To become a dog sitter, sign up on sites like Pawshake, set your profile availability and prices, and list your services such as dog boarding, pet sitting, dog walking, pet taxi services, and more. To attract clients, ensure your pet sitter profile is comprehensive, with listed availability, rates, and experience. Promote your services through flyers, directories, and word-of-mouth. In the UK, dog sitters can earn an average of £25 daily.
Obtain pet sitting qualifications such as animal first aid, behavior, or care certificates. It’s also crucial to have proper licenses and insurance based on the services you offer. Rates can vary, for example, £30-50 for half or full-day daycare, £15-20 per hour for short visits, and around £60 for overnight sits. Your main responsibilities will include feeding, walking, playing, and cleaning up after the pets.
Enjoying the companionship of dogs can help you combat loneliness and stay active. However, a love for dogs, while essential, is not the sole requirement for becoming a dog sitter; you also need to understand the various facets and responsibilities of the job.
Steps to Start Your Dog Sitting Business
- Gain practical experience by shadowing professional sitters, dog walkers, or veterinary assistants.
- Acquire at least one to two years of formal experience caring for animals.
- Advertise your dog sitter services to local dog owners, highlighting your qualifications and affection for pets.
- Use dog-walking apps like Wag Walker and Rover in the US or collaborate with local dog businesses for a commission.
- Network within your community and online via platforms like Nextdoor or localized Facebook groups.
To bolster your credentials, create an inventory of your pet-care experience, whether it’s caring for your pets or those belonging to friends and family.
Dog sitting can be a lucrative side hustle or full-time job. As a dog sitter, you can earn various rates depending on the services you provide. For example, you might charge £30-50 for day daycare, £15-20 per hour for short visits, and approximately £60 for overnight stays.
It’s important to also consider supplementary aspects of the job, such as obtaining the necessary licenses and insurance for your services, obtaining pet sitting qualifications, and determining a suitable marketing strategy to reach potential clients.
In the US, typical rates for sitters range from $10-20 per hour or $30-60 daily, with specific services like 30-minute visits costing $25 or overnight stays between $75-85. Focusing on a target demographic such as pet owners aged 35-65 in suburban areas can also help tailor your business strategy. Offering incentives, such as a discount on the next booking for referrals, and setting a defined service radius can help manage your workload and client expectations.
Teens and others looking to start in pet sitting can use social media, distribute flyers, and gather referrals to build their clientele. Platforms like Rover provide an easy way to earn extra income by connecting sitters with pet owners.