In the past year, the demand for dog walking in New York City has surged by 25%, with full-time dog walkers potentially earning six-figure salaries. As businesses recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the trend of remote work is also fading. Just last month, Amazon mandated that all employees return to the office daily to foster collaboration. This shift has coincided with the rise of the dog walking industry, where full-time dog walkers report monthly incomes exceeding $4,000.
During the pandemic, lockdowns and stay-at-home policies led many people to seek pets for companionship. According to the New York Times, over 23 million households in the U.S. added a dog or cat during this time—nearly one-fifth of all American homes. The Atlantic notes that these “pandemic puppies” often missed out on crucial socialization since they spent their early months indoors, resulting in a greater need for companionship and care.
For busy professionals, common pet care services include dog walking, dog daycare, and in-home feeding. In addition to numerous physical dog daycare facilities, apps like Wag! and Rover help pet owners find dog walkers and sitters. On Rover, dog walking services in New York City typically cost around $20 per session. A report from the New York Times highlighted that while new dog walkers might earn only $14 for a 30-minute walk, seasoned walkers catering to higher-income clients can earn up to $100,000 annually. The New York Post reported a 25% increase in dog walking bookings on Rover between July and September this year compared to the same period last year.
On the Chinese social platform Xiaohongshu, a user named “Abo Just Wants to Relax” documented her earnings as a full-time dog walker. In August, she earned $4,206, with her top three clients contributing 76% of her income; in September, her earnings were $4,752, with those same clients contributing over 80%. She noted that she initially relied on dog walking service platforms to gain clients, gradually building a loyal customer base after several months.
Mr. Cai, who lives and works in New York, has a one-and-a-half-year-old German Shepherd. He explained that due to the dog’s high exercise needs, he must send her to daycare at least two days a week. “We go to a daycare near our home. If you buy a package, it costs about $55 a day, which adds up to at least $400 or $500 a month,” Mr. Cai stated. Despite the expense, the demand for such services is high. “In the photos and videos I see, there are often ten to twenty dogs in one room.”
Outside of New York, the dog walking industry is similarly thriving across the country. Ms. Liu, a Seattle resident, has been offering dog boarding and daycare services on Rover since October of last year as a side gig. She jokingly remarked that the high demand is turning her side hustle into a primary job, with her monthly earnings stabilizing at $6,000 to $7,000. During busy weekends or holidays, she typically cares for five dogs at a time, and during quieter periods, she has one or two, but “there’s never a lack of clients.”
