How to Make Money Walking Dogs

More than 48 million people in the U.S. own dogs, but not all of them have time to walk them like they should. That means that many dogs are getting bored and gaining weight because they aren’t getting the fresh air they need to stay healthy and happy.

If you love dogs and want to see them taken care of properly, there’s something you can do. You can offer your services to these well-intentioned but overextended pet owners. If you’re wondering how to make money walking dogs, you have several different options to choose from.

The best part about taking on a job as a dog walker is that not only do you get to help the dogs, but you get some fresh air and exercise as well. Plus, you get to spend time with furry friends without the extra cost of ownership — you’ll make money from them instead of spending it!

Dogs are popular pets because of their cuteness and unconditional love. If you are looking for a way to spend as much time with dogs as possible, then you should consider becoming a freelance dog walker.

How to Make Money Walking Dogs

When asking how to make money walking dogs, the first thing to keep in mind is that people are protective of their pets. Many owners think of their dogs as members of the family, so they want to ensure that their fur babies are being left in good hands. Establishing yourself as trustworthy and reputable is essential. To do that, and to make money walking dogs, you’ll want to follow these steps:

Step 1: Gain Some Experience

When learning how to make money walking dogs, the first thing you need to do is gain some experience. What does that mean? It means that not only do you want to like dogs, but you should also know something about them, including their different personalities and how they might act in public.

Not all dogs enjoy being outside, and some might have anxiety around loud noises or other animals. Knowing what to do if the dog freaks out or becomes nervous will ensure that you and the animal have a good walking experience.

To improve your skills and expertise, you might consider volunteering at an animal shelter or vet’s office. This gives you the chance to see a variety of different personalities during some incredibly stressful situations. You’ll also learn calming techniques to keep the dogs as comfortable as possible.

When wondering how to become a dog walker, another way to gain experience is to ask your family, friends, and neighbors if you can walk their dogs for them. At this point, you may not get paid a ton for your services, but you’ll be able to establish your reputation. Besides, you can make up for the nonpayments later down the road when you have regular clients who are paying you constantly for your services.

Step 2: Learn Canine First Aid

When asking how to make money walking dogs, it may sound silly, but learning how to treat a dog’s injuries can set you apart from other dog walkers in your area. It will also give owners peace of mind knowing that their animals are in good hands and will be taken care of should an accident occur.

To learn about canine first aid, there are courses you can take online. You might also ask the local shelter or vet you’re volunteering for if they can show you some of the basics.

Step 3: Become Reliable and Trustworthy

If you’re wondering how to get a job walking dogs that pays on a consistent basis, you need to be reliable. That means showing up at the same time every day and taking the dogs out. Dogs don’t ask a lot, but once they get into a routine, they expect it to happen every day — rain or shine. Letting them down means letting down their owners, and that can hurt your bottom line.

In addition to being reliable when it comes to taking the dogs for a walk every day, you also have to prove to the owners that you are responsible and trustworthy. Not only are you taking their dogs out for walks, but you will have to gather them from their homes. That means you will have access to people’s belongings.

When learning how to make money walking dogs, the owner needs to trust that you won’t take anything that doesn’t belong to you and that you’ll lock the house after picking up the dog and dropping them off.

Again, one of the ways to prove yourself in this situation is to start working for family, friends and neighbors. Once you’ve shown them that you can be reliable, responsible and trustworthy, you can ask them to refer you to others.

Step 4: Advertise Your Dog Walking Services

When learning how to make money walking dogs, to ensure you make money from the endeavor, you need to advertise your dog walking services. There are numerous ways to achieve this goal. As mentioned, you can ask your family, friends and neighbors for referrals. Word of mouth is often a really good way to find new clients.

You might also consider asking local vets if you can hang flyers in their business. You can also place posts or ads on social media sites, especially those that advertise for sales and services in your local area.

If there are any dog clubs such as 4H or obedience schools in your area, consider talking to them to see about hanging flyers or coming to visit a class and letting them know about your dog walking services. Go to dog parks and introduce yourself to other dog owners and let them know how much you enjoy walking dogs.

There are many different ways to advertise your dog walking services, but if you’re looking for clients to come to you, you might consider joining a dog walking app.

The Best Dog Walking App to Work for

Learning how to make money walking dogs means that you need to know where to find clients. Advertising your services will get you noticed, and joining a dog walking app can be beneficial as well. There are many options to choose from, which may have you trying to determine which is the best dog walking app to work for.

That choice will come down to personal preference, but here are some of the apps you can choose from:

Rover

If you’re looking for the most popular dog walking app that is available in more than 10,000 cities, you’ll want to check out Rover. With so many people using this app, you’re sure to find clients and make good money.

How much can you make walking dogs? Well, that depends on how much you charge and how many clients you have. However, on Rover, the average amount dog walkers make is $10 per hour, but there are some that earn as much as $25 per hour.

The requirements to sign up on Rover include the following:

You have to be at least 18 years old
You have to pass an enhanced background check
You might be required to engage in continuing pet care education and get a Rover walker certificate

Not only is this app user-friendly, but it offers a liability insurance package, which protects you from unnecessary costs if something happens to the dogs in your care.

The only downside to using this popular app is the competition. There are thousands of other people offering dog walking services, so standing out could become challenging.

Wag!

Another incredibly popular dog walking app you might consider signing up for is Wag! The reasons why pet owners like this app are because they are able to track your GPS coordinates, so they always know where you’re walking their fur babies.

You can make appointments to take dogs for walks for 20, 30 or 60 minutes, and on average, you can earn $15 per hour in addition to tips.

You are also expected to fill out a pup report that includes information about how long the walk was, how far you walked and the dog’s potty habits.

The requirements that come with signing up for Wag! include:

Taking their free dog training
Becoming certified

After receiving your certification, the app offers liability insurance to protect you from mishaps while walking dogs.

Petsitter.com

When learning how to make money walking dogs, another option you might consider is signing up for Petsitter.com. This app boasts that it has helped more than one million people find services to keep their pets happy and healthy.

One of the benefits of using this app is that not only can clients find you, but you can also find clients. People looking for services will place jobs that you can peruse and then apply for. This can be incredibly beneficial if you’re just getting yourself established.

The amount of money you make using Petsitter.com is negotiable, but on average, you can make around $15 per hour.

The downside of using this site is that anyone and everyone can post that they’re looking for dog walkers, which means there might be scammers. Before taking any job, take precautions and engage in due diligence to ensure you’re working for a real pet owner that plans to pay you.

Find What Works for You

When it comes to finding the best dog walking app to work for, you need to take several things into consideration, including your lifestyle, where you live, how much money you hope to make, and how much it costs to use these apps.

More often than not, the dog walking app will take a percentage of your total sales, but some will charge a listing fee. You have to decide which options work for you to get the most out of your dog walking business as possible.

How much do dog walkers make?

The amount of money you make as a dog walker can vary. It can be as low as $10 per hour, and as high as $25 per hour. On average, most dog walkers make around $16.70 per hour.

Is there a demand for dog walkers?

This depends on where you live. Urban areas where there are a lot of young professionals tend to have a higher demand for dog walkers. Suburban areas where people commute to work and leave their dogs home alone for most of the day might also have a high demand for dog walkers.

Do you need insurance to walk dogs?

When asking how to make money walking dogs and wondering if you need insurance, the answer is yes. Having general liability insurance will ensure you and your business are covered if something happens during the walk.

Animals can be unpredictable, and having insurance means your business won’t be completely ruined if you have to pay for damages caused to another person or their property.

Do dog walkers need a license UK?

No. All you need to walk dogs in the UK is a love of canines and some extra time.

What are some risks of a dog walking business?

There are many risks when it comes to owning a dog walking business, including the dogs getting killed or injured while in your care. Other people, including yourself, could also get hurt during the job or property can get damaged.

Having insurance can help mitigate some of these risks, but you’ll have to decide if the risks are worth undertaking the endeavor.

What do you put on a dog walking flyer?

Your name
Services offered
Any special skills/certifications
Hours of availability
Ways to contact you
Pricing information

Final Thoughts

Pet owners get busy, so offering to take care of their dogs while they’re at work could benefit you in a variety of different ways. If you’re wondering how to make money walking dogs, here’s what you need to do: