Looking to find the best dog walking app to work for?
Do you want to turn your love for dogs into a side hustle? I have walked dogs as a side hustle and it’s still one of my favorite ways to make extra money.
My favorite dog walking site is Rover, and it is what I have walked dogs with in the past. I like how easy this site is to use, and there are always a ton of pet owners looking for dog walkers (so, there is a lot of demand!). There are many other great sites too, depending on what you are looking for!
Dog walkers and pet caregivers can get paid around $15-$30 an hour depending on how many dogs they are walking. This might seem like a lot, but you have to factor in that you’re typically only working an hour per pet, and you have to travel to and from the pet owner’s house.
Recommended reading: How I Earned Up to $4,000 Per Month Baking Dog Treats (With Zero Baking Experience!)
Best Dog Walking Apps
Below are the best dog walking apps.
1. Rover
Rover is an app that connects pet owners with pet sitters. You can get paid for services like dog walking, dog boarding, doggy daycare, administering medicine (such as flea medication or medicine for something more serious), and drop-in visits.
Rover is flexible and allows you to:
- set your own prices and rates
- offer different kinds of services like dog boarding or dog walking
- set size, age, and other pet preferences
- enable push notifications on your phone so that you can see real-time appointments and services scheduled
Rover makes it extremely hassle-free for pet owners to message sitters, and it is a very popular site for pet owners. My sister has used it many times in the past to find dog sitters while on vacation, and I have walked plenty of dogs on this site as well!
Rover also includes The Rover Guarantee, which includes up to $25,000 in vet care reimbursement. There’s also 24/7 support in the app, including vet assistance.
To get started on the Rover app, all you need to do is create a profile, start accepting requests, and get paid.
Click here to sign up for Rover.
2. Wag
Wag is an app that connects trusted pet sitters with pet owners. With Wag, you can get paid for dog walking, pet sitting, boarding, training, and even drop-in visits.
To become a walker on Wag, complete your application, pass a background check, pass a pet care quiz, and get started finding jobs.
Pet owners love Wag because every single dog walker and dog sitter must pass an extensive background check. The Wag app also includes GPS tracking, lock boxes, and live chat with owners and dog walkers.
3. Fetch Pet Care
Fetch Pet Care is a platform that connects dog walkers to pet owners. Dog walkers perform various jobs like pet drop-in visits, dog walkers, cat playtime, puppy care, feeding, and even transporting pets. Certain locations offer boarding at the sitter’s home and overnight care at the client’s home.
To become a Fetch Pet Care dog walker, choose the Fetch location you’re applying for, fill out an online application, and you’ll then meet the local owner to see if you’re a good fit for Fetch.
Once you begin working as a dog walker, your jobs may be limited, but as you build your clientele, your work assignments will increase and you’ll start making more money.
Besides dogs and cats, Fetch Pet Care also cares for gerbils, lizards, fish, birds, and even livestock in rural areas, such as horses, cows, and chickens.
4. PetBacker
PetBacker works in over 50 different countries and connects pet owners with pet sitters.
To become a pet sitter with PetBacker, you need to apply within the PetBacker app. Working as a pet sitter with PetBacker includes benefits such as the freedom to choose your own schedule, services, and rates, as well as your services being allocated to pet parents near your location.
PetBacker also helps you manage and handle pet parents’ bookings and requests and even has a simple payment system within the app.
5. Steady
Steady is an app that matches you with side hustles, part-time jobs, and freelance jobs. The app is easy to use and lets you browse through job listings to find the right match for you.
On Steady, you can also search for dog walking jobs near you. To get started, download Steady and answer basic information about yourself such as your skills and past experiences.
Not only that, Steady has personalized insights that help you find the ideal earning situation for your life. The app is free to use. Steady members claim they earn an average of $5,500.
6. Care.com
Care.com is a website that lists jobs in child care, senior care, housekeeping, pet care, and tutoring. To land jobs on Care.com, you must complete your profile and pass a background check.
Besides pet care, you can also list your other services, such as babysitting, senior caregiving, and more. You are not only limited to offering one service on Care.com.
I’ve found all of my babysitting and nannying jobs through Care.com and have had great success with the app. Reviews and references are important in this app and you’re more likely to get hired if you have a perfect rating.
7. Holidog
Holidog is an app that connects dog owners with pet sitters who do dog walking, drop-in visits, and dog boarding. Working as a Holidog pet sitter has benefits like schedule flexibility, earning side hustle income, and enjoying the outdoors with pets.
To become a Holidog pet sitter, you need to create a pet sitter profile (after which your profile will be reviewed and validated), and then your profile will be activated on the platform. This usually takes around 24 hours.
Frequently Asked Questions About The Best Dog Walking Apps
Below are answers to common questions about the best dog walking apps.
What is the best dog walking app to make money?
The best dog walking app in my opinion is Rover and all of my dog walking and pet sitting jobs come from Rover (there never seems to be a shortage of jobs available). Rover is an easy platform to use that lists jobs for dog walking, pet sitting, and boarding. With Rover, you can set your own rates, availability, and what kind of services you offer.
In some cities, the Wag app may be more popular to use than Rover. It’s important to check out different apps within your area to see what’s used the most by pet owners.
Barkly Pets used to be another popular option, but the site was recently discontinued.
Another thing to look into when comparing the different dog walking apps is to think about the fees as well – how much will you lose out on fees?
How much can I get paid walking dogs?
Dog walkers typically get paid between $15-$30 an hour depending on how many dogs they are walking. This might seem like a lot, but you have to factor in that you’re typically only working an hour per pet, and you have to travel to and from the pet owner’s house.
Keep in mind, that there are some dog walkers earning $100,000+ a year, like Ryan in the below CNBC Made It video. He works roughly 6 hours a day 6 days a week.
How can I land more dog walking jobs?
In the beginning, it may seem hard to get dog walking jobs. To get more jobs, you may want to list your rates lower than you usually would. This is going to land you more jobs, which means more reviews and testimonials from pet owners.
You’ll also want to make sure to be on time for each dog walking job and give the best care possible to the pet. Also, sending real-time adorable photo updates of the dogs you are watching to their owners helps your clients to feel more happy and comfortable with you as a dog sitter (it’s a nice touch to show you care!), and sending a personalized note when the service is done is great too.
Once you have several reviews, you can gradually increase your rates. Reviews are incredibly important on the Rover app and it’s important to maintain a high rating.
Are Wag and Rover the same company?
Wag and Rover are two separate companies that have the same pet care services. Both companies connect pet owners with dog walkers, pet sitters, and other pet care services like training via their website, and their cell phone apps on IOS and Android devices.
Should I walk dogs on Rover or Wag?
Whether you choose Rover or Wag to walk dogs will depend on who has more job listings available. Check each platform and see who has a stronger presence in your city.
Before choosing an app to list your services, take a look at both apps and see which user interface and app experience you like the most. You will also want to check the insurance coverage and support provided by both Rover and Wag.
It’s fairly common for dog walkers to use both apps to list their services. Rover and Wag may be equally popular in your city and you may want to take advantage of both apps.
Why is Rover better than Wag?
Some people prefer Rover over Wag because they want more control over setting their rates and the type of services they offer. Rover tends to have more flexibility within the app and users can tailor their offerings to their skills and local market.
Rover also has a presence not only in the United States, but abroad as well in countries like Canada, the U.K., Spain, France, Italy, Germany, Sweden, Norway, and the Netherlands.
The Rover app also offers premium insurance coverage for services booked through the platform. This provides peace of mind for both the dog walker and the pet owner.
Can you do both Wag and Rover?
You can sell your services on both the Wag and Rover app. Doing this has advantages like more dog walking jobs being available, which means you make more money. It’s important to keep in mind that each platform has different policies regarding rates, scheduling, and service offerings.
By being on both platforms, you can diversify your income and maximize your earnings, and building a client base on both apps can lead to a more stable income.
What percentage does Rover take?
Rover takes 20% of what you earn on the app. This means if you list a service for $100 per night, Rover will take $20 per night.
Are there any dog walking apps for under 18 years old?
The popular dog walking apps require users to be at least 18 years of age due to legal and liability considerations. This is due to handling pets involving a certain level of responsibility and the risks involved.
If you’re under 18 and interested in dog walking, you may be able to promote your services to your local community by putting up flyers around the neighborhood or advertising in local Facebook groups.
If you don’t have experience dog walking, you can also try volunteering with a parent at a local animal shelter. You can get experience walking dogs there and perhaps find some great networking opportunities.
Best Dog Walking Apps – Summary
I hope you enjoyed this article on the best dog walking service to work for.
If you love dogs and want to make extra money with a side hustle, dog walking may be for you. This side hustle is low-stress, enjoyable, and has the potential to turn into a full-time gig if you walk enough dogs.
Whether you want to make money through a 30-minute walk or if you want to run a doggie daycare, there are many options for dog people who want to become a pet care provider while receiving secure payments through a dog walking app.
Are you interested in a dog walking side hustle?
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