Our neighbors caught on really quickly that we love dogs. They have three dogs that charge the fence every day and I always scamper up to them with a smile. On top of that, we always had some new dog in our yard that we’re dog sitting. I have always been happy to help out a friend or family member when they needed a dog sitter because I’m home all day anyway with two dogs and two wild animals I call children. Then one day it happened. The clouds parted and I heard angels sing when my aunt told me about the Rover app that helps dog owners find me to dog sit. This meant I could get more money and more dogs in my life! Because I am always telling people about this new adventure, I wanted to take a moment to share exactly how to be successful with a dog sitting side hustle to earn extra cash. Keep reading and I will answer all of my most frequently asked dog sitting questions.
*This post contains affiliate links. I may make a commission but all recommendations are my own.
Rover is a company that was created to help assist dog lovers in getting care for their pets. Using the Rover app or Rover.com you will be instantly connected with dog sitters, walkers, and visitors in your area so you can easily get help with your pup.
If you are planning a vacation, need a dog walker while you’re at work, or just need someone to pop in to check on your dog during the day, Rover has got you covered.
Now offered in over 14,000 cities across America and Canada, Rover also has over 200K dog sitters and nearly perfect reviews. Learn more about Rover!
There are some basic services offered through Rover that you can use to get started making money:
Just because Rover offers all of these options, does not mean you have to do them all. You get to pick and choose which types of services you offer.
When you get into your Rover profile you’ll have the option to select several options:
This is what makes Rover so amazing. If you don’t want to take on larger dogs, you don’t have to. You can also choose based on animals you might have in your house.
The first type of service you can choose from is Hosting Services. These are of course things where you host a dog in your home. There are several options available and you get to choose what you’ll charge for each.
Because Rover helps you find clients, they will of course be taking a commission. However, you are able to see what you’ll actually be earning when you enter your prices. Start making your profile!
Traveling services are of course services where you travel. When opting for travel services I always recommend only accepting jobs that are within a 10-mile radius of your own home.
You can see I still charge a similar amount for travel services this is because it takes time out of my day and puts minor wear and tear on my vehicle, and also will cost me some in gas.
No worries! I have 2 dogs at home, one big dog and one little one. Because our smallest one has had “run-ins” with bigger female dogs, I was nervous to take on any large dogs at first. Now we have gotten a pretty good process down, and our dogs are actually quite used to having strangers in their home. Here are some of the things that have helped us make smooth transitions:
Other ways to make extra cash:
After I applied online, I made to sure watch Rover’s welcome videos that talked about how to be successful with Rover’s dog sitting services. Here are some of the best tips that I implemented that worked wonders for me.
Ok, so we know how to get started smart with Rover, but what are some things that you can do to get those good reviews? How can you be one of the best dog sitters or dog walkers out there?
How often you make money will vary based on the types of services you offer and how many people are in your area.
There are definitely certain times of the year where you stand to make more money. In my personal experience, we have found having availability during these weekends has been beneficial:
It’s also important to remember to give your original customers a good experience. They are more likely to come back and will recommend you to other people.
Creating good reviews and keeping prices competitive will be the two things most likely to continue to help you generate income.
When I first started Rover, I kept Rover’s recommended prices. After taking on several different dogs and getting a good feel for how things run, I decided to up my prices just a little.
Originally my prices were rather low, so I bumped them up another $5 or so. While I do want to get paid for my services, it’s important to remember not to price myself too high.
I have Rover set up through my PayPal account. Once a dog visit or dog walk has been completed, Rover will issue a payment to me through PayPal. It takes a few days after a visit or walk is done to completely transfer to your bank.
Yes, in order to operate, Rover takes a small commission from each of my bookings. This is part of the reason why I upped my prices a little.
I, of course, don’t mind Rover taking a commission because, without them, I wouldn’t be finding all of these bookings anyway!
I like to get as much information as possible about each dog so that I can know what to expect. If there is a dog with potty problems, I know about it in advance. When a dog needs medication I make sure to get all the information first.
People are pretty open about their dog’s problems because they want you to have a positive experience as well. So far, the biggest problem I have had with a dog was that they wouldn’t stop barking.
Just make sure to ask if there are any problems or any concerns that the family wants you to be aware of. That way you can handle any issues that might arise.
You can sign up for Rover quickly and easily online. Because people want to know their dogs are in good hands, each potential sitter must pass a background check.
My application process took only a few days and I booked my first dog in about 20 minutes! Just make sure you are checking your e-mails for updates and get all the steps done as soon as possible!
My kids tell me every day that they love my “job.” Although it has never actually felt like a job.
Hopefully, this post was helpful in answering some of your major dog sitting questions and getting you totally psyched up for joining Rover. You won’t regret it, I promise. Click here to apply.