Pet Sitters & Walkers Job Description

The Growth of Pet-Care and Service Workers in the United States from 2016 to 2026

Pets are cared for by pet sitters while their owners are on vacation. The pets are usually kept in the home of the owner. They can also provide basic services for the owner, such as collecting mail and vacuuming pet hair.

Many pet sitters offer regular dog walking services and can also offer pet sitting services on an as-needed basis when clients are out of town. Some pet sitters hire additional staff members to expand their service area, increase the number of customers they can accommodate, and act as a backup when they go on vacation or get sick. They can make more money by licensing pet sitting providers under their brand name.

Dog Walking Jobs in Pet-Based Organisations

Dog walkers help owners exercise their pets. Dogs are usually taken for walks during the day when their owners are away, or for short periods when they are engaged with work. Pet sitting, pet boarding, puppy and pet visits, pet taxis, and even dog grooming can be offered to clients.

You can find a regular client base and popular services when the summer season is high for pet sitters and boarding facilities. If you work for a pet sitting organisation, you will receive on-the-job training, and many companies offer testing and service reviews, followed by a corresponding certification or accreditation for pet sitters. The prices of dog walking can range from $5 to $12, but it is usually less than that.

Dog Walking Jobs

Dog walkers visit the homes of their clients to take their dogs for a walk. The job can be good for people who want to work independently, are self-starters, and love animals. Dog walkers can work through companies such as Wag!

Dog walkers can use Rover to connect with people in need of walks. The fee for a walk varies from $10 to $20 per walk. Private walks are usually more expensive than a group walk from the same apartment building.

Most dog owners are long time walkers. It's a plus if a dog walker can reference previous work in animal health field such as employment as a veterinary technician or veterinary assistant. The owners are more comfortable with leaving their animals in the care of someone with a veterinary background.

Dog walkers must be prepared to face any weather conditions. They spend most of their time on their feet. Dog walkers must be willing to pick up and dispose of dog droppings.

Pet sitters: A new career path for animal care professionals

Pet sitters can stay in the homes of their clients to care for their animals, or they can visit a certain number of times a day. Ensuring dogs are exercised, having fresh food and water, and getting personal play time and attention are some of the primary duties. If you want your pet sitter to clean up accidents, you may want to ask them to walk them.

Cats and animals like snakes, fish and reptiles need litter box cleaning and lighting and heat adjustments. Birds may need cage cleaning and bedding changes. While there is no minimum educational requirement for pet sitters or dog walkers, those with a related background, training or schooling, may be in higher demand, and earn higher salaries.