Longdog
Pull to refresh

Help Center

Payments & Earnings

How Sitters Get Paid

Sitters earn 82% of the service total (net of platform fees). Payments are released to sitters on Fridays, weekly in arrears. Tips go 100% to sitters.

sitters
earnings

Setting Sitter Rates

Sitters control pricing for each service type. Rates can be set in the sitter profile under pricing settings and adjusted at any time.

sitters
pricing

Understanding Platform Fees

Longdog charges owners an 8% technology fee. The platform retains 18% service fee from sitter earnings, leaving sitters with 82% of the gross service rate.

owners
sitters
fees

Payment Methods & Security

All payments are processed securely through Stripe. Dog owners are charged at the time of booking when selecting a specific sitter or approving a sitter for a service request. If a sitter declines, the authorization hold drops within 3-5 business days. For recurring bookings, the first week is charged at booking, then weekly on Sundays for upcoming services.

payment
security

When Do Sitters Receive Payment?

Sitters receive weekly payouts every Friday, paid one week in arrears. For example, if payday is Friday the 13th, the payment covers services whose end date fell in the prior Sunday–Saturday week (ending the 7th). This one-week buffer ensures all services are settled and refunds processed.

sitters
payout

Recurring Service Billing

For recurring bookings, the first week is charged at the time of booking. After that, charges occur weekly on Sundays for the upcoming week of service. Rates are locked at the initial booking time and remain unchanged even if the sitter updates pricing or services fall on holiday dates.

recurring
billing

Recurring Service Rate Lock

When a recurring service is booked, rates are locked based on the sitter's pricing at the time of the initial booking. Even if the sitter increases rates later or services fall on holiday dates, the rate remains unchanged for the duration of the recurring agreement.

recurring
rates

Instant Payouts (Get Paid Now)

Eligible sitters can pull finalized earnings to their debit card same-day instead of waiting for Friday. A 3% instant-payout fee applies. Available once your account has been active 7+ days and you have completed 1 boarding, 2 daycares, or 3 walks/drop-ins.

sitters
payout
instant

Cancellations & Refunds

Cancellation Policy for Dog Owners

Standard bookings (booked more than 48 hours before the service): cancel 48+ hours before → full refund; 24-48 hours before → 50% refund; less than 24 hours before → no refund. Short-notice bookings (booked 48 hours or less before the service): cancel 12-48 hours before → full refund; 1-12 hours before → 75% refund; 1 hour or less before → no refund. Fees compensate sitters for blocked availability. For recurring bookings, each occurrence follows the same policy independently.

cancellation
policy

Cancellation Policy for Sitters

Sitters can decline pending requests without penalty. After accepting, cancellations should only occur for emergencies. Repeated cancellations may affect your profile status.

sitters
cancellation

How Refunds Work

When an owner books a specific sitter directly or approves a sitter for a service request, the card is charged immediately. Refunds are issued to the original payment method within 5-10 business days. Partial refunds may be issued for early service termination or service issues. Tips paid upfront for services that did not occur can be refunded, but tips are non-refundable for completed services.

refunds
cancellation

Admin-Issued Refunds

Platform administrators can issue refunds for disputes if reported within 48 hours of completion. When a refund is issued, the sitter receives an email and in-app notification explaining the refund amount and reasoning. Refunded amounts are deducted from pending earnings.

refunds
admin

Service Details

What Each Service Includes

A full breakdown of every service Longdog sitters can offer — boarding, in-home sitting, daycare, walks, drop-ins, and meet & greets — with what is included and typical durations.

services
overview

Boarding & Daycare Requirements for Sitters

Any sitter can offer overnight boarding, full day daycare, or half day daycare — with or without their own dog(s). Sitters must disclose all dogs in their home and complete a full profile for each one so owners can review compatibility. Maximum 5 dogs total in home at any time. Other services have no dog status restrictions.

boarding
daycare
requirements
sitters

Overnight Boarding Overtime

Boarding services are priced per 24-hour period. Services extending beyond 24 hours incur overtime fees based on additional hours (0-3hrs, 3-5hrs, etc.). Rates are set by each sitter.

boarding
pricing

Multi-Dog Bookings

Booking multiple dogs? Sitters set additional dog rates for each service type. The first dog is charged the base rate, additional dogs have a per-dog add-on fee.

owners
multi-dog

Medical Care Add-Ons

Dogs requiring medication, IVDD care, or special medical attention incur an additional percentage fee set by the sitter. This compensates for extra care time and responsibility.

medical
special-needs

Transportation Services

Sitters may offer pickup/dropoff for boarding and daycare services at an additional fee. Transportation availability and pricing are set individually by each sitter.

transportation

Service Overlap Rules

Learn which services can overlap, maximum capacity for boarding/daycare, and how recurring services interact with other bookings.

scheduling
overlap
rules

If a Dog Isn't Getting Along With the Sitter's Own Dog

What to do if a guest dog and the sitter's own dog are not compatible during an in-home service. Try gradual introductions first, then coordinate a replacement sitter or owner pickup if it becomes a safety issue. The owner must email support within 48 hours for a prorated refund. Meet & greets and trial days help avoid this.

sitters
in-home
compatibility
safety

DoxieGuard Protection

What is DoxieGuard?

DoxieGuard provides up to $500 in emergency veterinary reimbursement for the dog being serviced during US bookings. Coverage applies after exhausting all insurances from both parties and the dog owner pays a $250 minimum contribution (barring any deductible assistance from the sitter). Coverage does NOT include injuries to the sitter's own dog, third-party animals, or property damage. All bookings are automatically protected.

insurance
protection

Filing a DoxieGuard Reimbursement Request

If a vet emergency occurs to the dog being serviced, document everything and contact support within 48 hours. DoxieGuard only covers the dog being serviced—not the sitter's own dog, third-party animals, or property damage. You must exhaust all insurances (pet and pet care liability) from both parties. The dog owner must pay a $250 minimum contribution (unless the sitter offers deductible assistance). Upload vet bills and incident details. Reimbursement requests reviewed in 3-5 days.

reimbursement
insurance

Growing Your Sitter Business

Independent Contractor Status

Sitters on Longdog are independent contractors — not employees. You control your schedule, set your own rates, and are responsible for your own taxes and benefits. Learn what this means for your pet-care business.

sitters
contractor
taxes
business

Receiving Your 1099 Tax Form

Longdog reports sitter earnings on a Form 1099-K when they meet the IRS threshold. Forms are delivered by January 31. You are responsible for reporting all earnings to the IRS — even in years you do not receive a 1099. Consult a tax professional for guidance.

sitters
1099
taxes
earnings

Promoting Your Sitter Profile

Every sitter has a shareable profile link. Use Share My Profile on the Find Sitters page to send your link via text or social media, build a profile that converts with photos and reviews, and offer a complimentary Meet & Greet to bring in new clients risk-free.

sitters
marketing
profile
sharing

Still Have Questions?

We're here to help! Email us at support@longdogapp.com - we respond within 24-48 hours.

Email Support

View our Terms of Service & Privacy Policy or DoxieGuard

Refer Friends, Earn $

Share your unique referral code and both parties earn bonuses... it's a ween-ween!

Go