We will receive a commission if you make a purchase through our affiliate link at no extra cost to you. Please read our disclosure policy for more information.
Dogs are man’s best friend and a pet, but a part of our families who deserve our love and care, as any other family member. However, our busy schedules, exhausting lifestyles, and long commuting times have given birth to a fun job opportunity that pays well.
Demand for dog walkers has grown tremendously in the past couple of years, allowing you to get paid walking dogs.
Did you know that Ryan Stewart, a dog walker, made over $100,000 a year in NYC by walking around six hours per day for six days a week? If you are looking for fun job opportunities where work doesn’t feel like work, consider becoming a dog walker.
Luckily for us, becoming a dog walker is simpler than ever, thanks to the best dog walking apps that allow you to connect with families in your area looking for someone to take their pets on a stroll.
PIN THIS: I’ll be updating this post so make sure to pin this image here and save it to your Pinterest board. That way you’ll be able to come back to this page and learn about the best dog walking apps to make extra money!
1. Rover
Walking dogs is not just a great way to get your daily steps in; you also get a free dose of dopamine from the joyful energy of a husky or golden retriever. While you don’t need any certification or professional degree to work as a pet walker, getting professionally trained through an online platform like the Fear Free Pet Sitter Certification Program will give you credibility and make your profile more appealing, encouraging pet owners to hire you.
Amongst the top dog walking apps, Rover is one of the most popular pet service apps commonly known throughout the world.
Think of Uber but for dogs, which connects pet owners with dog walkers, pet sitters, and dog boarders in their area. Rover has the world’s largest network of 5-star pet sitters and dog walkers and has offered different services to over a million pet owners in the US. You can use this app as a part-time job or a side hustle by getting a mandatory background check for $25.
As a dog walker, you can rest easy with Rover, as the app is GPS enabled, which prevents miscommunication and conflict with pet owners by offering them real-time tracking. Rover also offers 24/7 customer service and an insurance plan called Rover Guarantee, protecting dog walkers and pet owners alike. Apart from dog walking, you can also offer services like dog training, pet sitting, dog boarding, and pooper scooper services, allowing you to build a business from the ground up. One of the features that make Rover so popular among pet care service providers is the freedom to set up their own rates for different services.
An important thing to note is that Rover gets 20% off every booking you make, and all the payments are made within the app. You can withdraw the money from the app two days after the dog walking job.
Remember, like any other side hustle app, Rover also incorporates customer feedback in their results. The better reviews you receive, the higher your chances are to secure a gig!
2. Wag!
While dog walking is the most common way to earn money by spending time with dogs, it’s not the only one. For instance, pet grooming is also a good opportunity that requires a full-time commitment and a grooming studio.
However, if you prefer a weekend job or a part-time opportunity, you can also consider pet sitting, boarding, or drop-in visits using apps like Rover and Wag.
Wag is one of the apps that pay real money for walking dogs, pet-sitting, and pet boarding. Wag is similar to Rover, yet it differs from the former app in several ways. To use Wag you need to pass a mandatory security check for $25 and have basic knowledge of how to safely handle dogs. Unlike Rover, Wag connects you to clients looking for pre-scheduled or on-demand dog walks and it can charge up to a 40% commission fee. It justifies its high cost with an extensive network of pet owners and caregivers (450,000) and its advanced GPS tracking feature that pet owners love.
Wag is a feature-rich platform that protects pet owners and pet service providers alike. It has an inbuilt instant messaging service, provides walk summaries for every walk, and offers lockboxes for secure key exchanges. Wag is a credible platform that has delivered over 12.1 million pet care services for pet owners living in over 5,300 cities. It also takes a humanitarian approach and uses a portion of its proceeds to feed shelter dogs, contributing over 16.5 million meals to date.
Wag charges double the commission of Rover, but it’s still a solid option for dog walkers and pet caregivers who want the freedom to set their own schedule. A dog walker can offer 20-minute, 30-minute, or 60-minute walks and increase their earnings with tips. All your earnings are automatically transferred to your bank account every week. A great tip is to share photos and videos of cute moments during the walks with the pet owners, post-walk, to get better tips and feedback.
3. Pawshake
It can feel unfair for apps to charge such high commission fees on dog walking jobs. That’s why Pawshake offers a global pet-sitting and dog-walking platform with a comparatively low commission rate of 19%. You can earn from different pet care services like overnight pet-sitting, house visits, and daycare services, apart from dog walking.
Pawshake is best for pet-sitting work in Asia, Europe, and Australia as it has a “strict vetting process” where only 15% of people who apply pass, and offers a Pawshake Guarantee on all walks. Although the verification process might require prior experience in pet care services, it also lets you decide your hours and rates where you can work one day a week or multiple times a day!
4. PetBacker
PetBacker is one of the best apps for pet service providers and is available in over 50 countries in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, North and South America, and more. Not only is the app optimized for dog walkers, pet sitters, and groomers, and focuses on helping you keep more money in your pocket, but it also assigns badges to pet service providers like dog walkers based on how hard they work and customer reviews, ensuring better returns.
Unlike other apps, PetBacker has a flexible commission model where, initially, they charge a 25% fee before cutting it down to 15% as you gain more experience. However, PetBacker also has a comprehensive verification process where only 30% of people who apply are selected.
5. Care.com
Pet walking is a lucrative second job, but the high commission fees on the top dog walking apps can cut down your earnings significantly. If you are looking for a trusted platform that does not charge a commission on every walk, consider care.com.
Care.com is available in 20 countries and all US states and doesn’t take a cut as it operates on a membership model.
After registering with Care.com, you can choose between their basic membership plan (free) or the premium membership plan. The premium membership comes with additional benefits like a Premium badge on your profile in search results and priority job alerts.
6. Facebook Marketplace
Even though some people might find Facebook to be old-school and fading, the fact remains that it still had over 3.35 billion daily active users in 2024.
As a pet walker, it’s a great platform for you to skip app fees altogether and connect with clients who pay per walk. Luckily, there is no shortage of pet owners who want a more personal connection and prefer hiring independent dog walkers instead of using the apps.
Facebook Marketplace is a great place to connect with them by creating detailed listings with hourly rates, availability, and experience, or joining local pet groups and community pages.
You can check out these groups and pages for consistent walking gigs without paying any fees and negotiate prices with pet owners individually.
7. Craigslist
Craigslist is still one of the best places to find opportunities, including pet side hustles like dog walking jobs. It is especially popular among pet owners who prefer working with independent pet service providers and doing their due diligence themselves. Similar to Facebook Marketplace, you work as an independent dog walker or pet sitter on Craigslist and pocket all your earnings.
You can connect with pet owners by posting advertisements in the Pet Services section. You can also list your preferences like size, breed, or age of the dog and your availability. For instance, you can offer pet walking service during holidays (which generally pays higher), early mornings, late nights, etc., based on your preference and charge accordingly. Remember, Craigslist does not vet its users and you must screen and vet potential clients before accepting any job.
FAQs
1. How much money do dog walkers make?
Offering pet care services like dog walking is a good side hustle as you can earn up to $25 per hour with an average hourly pay of $17.20. Like all apps, the average pay-per-walk varies depending on different factors.
Since Rover allows you to set your rates and takes only 20% in commission, it can be more profitable than Wag, which charges up to 40%.
Your experience as a pet service provider and your location also play a big role in deciding your earnings. The average pay is generally higher in areas like New York and San Francisco as compared to suburbs. With the help of tips and by offering additional services like overnight pet sitting or daycare, you can boost your earnings up to $1,000 per month.
2. Which dog sitter app pays the most?
Amongst the top dog-sitting apps, Rover pays the most as it allows pet service providers to select their hourly rates.
By offering additional services like pet sitting and boarding, pet walkers can earn up to $100 per night. While Rover charges high commission fees, it still has the highest earning potential, as other apps like Wag pay between $12 to $20 per walk (before the commission fee).
In contrast, non-dedicated platforms like Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist offer higher earning potential since you can work and charge independently based on your services and experience, without paying any commission fees to app providers.
3. Are there any dog-walking apps for under 18 years old?
Most dog walking apps only accept dog walkers who are at least 18 years old due to payment regulations and liability concerns. Your best bet is to post your dog walking service on local classifieds like Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist, which don’t have the background check requirements that Rover and Wag do. You can also offer pet services to your friends and family. This will help to build your reputation and use word-of-mouth to get more clients. Alternatively, you can gain more experience and learn tricks of the trade by volunteering at local shelters before working professionally.
Enjoyed this post? Don’t forget to pin the image below! Also, don’t forget to follow me on Pinterest over here! 🙂
Leave a Reply