July 26, 2024
Editorial GuidelinesKari is a writer for SideHustles.com. She previously managed a website in the privacy and digital compliance industry and...
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Background CheckSpending time with dogs makes us happy. Exercise makes us happy. And money makes us—well, money certainly doesn’t hurt.
Why not achieve all three by becoming a dog walker? If you have the patience, fitness, and doggie-care know-how to handle a pack of pups, walking dogs is a great way to earn extra cash or jump into a fur-filled career.
Here are the best platforms for landing dog-walking jobs and a few tips on making the most money as a dog walker.
Try out these apps to get your new gig started:
One of the most popular dog-walking apps, Wag! is available in all 50 states and offers a wealth of job opportunities.
To join, you’ll be asked to pass a knowledge test and a background check, which costs money. The application fee varies, but we contacted several Wag! walkers who signed up in 2022–2023, and they confirmed that at the time, it ranged from $39.99–$50.
Wag! will also ask for five people who can vouch for you and your reliability. Providing these endorsements is optional, but Wag! says that it will “speed up the application process and increase your chances of being approved.” 1
While Wag! has a huge client base, meaning there are tons of dog-walking opportunities, it also takes a 40% commission out of your rates. You’ll only take home 60% of what you earn for each walk, plus whatever tips you make.
Like Wag!, Rover is a wildly popular dog-walking app that requires you to pass a quiz and a background check to join their brigade of walkers. The background check costs $35. 2
You have a lot of freedom to set your own rates, schedule, and services on Rover. It’s worth noting that the platform operates outside the US as well, so if you’re based in Canada, the UK, or Europe, you can still use Rover to make money walking dogs.
We spoke with Amy S.—a professional dog walker and sitter for Rover—who noted that the app is convenient and makes the payment process easy. On the downside, Amy said that the app leaves something to be desired in the way of function and design, and the company doesn’t grant walkers and sitters the control and transparency necessary to keep themselves safe on the job.
Rover works on a commission system. They’ll take a 20% cut of what you make on each walk.
Far from a dog-walking exclusive service, Care connects caregivers and those in need for a wide range of services, including babysitting, house sitting, and dog walking.
Unlike Wag! and Rover, Care operates on a tiered subscription model. Instead of paying a commission on walks that you book through Care, you’ll pay a monthly membership fee to access the platform’s resources and job listings.
Membership rates range from $0–$20 per month (you can apply for jobs with the free plan, but premium members are ranked higher when clients search for workers).
Another service that’s committed to thoroughly vetting dog walkers, Fetch! requires a background check, an extensive application, and an in-depth interview process.
While Fetch! has been around for a long time and gained a large following, it doesn’t operate everywhere. In fact, it’s a company with physical branches, so you’ll first need to run your zip code on their site to check if Fetch! is available in your area.
Unfortunately, Fetch! isn’t transparent about their payment system. It’s possible that different branches charge different commissions. According to one Fetch! employee who left a review on Indeed, the platform takes a whopping 50% cut of what you earn (though we haven’t independently substantiated this claim). 3
If you’re interested in becoming a pet sitter in addition to a dog walker, Holidog is a great place to start. The platform primarily provides pet-sitting services, but it also allows “sitters” to sign up exclusively for dog walking.
Unlike many of the apps on this list, Holidog doesn’t cost money to use. They make money by charging pet owners monthly fees rather than taking profits from dog walkers.
The downside is that Holidog also won’t facilitate your payments; you’ll get your money directly from the pet owners they set you up with, not from the app. You’ll have to negotiate with your clients to set your rates and handle the transaction itself (you’ll need to specify whether you want to be paid in cash, via Venmo, etc.).
Another site that offers pet sitting, boarding, and walking services, PetBacker is an international platform with a presence in 50 countries. The application process is relatively simple, so this is one of the easiest apps to begin dog walking through.
As a walker, you’ll be charged a service fee of 15%–25% to use the app. Your fee will be 25% when you first sign up, so you probably won’t pull in much cash in the early days. 4
How to sign up with PetBacker: Download the app on Google Play or the App Store.
With a presence in the US, Canada, and the UK, PetSitter connects you with clients and jobs so you can make money walking dogs. Based on the featured jobs, most dog walkers on the app charge $15–$25 per hour for their services. 5
PetSitter doesn’t charge service fees, meaning what you make with the app is pure profit. The only catch is that the platform doesn’t come with built-in resources (like insurance and training), as some of the fee-charging apps do.
If you’re based in NYC or Miami, look into Swifto, which has quickly become a favorite among dog owners and walkers. Their app provides GPS-tracked walks, so make sure you’re comfortable having your movements monitored while on the job before signing up.
The major downside of Swifto is that it’s one of the most competitive apps. There’s a thorough application and interview process, and Swifto claims to only take the “best of the best.” 6
Those who make the cut will be rewarded with an ample clientele, regular schedules, and job benefits. Swifto is geared towards the dedicated dog walker, requiring a minimum of 15 walks per week, but it notes that the average walker does 5–10 walks per day. 7
Unlike many of the other apps on this list, Swifto standardizes its rates. According to its recruiting page, it pays $12.50 for a 20-minute walk. Every 400 walks (assuming your clients are satisfied with your performance), you’ll receive an automatic pay raise, although Swifto doesn’t specify how much you can expect.
If you’re not based in the US, Pawshake is a dog-walking service located in 20 countries, with a presence in North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.
The service boasts an extensive vetting process, so not every application will be accepted. If you are asked to join the Pawshake team, you’ll have a free account with which you can set your price and land clients.
You’ll need to pay 19% of your profits to Pawshake as a service fee. 8
How to sign up with Pawshake: Navigate to their site using the link above, click into your region, and click the link that says “Become a sitter” in the top right corner. (In some regions, it will be written in different languages.)
How much money you earn walking dogs varies based on factors like:
According to Care, dog walking salaries generally range from $10 to $17 per hour, depending on your location. Other sources indicate it may be possible to earn as much as $20 per hour.
Dog walking can be a great source of income, but you’ll probably start out making the minimum expected pay for your area. Luckily, there are quite a few ways to increase your earnings quickly.
Here are a few ideas:
Dog walking shouldn’t be a very costly endeavor, even if you’re starting your own dog-walking business.
However, like any business venture, there are hidden costs that you should consider when calculating how much you’ll actually make:
If you choose to start your own business, you’ll have additional costs to cover, like a business license and a website domain.
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