Earn Money In Less Than An Hour With This Fun (And Adorable) Side Hustle

Money Digest is certainly no stranger to evaluating different side hustles. From driving for Instacart (is it worthwhile?) to sharing your opinions and behavior with Survey Junkie now and then, there are many avenues to make an extra buck in your spare time these days. According to career site Zippia, a whopping 45% of all Americans had a side hustle in 2023. Additionally, the average time spent on said side hustle was 13 hours per week for an average extra income of $483 each month.

When it comes to side hustles, there's one less conventional alternative to other gigs that you might not have considered. It's one that lets you spend time in the fresh air, getting exercise and surrounded by furry friends. Have you ever considered becoming a dog walker? Besides the fun fitness aspect, it's also extremely flexible. You can walk dogs before heading to your real job, after work, or even during breaks like lunch hour.

That said, before you take charge of customers' beloved fur babies, carefully consider if you're really prepared to be a dog-walking pro. Before starting, you'll likely need to brush up on best dog-walking practices. That includes leash etiquette, handling contact with other dogs (and humans), and properly disposing of waste. As well, it'll be helpful to know some dog psychology and typical behavior.

So, armed with the knowledge to safely command your doggie brigade, exactly how much can dog walkers expect to earn? Well, it's complicated. Similar to how much Airbnb hosts really make, what you can earn from dog walking can vary wildly by city and state. Also, take into account how much competition exists from other dog walkers, what times of day you're available, what breeds you are willing to accept, and whether you're willing to travel significantly, or at all.

Per the everything-dog-related website dogster, the average rate for dog walkers in 2024 is $14.85 per hour. The lowest-earning dog walkers can expect to make about $9.80 per hour, while high-end experienced individuals can earn $21.15 per hour. Circling back to physical locations and earnings potential, dogster mentions that walkers in the District of Columbia, Oregon, and California make the most, on average. Conversely, residents of South Carolina, Tennessee, and Ohio make the least per hour.

As you might imagine, dog walkers living in big cities tend to earn more than those operating in more rural areas. Also, note that the hourly rates mentioned above don't include a significant source of potential additional revenue: tips. According to experts, it's fairly common to receive a gratuity equal to 5% to 15% or 20% of the total bill.

Obviously, the main component of any dog-walking job is the walk itself, during which time the animals can also attend to their bathroom needs. Typically, the parameters for a walk are set either by time or by distance. However, additional responsibilities — and opportunities for revenue — can exist. For example, some pet owners may request that you continue playing with the animal inside their residence after the walk. Others might request that you provide food and water to the pet, or even take a short video to send to the owner.

If you're ready to take control of leashes for extra cash, some experts recommend signing up with sites like Wag or Rover, which match pet owners with caregivers, including walkers. After setting up your profile and likely downloading an app, you'll quickly have access to jobs and customers in your area. The downside, however, is that both companies take a healthy chunk of your earnings as a commission or "service fee."

Alternatively, you can gain your own customers via social media, flyers, and word of mouth, all without joining a service. While you'll have more control and potentially earn more income, it'll take longer to start getting walks, as well as build up a client base. Finally, you can definitely limit your involvement to the occasional fun and healthy walk. However, if you want to take the next step, opportunities exist to branch out from dog walking into pet sitting, grooming, training, and more.