Rover Sitter Review: $1000 a Month Playing with Dogs?

If you’ve ever thought about turning your love for pets into a side hustle, you’ve probably come across Rover.

As the largest network of pet sitters, Rover offers a flexible way to earn money caring for dogs and cats.

But is it the right fit for you?

Let’s talk about what it’s like to be a Rover sitter and how much you can really make. We based this review on:

• 15+ years of side hustle experience
• Independent research on the Rover platform
• Feedback from the 50,000+ member Side Hustle Nation community
• Our own experience boarding friends’ dogs

About Rover.com

Rover got its start in 2011 and has served more than 2 million pet owners.

The Seattle-based company is the world’s largest facilitator of pet boarding, house sitting, drop-in visits, doggy day care, and dog walking.

Formerly traded on the Nasdaq stock exchange, Rover was acquired by the private equity fund Blackstone in 2024.

Getting Started With Rover 

Becoming a Rover sitter is a straightforward process.

After you create your account, you’ll fill in your sitter profile with details about:

• Your experience with pets
• The services you offer
• Your availability

Pro Tip: Make sure to include high-quality photos of yourself with pets and a friendly, welcoming bio!

For example, “Star Sitter” Rocio L. has dozens of pictures on her profile: 

Next, set your preferences. That means specifying:

• The types of pets you want to care for (e.g., dogs, cats),
• The services you offer (e.g., dog walking, boarding, house sitting)
• Your rates.

Rover requires all sitters to complete a third-party criminal background check to guarantee the safety of the pets and their owners. This step involves providing additional personal information and consenting to the check.

Finally, you’ll want to review Rover’s resources and training materials to help you get started. Even if you have lots of experience with animals, this will help you learn more about the app, communication best practices, and what to do if something goes wrong.

Once your profile and background check are reviewed and approved, you’ll be ready to start accepting bookings!

The Benefits of Being a Rover Sitter

One of the biggest perks of being a Rover sitter is the flexibility it offers. 

Whether you’re looking for a full-time job or just a way to make some extra cash on the weekends, Rover can fit into your schedule. 

Plus, if you’re a pet lover, it hardly feels like work at all!

Another advantage is the support system Rover provides. 

From 24/7 emergency support to the Rover Guarantee, which covers up to $25,000 in veterinary bills in case of an accident or injury, you can feel secure knowing you’re backed by a reputable company.

As a pet sitter, the Guarantee covers injury to your pets, but not damage to your property or home:

Plus, if you connect with a pet and an owner and provide great service, they will likely remain a customer for years.

How Much Money Can You Make Pet Sitting on Rover.com?

On Rover, your earning power depends on a few different factors including:

• What services you offer
• Your location
• How many dogs or cats you can accommodate at one time

Overnight pet boarding commands the highest rates. For example, I found rates near me ranging from $50-80/night.

In lower cost of living areas, you’ll see hosts charging $25-40/night.

But let’s say you can earn $40 per night per dog, and you can safely handle two at a time. If you’re booked 15 days a month, that would be $1,200 in extra income.

And even if you only do one dog at a time and host fewer nights, it can still be a way to make $500 pretty fast.

Michael L., a host in New York City, accepts up to 6 dogs a night at $60 apiece, earning up to $360 a night!

Bill Dale, a Side Hustle Nation reader and Rover host, actually took the opposite approach to stand out on the platform. “A lot of people want to get paid to watch several dogs at a time, but I’ve found out that having only one guest dog (or up to 3 guests from one owner), is something that is really desired by owners,” he explained. “I tell them their dog will be the ‘Guest of Honor’, and I made this a highlight of my profile. I know for sure owners like it, because almost everyone who contacts me mentions it.”

Here’s how much you can make with other Rover services:

• House sitting — $40-100 per night.
• Drop-in visits — $15-25 per visit.
• Doggy day care — $25-50 per day.
• Dog walks — $15-25 per walk. Cool way to get paid to walk!

What is Rover’s Platform Fee?

When you work through Rover, the company takes 20% of your earnings as a service fee. 

This fee helps cover the costs of the platform, including customer support, marketing, and the Rover Guarantee.

The remaining 80% of your earnings are paid out to you via direct deposit.

You can configure your payment settings in your Rover account.

Are Rover Earnings Taxable?

Yes, your Rover earnings are taxable income. As a Rover sitter, you’re an independent contractor, which means you’re responsible for handling your own taxes.

If you make over $600 with Rover in a calendar year, they’ll send you a 1099 form. 

But if you’re paid through PayPal, you won’t get any tax documents from Rover. Instead, you’ll need to follow PayPal’s tax rules.

How to Maximize Your Rover Income

While no formal training or certification is required to become a Rover sitter, a little extra education goes a long way. Michael in New York actually went to dog trainer school to formalize his education and help his profile stand out on the platform.

“When I saw the changes I was able to make in some dogs and the lives of my clients, I really felt like I was making a difference,” he explained.

But beyond that, communication with customers may be even more important. “It’s really important–whenever a dog is staying with me—to keep the owners updated with photos and videos,” Michael said. “My dog guests are like children to their owners.”

Summer, a college student in San Francisco, echoed that advice. She added that sitters should “keep the calendar up to date every day, respond to the guests right away, and do a meet & greet before accepting the offer.”

Challenges You Might Face

Of course, like any job, being a Rover sitter comes with its challenges. It’s important to be aware of these before diving in.

Some common issues sitters face include:

• Unpredictable Schedules: While flexibility is a major benefit, it can also mean irregular hours. You might have busy weeks followed by slow periods.
• Client Communication: Ensuring clear communication with pet owners is crucial. Misunderstandings about care instructions or scheduling can lead to problems.
• Dealing with Difficult Pets: Not every pet will be a perfect angel. You may encounter dogs with behavioral issues or specific care needs.

If you’re in a small town, there may be less competition, but there will also be fewer customers.

Is Rover Right for You? 

Ultimately, whether Rover is worth it depends on your personal situation and goals. 

If you love dogs, enjoy flexible work, and are looking for a way to earn some extra income, it could be a fantastic opportunity.

If you’re looking to make a career out of this, Rover could serve as a stepping stone for a bigger venture. 

But generally, it does well as a side hustle. 

With the right approach, it can be a rewarding and enjoyable experience that fits seamlessly into your lifestyle.

Rover Alternatives

While Rover is definitely the #1 “Airbnb for dogs” platform, it isn’t the only pet-related side hustle in town. Nor is it the only side gig you should consider. 

Here are some alternatives that might be worth a look!

Wag Walking

The most similar service is Wag. It’s still well-established, but smaller than Rover, but which might make it less competitive for a new host to get started.

You can offer dog sitting, dog walking, drop-in service, and even dog training.

Sniffspot

If you have a larger property, you can turn part of it into an off-leash dog park through Sniffspot. The unique platform allows hosts to earn up to $3,000 a month hosting dogs — no overnight boarding required.

Typical rates range from $5-15 per dog per hour, with spaces ranging from fully fenced backyards to larger acreage.

Meowtel

If you’re more of a cat person, Meowtel is largest cat sitting platform.

Trusted Housesitters

The long-running Trusted Housesitters is a unique way to travel to different parts of the world and look after animals while you do. 

It usually isn’t a money-making arrangement, but is a way to get free accommodations while you travel.

Pet Waste Removal Service

It’s a dirty job, but somebody’s got to do it!

In Michigan, Erica Krupin turned the poop-scooping chore into a thriving pet waste removal business. She relied on some savvy social media and local marketing to build a roster of 80+ recurring weekly customers.

When we first connected, she reported earning up to $50 an hour on her route! (She’s since hired some reliable “scoopers” to help out, and even expanded to a new location.)

Resell Furniture Returns

This isn’t pet-related, but can be another way to earn $1000 a month or more, with potentially less overhead than hosting animals at your place.

Reselling furniture returns is a unique low-risk side hustle.

How it works is you join Sharetown as a local “reverse logistics” rep. Sharetown partners with direct-to-consumer mattress and furniture brands to handle their return requests.

When customers decide they don’t want to keep the item, you’ll get dispatched to go pick it up. After that, you’ll:

• clean it up
• photograph it
• list it for resale on sites like Facebook Marketplace

The Sharetown reps I’ve connected with target $150-250 per flip — and, importantly — you don’t have to pay Sharetown for the inventory until the item sells.

Check out my full Sharetown review to learn more.

Conclusion

Being a Rover sitter is way more than just making some cash; it’s all about hanging out with adorable pets and giving their owners peace of mind. 

If you’re ready to embark on a fun and fulfilling journey, give Rover a shot. 

You might find it to be a perfect match for your schedule and interests! 

Looking for More Side Hustle Help?

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