Is tipping a pet sitter expected in Canada?
Not usually. In Rover's guide to tipping pet sitters (updated September 21, 2026), etiquette expert Nick Leighton says self-employed sitters are generally advised to set a rate that covers their costs without relying on tips, so a tip is "less expected" though "always appreciated". The same guide is written for the US, where some sitters employed by a service earn a tipped wage. That is not how self-employed sitters work in Canada, so the case for a tip here rests on the job, not on a wage gap. A tip makes most sense when the sitter did more than the booking asked for:- They covered a last-minute request or a holiday date.
- They handled something hard: medication, an emergency vet trip, an anxious or reactive dog.
- They kept the house running as well as the pet, such as mail, plants and shovelling the walk after a storm.
- They sent the updates you asked for without being chased.
How much to tip: percentages and flat amounts
The Rover guide quotes experts agreeing that 10 to 20% of the total fee is an appropriate tip, and suggests that for longer arrangements a flat amount of USD 20 to 100 is more practical than a percentage, since a percentage of a long booking "can quickly balloon". The figures below apply the percentage to Petme's typical Canadian rates so you can see the real numbers in CAD.| Booking | Typical total on Petme | 10% tip | 20% tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 nights of house sitting, large metro (CAD 50 to 90 a night) | CAD 350 to 630 | CAD 35 to 63 | CAD 70 to 126 |
| 7 nights of house sitting, smaller city (CAD 40 to 65 a night) | CAD 280 to 455 | CAD 28 to 46 | CAD 56 to 91 |
| 5 weekday dog walks, large metro (CAD 22 to 40 a walk) | CAD 110 to 200 | CAD 11 to 20 | CAD 22 to 40 |
| 7 daily cat drop-in visits, large metro (CAD 22 to 38 a visit) | CAD 154 to 266 | CAD 15 to 27 | CAD 31 to 53 |
Tipping at Christmas and over the holidays
Holiday bookings are where tipping is most common, for a simple reason: your sitter gave up their own Christmas, Boxing Day or New Year's Eve to look after your pet. Rover's guide lists filling in "during the holiday season" as one of the main reasons to tip. If you book a regular walker or sitter all year, a year-end thank-you is a separate gesture from a tip on one booking, much like a holiday tip for anyone else who serves you every week. If the sitter charged a holiday rate, that rate already pays for the date, so a tip on top is about the quality of care, not the calendar. If you are still planning your holiday cover, our guide to Christmas pet sitting in Canada covers when to book.When a tip is not the right thank-you
Some sitters do not take tips, and some arrangements are not paid at all, such as a house sitter who looks after your pets in exchange for a place to stay. In those cases the Rover guide suggests other ways to say thanks, and they matter more than people think for a self-employed sitter:- A detailed, honest review on the sitter's profile. It is how the next owner finds them.
- A referral to a friend or neighbour.
- A card, a gift card, or a small gift from your trip.
- Booking them again, early, for your next trip.
A note for sitters: tips are income
If you are the one receiving the tip, the Canada Revenue Agency is clear: "all tips and gratuities you receive are considered taxable income", and self-employed people report them on Form T2125 as part of their self-employment income, according to the CRA's page on tips and gratuities. Keep a simple record through the year. For the sales-tax side of pet sitting, see our GST/HST guide for pet sitters.Frequently asked questions
How much should I tip a dog sitter for a week in Canada?
A common guide is 10 to 20% of the total. For a week of house sitting in a large Canadian city at CAD 50 to 90 a night, that is roughly CAD 35 to 126. For long stays, the same guidance suggests a flat USD 20 to 100 instead of a percentage.
Do you tip a pet sitter in Canada?
You can, but it is not expected in the way a restaurant tip is. Sitters who work through apps like Petme are self-employed and set rates meant to cover their costs. A tip is a thank-you for extra effort, such as a last-minute booking, a holiday date or care for a pet with medical needs.
How much should I tip my dog sitter at Christmas?
Use the same 10 to 20% guide on a Christmas booking, or a flat amount if the stay is long. If the sitter already charged a holiday rate, the tip rewards the care rather than the date. For a regular walker you use all year, a separate year-end thank-you is another option.
How much do you tip a dog walker?
Ten to 20% of the walk price is the usual guide for a tip on a single booking. With Canadian walks at CAD 22 to 40 in large cities, that is a few dollars a walk. With a regular walker, you can also tip once at the end of the year instead of per walk.
Are tips taxable for pet sitters in Canada?
Yes. The CRA says all tips and gratuities are taxable income, and self-employed people report them on Form T2125 as part of their self-employment income. Sitters should keep a record of tips through the year alongside their booking income.
