Rover 101: How to Become a Dog Walker

Do you like spending time outdoors? Do you also love dogs? If so, you can finally make some easy cash while living your best life. From food delivery to rideshare, peer-to-peer businesses are popping up left and right. Now, we can add dog walking to the list thanks to Rover. If this scenario sounds like your ideal job, then keep reading to find out how to become a professional dog walker.

What Is Rover?

Rover is a service that’s designed to bring pet owners together with dog service providers throughout the area. However, instead of a traditional pet hotel or veterinary office, the company utilizes independent contractors throughout the area. This arrangement ensures that owners and walkers have the opportunity to schedule services based on their unique schedules. As a result, it’s more convenient for all parties involved.

The company’s slogan is “We’re the Dog People,” which, in itself, emphasizes their desire to work with compassionate individuals. Along with dog walking, you can also sign up for boarding, house sitting, doggy daycare, and drop-in visits. While the services are focused on canines, sitters can tailor their profile to cats as well.

Dog walkers have been a staple in large cities, like New York, for decades. However, most cities and towns don’t have their own variation. As a result, Rover has opened up the market for dog lovers in several areas to earn some extra cash. Currently, the service is available in thousands of communities across the U.S. and Canada, including:

• Atlanta
• Austin
• Boston
• Cincinnati
• Denver
• Houston
• Kansas City
• Los Angeles
• Milwaukee
• New York City
• Phoenix
• Portland
• Seattle
• Washington, D.C.

Rover is incredibly popular in large cities, but it also filters into smaller neighborhoods. If you want to join their fleet of walkers, there’s a good chance that it’s available in your location.

How Rover Works

Rover is essentially the Uber or Lyft of the dog care industry. Owners and dog walkers are connected through the platform. However, there aren’t any minimum hour requirements or pre-set working schedules. As a result, walkers are able to set their own hours and choose which projects they want to take on. Take a closer look at how this unique platform works, below.

The Rover App

The Rover app is where all of the most important processes occur.

Dog walkers and sitters create profiles that outline their services as well as highlight their availability in the built-in calendar. Owners, on the other hand, can browse these profiles to find the right match and leave reviews afterward. When they need a service, they simply submit a request to their chosen contractor, who can either accept or deny it. The Rover app also offers the ability to create repeat bookings for regular services with the same dog walker or sitter.

Even better, when you’re on a job, you can record feeding times, look up care info, or contact the owner, all from within the app.

At the end of a job, you can send the owner a note or report, so they know how their pet is doing.

 

Payments

Rover service providers take home 80% of each payment. The company charges a 20% commission as well as a 5% to 7% service fee. However, the latter charge is covered entirely by the client.

All payments are processed electronically. After a service is completed, the money is available within two days. Contractors can transfer the amount from their Rover app to their bank account any time after that period.

The Rover Guarantee

The company also offers a peace-of-mind program known as the Rover Guarantee. While it’s similar to an insurance policy, it’s more of a reimbursement program for dog care providers. It’s designed to help cover financial costs in the event of damage or injury.

Here’s a quick breakdown:

• Covers up to $25,000 for vet care.
• $1 million dollars in protection for property damage or third-party injuries.
• Walkers and sitters only need to pay the $250 out-of-pocket deductible.

When qualifying issues occur, Rover contractors are able to contact the Trust and Safety Team to file a claim.

Around-the-Clock Support

One of the top advantages of working with Rover is their around-the-clock support. The support staff is reachable by phone and email at any time of the day and night, and they also offer veterinarian assistance. While the 24-hour support is handy, the ability to speak with a veterinarian makes Rover stand out. This quality is sure to put both service providers and owners at ease.

How to Become a Rover Dog Walker

If you’d like to get paid to hang out with dogs of all ages and sizes, then Rover is probably a good match. However, they don’t hire just anyone. The company’s basic applicant requirements are as follows:

• Age: Must be at least 18 years old.
• Criminal History: Able to pass a background check.
• Bank: All payments go through the Rover app, so every applicant needs a bank account.

Since you don’t technically need to transport the dogs, there aren’t any vehicle requirements. As such, dog walking is open to a much wider group than delivery and rideshare services.

The Rover Dog Walker Application

Joining the Rover team is a fairly simple process as long as you meet the requirements. To begin the application, visit their website or download the Rover app on your Apple or Android device. Once you create a rover account, follow these steps:

1. Open The Rover App

From the Rover Dashboard, click “more” in the lower right hand corner.

2. Start Your Rover Pet Sitter Application

On this screen, choose “Become a Sitter”, followed by “Get Started” on the next screen, to begin the Rover application.

3. Build Your Profile

Next, it’s time to create your profile. Enter your name, address, contact information, and social security number to set up your account. This step requires that you complete your public dog walker profile by adding information about yourself, including experience and images. Finally, all applicants must authorize the background check before their application is considered complete.

4. Wait for Acceptance

The internal Rover team reviews each dog walker’s profile to ensure everything is correct. If there are any questions, they’ll email you directly. The team also has to wait until the background check is complete. Typically, the entire process takes around three to five days, but can take a little longer.

Once approved, you’ll have instant access to your local Rover network. If you plan on also offering other services, like pet boarding, be sure to upload pictures of your home. This step makes potential clients more at ease. As a result, you’re likely to get more requests and boost your overall earning potential.

Hit the Pavement With Rover and Start Earning Today!

Rover is opening up opportunities for dog lovers and owners alike. Pet owners will appreciate that the company utilizes a background check system as well as highly personalized profiles. Plus, the ability to re-book with the same walker is an added perk, especially when you find a person that both you and your furry friend like. If you’re interested in becoming a pet sitter with Rover, click the button below to start your application.