How to Start a Dog Walking & Pet Sitting Side Hustle in 2025

1. 01

   Step 1: Decide which pet services you'll offer

   

   Start by choosing the services that fit your schedule and comfort level. Dog walking is the most common—usually 30-minute or hour-long walks during weekday mornings, lunch breaks, or evenings. Drop-in visits work well if you can check on pets once or twice a day to feed, refresh water, and give medications. Overnight pet sitting means staying at the owner's home, typically paying $50-100 per night in most cities. You can also offer doggy daycare at your place if you have the space and time.

   Pick one or two services to start, then expand as you build experience and clientele. If you're new to pet care, stick with dog walking and feeding visits before taking on overnight responsibilities.

2. 02

   Step 2: Set your rates and availability

   

   Research what other pet sitters and dog walkers charge in your area. Typical rates run $15-25 for a 30-minute walk, $25-40 for an hour, and $30-50 for a drop-in visit. Overnight sitting usually commands $50-100 per night. Price yourself competitively when you're starting out, then raise rates once you have a few five-star reviews.

   Decide your working hours—mornings before your day job, lunch breaks, evenings, or weekends. Be honest about your availability so clients know when to book you. Apps like Lumo let you set working hours and pause job alerts when you're unavailable, so you only get requests during times you've blocked off for pet care.

3. 03

   Step 3: Sign up on a platform and create your profile

   

   The fastest way to find clients is joining a platform that connects pet owners with local caregivers. Lumo offers pet care as one of its service categories—you pick 'Worker' when you open the app, select pet care as a job type, and set your alert radius for jobs near you. You keep 90% of what you earn, and the app handles payments, messaging, and reviews.

   Fill out your profile with a friendly photo, a short bio about your experience with animals, and the services you offer. Mention if you have your own dog (reassures clients you're comfortable with animals), any pet first-aid training, and whether you can handle large breeds or multiple pets at once. A complete profile gets more bookings.

4. 04

   Step 4: Respond quickly and confirm details

   

   When a pet care request comes in, reply within a few minutes if possible. Pet owners often book the first person who responds with a professional, friendly message. Use the app's messaging to confirm the pet's name, breed, age, any special instructions (medications, behavioral quirks, gate codes), and exactly what the owner wants done—walk route, feeding amounts, litter box duties, playtime.

   Agree on the time and location, and let them know you'll send updates or photos during the visit. Clear communication upfront prevents confusion and builds trust, which leads to repeat bookings and great reviews.

5. 05

   Step 5: Do the job safely and document everything

   

   Arrive on time, follow the owner's instructions, and treat the pet and home with respect. Always leash dogs before opening doors, keep cats indoors if that's the rule, and clean up any accidents. Take a few photos or a short video during the visit—dogs mid-walk, a happy cat after playtime—and send them to the owner. They love the updates and it proves you were there.

   When you finish, confirm everything is secure: doors locked, gates closed, pet safely inside. If anything unusual happens—a pet refuses food, seems unwell, or you notice a home issue—message the owner immediately. Transparency builds trust and leads to tips and five-star ratings.

6. 06

   Step 6: Request reviews and build repeat clients

   

   After each job, the owner can rate and review you in the app. Politely ask satisfied clients to leave a review if they don't do it automatically—high ratings are your best marketing tool. A profile with ten five-star reviews will get far more bookings than one with no feedback.

   Many pet owners need regular help—daily midday walks, weekend visits, or care during every business trip. Let clients know you're happy to set up recurring bookings, and follow up a week or two after the first job to see if they need you again. Repeat clients become your steady income base and often tip generously because they trust you with their pets.

7. 07

   Step 7: Track earnings and grow your schedule

   

   Your earnings land in the app's wallet after each completed job. On Lumo, you can cash out anytime to your bank account. Keep a simple log of hours worked and income earned so you know your effective hourly rate and can report it at tax time (yes, side-hustle income is taxable).

   As your calendar fills, you can raise rates slightly, focus on higher-paying overnight sits, or take on multiple short walks in the same neighborhood to maximize earnings per hour. Some pet sitters turn this into a full-time gig earning $3,000-5,000 a month; others keep it as a steady $500-1,000 monthly side income. You control the pace.

Photos are illustrative. Service prices are typical ranges and vary by city. How we write our guides.