Do you love dogs? Are you not allowed to have one at your place, but you still want to spend time with some cute pups? Would you like some extra money to play with on the side? Dog-sitting may not be the first side gig many people look for, but it may be the most fun. You can just download an app, post your services, and dog owners can pick you to watch their dog! It seems like a dream come true; watching/walking dogs, and making money doing it. There a couple popular dog-sitting apps, and we will do a quick run-down of them and how to start.
Platforms
The two main apps that will land you the most dog-sitting and dog-walking work are Rover and Wag. Rover is more based on the dog-sitting side of things. You can get day work, overnight work, and even full-length vacation gigs as you grow on the app. Wag is focused more on dog-walking, but has sitting options. Downloading both is a great way to get maximum exposure, especially if you want to walk and sit.
Starting Out
The first step is obviously to download the respective apps and apply to become a walker/sitter. Once you do, each of them have a process you go through to ensure you are who you say you are. they verify your identity, your dog knowledge, and your experience level. All of this will be available to the customer so that they can feel safe hiring you. You’ll take a few quizzes, show a picture of your ID, and receive your t-shirts and whatever else the app provides you. There is usually a fee involved in getting started on account of the items they may have to send you to make you look more official.
Building Business
Just like anything else, it is important to take any work that comes your way at the beginning. This will build your experience, your contacts, and your referral business. Each app makes it pretty easy for dog owners to share their favorite walker or sitter, so doing a good job will go a long way. While you may feel the urge to be choosey, maximizing your income per-gig, that is not the best move at the start. Just put your head down, take every job you have time to take, and build your book of business. It may be a side hustle, but it is important to take things seriously.
Look Professional
It probably feels a little silly to talk about professionalism in dog-sitting. Nonetheless, people are going to expect a certain level of it if they are going to trust you with their beloved pets. So wear whatever garb the app gives you to wear, be on-time and polite, and answer any questions the owner has. You want to instill confidence in yourself, and you want customers to feel safe.
Read More:
- Should You Focus on Paying Off Debt or Saving?
- What Are Key Traits of a Good Accountant?
- 5 Ways to Fix Bad Credit
Trey LaRocca is a freelance writer, financial sales worker, and tech guy. When he isn’t out and about or at work, he’s usually at home enjoying some video games and a beer. Currently residing in Newport Beach, this California Kid can be found at the beach on any given weekend. Trey has years of experience in day/swing trading, financial analytics, and sales.