Yes, you can. 

We mean, yes you can make real money walking dogs on Wag! 

Are you a dog lover, a dog caregiver, a walker, a sitter, or a trainer? 

Do you want to step up your game and make money doing what you love?

Then take a look at Wag the app that connects pet owners with caregivers who can provide their furry friends with the love and attention they need. 

In 2021 alone, pet owners spent an estimated $9.7 billion on dog walking, sitting, boarding, training, and grooming. That’s an awful lot of cash to go around. 

So read on and find out if Wag is the perfect platform for you to transform you love of animals into a profitable side hustle. 

What is Wag?

Wag is an L.A. based startup founded in 2015 that connects pet parents with a community of pet caregivers. It offers dog walks, pet sitting, drop-ins, boarding, and dog training. With over 400K pet caregivers across 5,300+ cities in the 50 states of the USA, Wag tops the chart as one of America’s largest online pet care services. 

Swug - walk dogs

Why do people love Wag?

Be your own boss

Wag is great if you want a flexible job. With Wag you make money on your own time. You set your own schedule, work on your own terms, and decide your pay rate. You can pre-plan pet-sitting weeks ahead or take up late-minute walks, it’s all up to you.

Set your own rates

You decide how much to charge. The amount typically varies according to the service, your location, and your experience. The average dog walker makes $20 for a 30-minute walk, while sitting or boarding a dog may pay $40 a night.

Wag pays you automatically each week so you don’t have to wait long for your next payday. The platform does take a steep 40% cut of your pay, so be sure to factor that in when you set your rates.

Don’t forget the tips

Wag workers keep 100% of their tips! Give the job your all, find loyal customers, and you can make even more doing what you love!

My first customer tipped me $3, so I ended up getting paid $21 for a 60-minute walk.  That’s not terrible if you consider that you’re also outside getting paid to exercise while walking a cute pup. Kevin

Do work you love

Imagine being able to make money doing something you enjoy! With Wag, you easily earn a paycheck playing with dogs. If you love animals and have fun caring for them, this is the perfect gig.

Be part of a community 

With over 400,000 pet caregivers on Wag, you automatically become part of a family of dog people. You also get to be part of a charitable culture. Wag has donated over 16 million meals to shelter dogs! Click here to meet fellow caregivers who are currently cashing out on Wag. 

How to get started on Wag?

Wag does have a longer application process than some other gig jobs, but that’s only to make sure that its clients get the best. When you go through their application, you assure owners that you can take care of their doggo. 

Begin to make money hanging out with dogs in 6 quick steps:

  • Submit your application. Note that you need to be at least 18 years to become a dog walker on Wag.
  • Fill out an initial questionnaire. Answer questions about yourself and your pet care experience.
  • Watch videos and pass pet care quizzes. You’ll be asked to take quizzes on safety, dog care, dog walking, etc. Most of it is common sense and the assessments do not take very long.
  • Pass a background check. Wag charges $25 for you to take a background check.
  • Set up your profile. All you need to do is write a short bio and upload a photo. Choose a professional one that makes you look responsible and trustworthy.
  • Start walking and earning!

Start Walking, Start Earning

Wag offers scheduled, recurring, and on-demand walks. You get to choose which walks you’d like to accept and what types of dogs you prefer to walk. The app will notify you when owners are looking for dog walkers. It’s first come first serve so be sure to have your notifications turned on so you won’t miss a walk.

You can earn $12.75-$20 for a 20 minute walk. In major cities, the rate can go up to $25! You’ll make $17-$30 for a 30 min walk and $25.50-$37 for a 60 minute walk. That’s pretty good pay, especially considering that you’re getting exercise at the same time!

During a walk, the app tracks you using GPS, just like with Uber. When you’re done, you’ll fill out a pup report with notes on the walk and a photo. Let the pet parents know about their doggo and show that you care. It’s the perfect opportunity to add a personal touch and earn more tips!

I’m getting paid to hang out with dogs, explore LA, get some sunshine, get some exercise. It’s a really awesome gig. Katie M, an LA dog walker

Earn the Most on Wag

Wag is best known for its dog walking services but there are multiple ways to make money on the app. Beyond walking, you can expand your clientele by sitting, training, and housing dogs too. 

  • Pet Sitting & Boarding

Pet parents will pay for you to give personalized care to their doggos while they’re away. Play with the dog, feed it, give it any medications, take it for walks, and otherwise give it the care it needs. You can either do pet sitting where you stay at the owner’s home – arguably more comfortable for your furry friend – or boarding where you take the dog into your home. You’ll make anywhere from $39 to $59 per night for one dog. If you’re taking care of more than one dog, expect to make more.

  • Drop-Ins

Check-in on man’s best friend, play with them, give them a bathroom break, and otherwise care for their needs. Drop-ins do not include walks and are scheduled for different amounts of time.

  • Training

Wag offers two different dog training options. You can do digital training via the app. These come in 30-minute sessions and are completely online so you can be in a different part of the country. Or you can go to the dog’s home for 1 hour training sessions that pay on average $61-$66 for one dog.

If you love furry friends and want to make some extra cash, give Wag a try. Unless you can train and board dogs it can be difficult to make enough on Wag to turn it into a full-time gig, but it is the perfect side hustle for dog lovers. At the very least you’ll have fun playing with doggos and get paid to exercise.

For more opportunities to earn walking dogs read ….

If you love furry friends and want to make some extra cash, Wag is a good choice. While possible to earn enough to make it a full-time job, Wag is usually best as a side hustle. Pick up walks on your lunch break and get some much-needed exercise during the day. Instead of spending money buying your lunch, make some money walking dogs on Wag.

With low pay rates and Wag taking its cut, it can be difficult to make enough solely walking dogs to turn it into a full-time gig. Unless you can train and board dogs it can be difficult to make enough on Wag to turn it into a full-time gig, but it is the perfect side hustle for dog lovers. You can pick up walks on your lunch break and get excercise and earn money instead of spending it on a latte

Good luck as you start earning!

About the author

Rachel Alulis

Rachel Alulis has been the lead editor for Moneyfor’s credit cards team since 2015 and for the financial rewards team since 2023. Before joining Moneyfor, Rachel worked at USA Today and the Des Moines Register. She then established a successful freelance writing and editing business specializing in personal finance. Rachel holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism and an MBA.