How to Make Money Walking Dogs: The Rover and Wag Guide for Beginners

Dog walking is one of those side hustles that’s easier to dismiss than it should be. Yes, you’re picking up after dogs. Yes, it requires some physical activity. But the scheduling flexibility is real, the demand in suburban and urban areas is consistent, and the income stacks up faster than most people expect.

Here’s how to build a dog walking business using Rover and Wag, and how to eventually move beyond platforms to maximize your earnings.

How Dog Walking Pays

On Rover, you set your own rates. Standard rates for 30-minute walks run $18 to $28 in most markets. In high-cost-of-living cities, $25 to $40 per walk is common. Rover takes 20% of your earnings, so a $22 walk earns you $17.60.

On Wag, the company sets rates rather than walkers. Pay per walk is lower than Rover, but demand can be higher because Wag does significant marketing in major markets.

Pet sitting (watching a dog at the owner’s home) typically pays $40 to $80 per night, with Rover taking 20%. Overnight stays at your home typically pay $30 to $60 per night.

If you walk 3 dogs per day, 5 days per week, at $20 per walk: that’s $1,200 per month before Rover’s fee, or about $960 net. Doing it in 2 to 3 hours per day. The math is real.

Setting Up on Rover

Your profile is the most important factor in getting bookings. Families are trusting you with their pets. Trust signals matter more than price.

Photo: A clear, friendly photo of you with dogs. Not your pet from 2016. A current photo that shows you’re comfortable with and happy around animals.

Bio: Specific over generic. “I’ve grown up with dogs my whole life, currently have a 3-year-old lab, and have 2+ years of experience walking dogs in my neighborhood” is far better than “I love dogs and will take great care of your pet.”

Mention specific experience: breeds you’ve handled, any special needs experience (older dogs, dogs with anxiety, puppies). The more specific, the more trustworthy.

Services and rates: Start with competitive rates to build reviews. You can raise them after 10 to 15 positive reviews. Set a lower “introductory” rate ($18 vs. local average of $22) for your first month.

Photos and videos from walks: Rover lets you send updates during walks. Clients love this, and it shows up on your profile. Start doing it from your first booking.

Getting Your First Bookings

New profiles with zero reviews are the hardest hurdle. A few tactics:

Offer a meet-and-greet: Rover lets you offer free or low-cost meet-and-greets before the first walk. Most clients want this before leaving their dog with someone new. Always do it. It converts uncertain inquiries into confirmed bookings.

Ask friends: If anyone in your network has a dog, offer to walk it free or at a discount in exchange for an honest Rover review. Your first three reviews do more for your profile than any other optimization.

Be responsive: Rover’s algorithm favors profiles that respond quickly to inquiries. Check the app regularly during your first few weeks and respond to messages within an hour.

On Wag

Wag works differently, it’s more on-demand. Walks are requested through the app and available walkers can claim them. You apply to become a Wag walker, pass a background check, and can start accepting walks once approved.

Wag is better for consistent volume in cities where Wag has strong market presence. The downside: less ability to build client relationships since clients are matched randomly. It’s good income supplementation alongside Rover, not a replacement.

Moving Beyond Platforms

The goal after your first 10 to 20 clients should be to move some of them off-platform to direct arrangements. When you walk a client’s dog consistently for 3 to 4 months and they trust you completely, many are happy to work with you directly (you take payment via Venmo, Zelle, or cash) to avoid Rover’s markup.

This means you keep 100% of the payment instead of 80%. On $1,000 per month in dog walking, that’s $200 more per month in your pocket.

Approach it professionally: explain that you’re trying to build your own business, offer them a small discount off your Rover rate (say 10%), and provide reliable service. Most clients appreciate the transparency and the savings.

Expanding: Boarding, Day Care, and Drop-In Visits

Once your profile has strong reviews and you have regular walking clients, expand into higher-value services:

Overnight boarding: You keep the dog at your home overnight. Rates of $45 to $75 per night are common. If you have space for 2 dogs at once, that’s $90 to $150 per night for overnight stays.

Doggy day care: Dog stays at your home during the day. $25 to $50 per dog per day.

Drop-in visits: 20-minute home visits for feeding, playing, or checking on a pet. $15 to $25 per visit.

A combination of walking + occasional boarding can push monthly income to $2,000 to $3,500 for someone working part-time hours.

What You Actually Need

Comfort with dogs of various sizes and temperaments. Basic knowledge of dog body language. A safe leash and poop bags. Rover’s background check (required, no cost to you). A smartphone. A general sense of your neighborhood’s walking routes.

You don’t need to be a professional dog trainer. You need to be reliable, trustworthy, and genuinely good with animals.

Start Today

Create your Rover profile this evening. Write a genuine bio, add a good photo, set competitive introductory rates, and turn on Rover’s “New Sitter” badge. Message two or three people in your network who have dogs and ask if they want a free introductory walk. The momentum builds from those first reviews.