Dog Walker

Dog walkers work for local dog parents in their community. The job involves traveling to the client’s house and taking one or more dogs out for a walk for a specified amount of time. You don’t need a degree, certification, or experience to become a dog walker.

There are two main ways to start a dog walking side hustle:

• Start your own dog walking business: Build a website and use local advertising strategies to find clients. This approach takes a lot of initial time and effort to build a client base, but it can be more profitable in the long run.
• Use dog walking apps: These digital platforms connect dog walkers and owners. This is the easiest and fastest way to start a dog walking side hustle since you can get your first job right away without any marketing. The drawback is that app fees and competition can limit your earning potential.

Dog walking sessions can be as short as 15 minutes or as long as 1 hour or more. You may get one-off gigs from clients who are temporarily going out of town or recurring jobs from clients who work full-time jobs away from home. Pay rates are generally calculated per walk, depending on the duration and number of dogs.

Like the case with any other caregiving role, dog walkers take on a lot of responsibility. They’re expected to ensure the safety and well-being of the dogs in their care during each dog walking session. For this reason, you may need to undergo a background check or get insurance to work as a dog walker.

You don’t necessarily need licenses or certifications to be a dog walker. However, getting certified in pet first aid or taking a general course on dog walking can boost your chances of getting picked by clients.

Dog walking certifications are particularly beneficial if you’re running your own dog walking business. In this case, you may also be wise to get a business license.

You can get trained and certified in pet first aid in just 1 day, so it’s definitely worthwhile. By contrast, general dog walking certifications can take anywhere from 4 to 6 weeks to get.

Dog walking is a competitive field. For the best chance of success, you need to take steps to present yourself as the best dog walker around.

Using Multiple Platforms

When you’re first starting out as a dog walker, it’s important to focus on building connections. Using multiple dog walking apps can help you cover more ground. Even if you’re starting your own business, signing up for a dog walking app can help you build experience, make connections, and fill in gaps in your schedule.

Being Available on Weekdays

Many people who need ongoing dog walking services are full-time workers. For this reason, you’ll have a better chance of getting gigs if you’re available during weekdays. If you already work a full-time job, you could look for dog walking gigs near your workplace that you could do during breaks.

Having Your Own Transport

Unless you live in a highly populated neighborhood full of dog owners, you’ll need to do a bit of traveling to get to each client’s home. Without your own mode of transport, it’ll take you so long to get to each gig that it might not be worth it for you.

Dog walking is relatively simple, but it still comes with a few challenges:

• Competition: You’ll probably be competing with lots of other dog walkers, and starting out can be tough since clients tend to rebook the same walkers they’ve worked with in the past.
• Commuting: Traveling to and from gigs can take up a lot of time, effectively reducing your actual pay per hour.
• Responsibility: You’re fully responsible for another living being, and there’s always a risk that the dog may get loose and run away or get injured, sick, or worse while under your watch.
• Building a client base: For some people, it takes a while to start getting regular dog walking gigs. People are less likely to take a chance on a new dog walker than to hire one they’ve used before, so you need to build trusting relationships to make a steady income.
• Vetting process: It’s common for dog walking apps and clients to require a background check. Additionally, you may be expected to do complimentary meet-and-greets, which take time and effort.
• Low earning potential: Dog walking gigs generally offer low to moderate pay. Additionally, it’s difficult to consistently land enough gigs to earn a full-time living.

This side hustle attracts dog lovers and nature lovers for several reasons:

• Playing with dogs: For many dog walkers, the biggest appeal of the job is getting paid to play with dogs. You get to bring a bit of joy to their lives while having fun yourself.
• Outdoor fitness: Dog walking is a great way to clock in a few steps while getting paid. If you love the outdoors, then you’ll probably find the work to be very enjoyable.
• Lack of requirements: Unlike many other jobs, you don’t necessarily need a degree or any special training to start dog walking. This makes it a convenient option for people from all walks of life.
• Low cost: You don’t need to spend any money upfront to start walking dogs for money. In many cases, the dog parent will even provide dog walking supplies for you.
• Pairing with other side hustles: Dog walking gigs pair well with other side hustles that require traveling from place to place, such as mystery shopping, using photo inspection apps, and delivery driving. If you plan your route efficiently, you can maximize your earnings across all your side hustles.

The dog walking industry is already pretty big, and it’s growing. Here’s a glimpse into what you can expect from a dog walking side hustle right now and in the years to come:

• There are over 16,000 dog walkers currently employed in the United States, and the majority (55%) have been doing the job for under 2 years.
• Nearly 1 in 5 US families adopted a dog during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to increased demand for dog walkers, especially as people return to work in offices.
• The gig economy has radically changed the dog walking industry, making it easier than ever for people to book on-demand dog walking services.
• Rover and Wag! are the leading dog walking apps in the US.

These trends show that dog walking is a promising option for people looking for a new side hustle. The increasing prevalence of dog walking apps also offers an easy, quick, and convenient way to break into the industry.