I am a Pet Sitter

I am a Pet Owner

Available on Mobile/Desktop Browser or App? ✅ Yes, accessible on both mobile and web platforms.

**Available on Mobile/Desktop Browser or App?** ✅ Yes, accessible on both mobile and web platforms.


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The **Puppy Surcharge** is an additional fee applied to bookings for puppies under six months old. This surcharge reflects the extra time, care, and attention required when looking after very young dogs.


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## How is the Puppy Surcharge Calculated?

The surcharge is based on the **pet’s age on the start date of the booking**.

* The date the booking is sent to you or created in the system does **not** affect the surcharge.
* The fee only applies if the pet is **under six months old** when the booking begins.

## Examples:

**Example #1:**

* Pet’s date of birth: 1 July 2025
* Booking start date: 1 December 2025
* Booking creation date: 1 November 2025
  **Calculation:** On 1 December, the puppy is 5 months old = **Puppy Surcharge applies**

  

**Example #2:**

* Pet’s date of birth: 12 December 2025
* Booking start date: 13 June 2026
* Booking creation date: 20 November 2025
  **Calculation:** On 13 June 2026, the puppy is 6 months and 1 day old = **Puppy Surcharge does not apply**


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## Related Articles

* [What Fees Or Commission Are Pet Sitters Charged?](https://madpaws.brainfi.sh/en-us/articles/what-fees-or-commission-are-pet-sitters-charged-L5VgvIiCC2)
* [Why Is My Advertised Price Higher On The Website Than The Price I Set?](https://madpaws.brainfi.sh/en-us/articles/why-is-my-advertised-price-higher-on-the-website-than-the-price-i-set-IM7N38f6QX)  


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## FAQs & Tips

FAQs

* **Will I see the Puppy Surcharge in the payment breakdown?** 

  *Yes! If a puppy surcharge applies, it will be clearly shown in the booking’s payment breakdown.*




How is the Puppy Surcharge Calculated?

Administering Basic First Aid For Pet Sitters

Common Pet Emergencies And How To Handle Them

Creating A Safety Plan

Dangerous Dog Protocol 

Emergency Procedures For Pet Sitters

Heat Safety Guidelines 

Help! What Do I Do If The Pet Runs Away?

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Help, There's An Emergency! (Pet is Sick / Injured)

How do I File a Claim?

How Long Does a Mad Paws Guarantee Review Take?

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What Happens If a Pet Runs Away While in the Pet Sitter's Care?

What Is Not Covered by the Mad Paws Guarantee?

What Pet Sitters Need to Know About the Mad Paws Guarantee

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What to Do If a Pet Is Injured During a Booking

What to Do If a Pet Sitter is Bitten by a Pet During a Booking

What To Do If The Pet Owner Has Not Yet Picked Up the Pet?

Emergencies and Mad Paws Guarantee

$25 coupon offer for new customers

About Mad Paws

Are Bookings Available for New Zealand Residents?

Can I Earn Qantas Frequent Flyer Points With Mad Paws?

Can I Offer Friends, Family, or a Prospective Owner Mad Paws Credit?

Do You Offer Gift Cards?

Does Mad Paws Pay My Taxes?

Does Mad Paws Report Sitter Income to the ATO?

Have a Question? Chat With Our Customer Service Team Today!

How Do I Address Problems With Mobile Apps?

How Do I Connect My Mad Paws Account With My Facebook Account?

How Do I Reset My Mad Paws Account Password?

How To Contact Support

I Want to Chat With A Live Agent

I Want To Purchase A Mad Paws T-Shirt

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MP Referral Program - Terms & Conditions

Possible Pet Owner Violations

Possible Pet Sitter Violations

Qantas Frequent Flyer & Mad Paws Partnership Update

Tax Return Request For Pet Sitters

Unsubscribing From Marketing Emails

What Are Promo Codes And How Do They Work?

What is the Mad Paws Feedback Policy?

When Can I Expect My Mad Paws Account to Be Deleted?

Where Can I Find The Referral Link?

Where is Mad Paws HQ Located?

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General

Accessing Archived Conversations

Best Practices For Managing Your Pet Sitting Business

Building Strong Relationships With Pet Owners

Can I Archive A Booking Message / Conversation?

Can I Block A Pet Owner?

Can I Create A Booking For A Pet Owner from a Web Browser?

Can I Create a Booking For A Pet Owner Using The Mad Paws App?

Can I Do Pet Sitting And Pet Hosting For The Same Date?

Can I Have 2 Dog Walking Bookings In A Day?

Can I Host More Than One Pet At A Time?

Can I Receive Payment For A Booking In Cash?

Can I Remove Or Respond To A Review?

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Can Offline Payments Affect My Pet Sitter Ranking?

Do I Need To Stay At The Pet Owner's Home?

Do I Still Need to Walk a Pet in Bad Weather?

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How Do I Accept A Booking?

How Do I Edit The Price Of A Booking?

How Do I Keep Pet Owners Happy While Looking After Their Pets?

How Do I Know If This Pet Will Be A Good Fit In My Home?

How Do I Pay For A Booking?

How Do I Provide Feedback About A Pet To A Pet Owner?

How Do I View My Current Bookings?

How Long Before A Booking Will Be Archived?

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How Many Pets Can I Host At A Time?

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How To Get Paid For A Booking

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Pet Care Guidelines For Extended Stays

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Responding To A Booking Enquiry

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Understanding Pet Owners’ Expectations

Understanding Sitter Payment

Understanding The 24-Hour Booking Period

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Understanding The Booking Flow And Status

Understanding The Mad Paws Payment System

Understanding The Mad Paws Service Fee / Sitter Fee

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How To Handle Last-Minute Cancellations For Paid Bookings

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Pet Sitter Cancellations

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App Not Working?

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How Do I Change My Bank Or PayPal Details?

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