To Tip or Not to Tip. That is the Question

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

I recently hired a dog walker to come to the house and take Cubbie and Ollie on a 30 minute walk twice a week.  I was really just looking for someone to come and let them out in the middle of the day while I'm at work, but it was only a few bucks more to have them actually get a walk instead of just a quick trip to potty in the backyard. 

 

The woman I hired is the owner of a dog walking company and has a few employees but she is the one that actually walks C&O.  She is licensed with the town and is insured and knows pet CPR.  She charges me $22 per day to come and walk them.  She invoices me once every 2 weeks so that ends up being $88.  Here is my question: the invoice has a line that says "optional gratuity".  The last time I paid her, I did not include a tip.  I figure that she is the owner of the company so all money that I pay goes to her anyway, but then I started wondering if she would treat C&O any differently if I don't tip her.  I really don't think she would, but it was just a thought that crossed my mind. 

 

I sometimes feel like you now have to tip everyone that performs a service so I sometimes get frustrated but I want to do what is right.

 

I have to leave her a check tomorrow or Thursday so I am looking for advice.  Would you tip her and if so, how much?  I tried doing a search on this but only came up with tipping groomers and daycares.  Thanks for the help!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Thank you! I hope things are going well for you!

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

It is 15 degrees, windchill ( and it is windy today ) -2.  So someone let Spud know, I quit

[Anne & Mr. Haley]

Oh, Joanne, I feel for you!

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

yuck that is cold.  I do NOT miss that type of weather.

[Camilla and Darwin]

Stay inside and rewatch depressing downton abbey episodes :-)

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

Watch out for 'The Village' a new BBC period drama coming in 2013.  There's a great young Irish actress called 'Charlie Murphy' who I styled for an awards ceremony here in Ireland (she won best actress) one to watch...

[Camilla and Darwin]

Awesome!

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

I feel a little uncomfortable with the extreme tipping culture that you have in the US because it does feel like the pressure is on and as you say you feel that you may be disadvantaged if you don't.  We don't have the same tipping culture here and a bill such as this one would never have an added line for gratuities.  They do exist in restaurants where if you have had good service 10% is a normal tip.  In the hairdressers it's normal to tip the hair washer or stylist but not the owner of the salon.  Other than that, Christmas is the time to say thank you in the form of gifts to those people who have been good.  For example the Day Care staff where Riley and Boris go would be on my gift list.

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

So I am still struggling with this whole to tip or not to tip the dog walker thing and I just sat down to write the check for the last 2 weeks and noticed that she charged a $5 surcharge for walking C&O on President's day!  Yeah, no tip.

[Lonnie & Libby Lu]

Amy, as I stated before I am a tipper, but your dog walker seems to be adding all kind of charges to your biil.  It would be a NO TIP for me in this case!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I agree with Lonnie. A surcharge for President's Day??? Give me a break! Did  she take time away from her family President's Day dinner or missed her church's President's Day service? 

Yeah, no tip is right.

  

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

hahaha...I had to work and didn't even think twice about it being president's day and was a bit surprised when I saw the surcharge on the bill.  I really like her and don't want to switch but it was just a bit odd.