I would tip for those services.  Does your dog get one on one time or do they take multiple dogs?  If it's multiple dogs it feels like a class and I wouldn't tip on that. If it's just the assistant and your pup, I would.  

Like you, I hate tipping culture and these confusing situations make me hate it even more!

[gerberdaisy]

Oct 18, 2022 14:28:27 GMT -5 MDmomof2 said:

Oct 18, 2022 13:35:47 GMT -5 gerberdaisy said:

@sameoldstory , dochas , MDmomof2 ,

Sorry, I'm not very clear. They take my dog for a hike, I am not involved. It costs $50/time.

Gotcha, so they take your dog for a hike.  This is a tough one because it feels like a service like a haircut or manicure and I would tip for those services.  Does your dog get one on one time or do they take multiple dogs?  If it's multiple dogs it feels like a class and I wouldn't tip on that. If it's just the assistant and your pup, I would.  

Like you, I hate tipping culture and these confusing situations make me hate it even more!

Thanks! Its between 2 and 12 dogs, I have no way of knowing until I see pics of her on instagram, but usually about 6.

I just paid and did not tip; yet, I'm sure I'll have the same internal crisis in 2 weeks again.

[mustardseed2007]

I think since they offer you an opportunity to tip I probably would tip for the dog hike even if they took multiple dogs. I would not have tipped for the group class you took previously.

Sometimes a POS system is set up to automatically include it but it's not really expected.

It's kind of neat that they take your dog on a hike!

[sadie]

I'm also a dog walker with weekly clients. Some clients tip, some don't. It's pretty variable.

But, these are individual families. I would view these hikes differently, especially since they are group walks and not individual. I don't think I'd tip in this context, however, I'm sure if you decided to, any amount would be appreciated.