Rover Review: Pet Sitting and Dog Walking Through the App

If your family loves animals, getting paid to care for other people’s pets can sound like the perfect side hustle. Rover is one of the biggest apps for pet sitting and dog walking, and many moms use it to earn money on flexible terms, sometimes without leaving home at all.

In this Rover review, we explain how the app works, what services you can offer, how you get paid, what it realistically earns, and the honest pros and cons.

We are not affiliated with Rover and are not paid for this review.

What is Rover?

Rover is an online marketplace that connects pet owners with local sitters and walkers. Sitters create a profile, set their services and prices, and pet owners book through the app. Rover handles payments and takes a service fee from each booking.

Services you can offer on Rover

• Boarding. Pets stay overnight at your home. A good fit for moms who are home a lot.
• House sitting. You stay overnight at the owner’s home. Harder with kids at home.
• Drop-in visits. Short visits to feed pets, let them out, or give medication.
• Doggy day care. Dogs spend the day at your home.
• Dog walking. Walks in your neighborhood, often a great fit with a stroller if the dog is calm.

You choose which services to offer, so you can start with just one.

How Rover works, step by step

1. Create a sitter profile on the Rover website or app. You need to be at least 18 and pass a background check through a third-party screening company.
2. Add photos, describe your experience with pets, and explain your home setup (fenced yard, other pets, kids).
3. Set your services, rates, and availability. You control your prices.
4. Wait for your profile to be approved. Rover reviews each new profile by hand, and it can take a couple of weeks or more.
5. Receive booking requests. Many sitters do a meet-and-greet with the owner and pet first.
6. Complete the service, send photo updates through the app, and mark it complete.

How you get paid

Pet owners pay through Rover, not directly to you. Rover’s standard service fee for sitters is 20%, so you keep 80% of each booking, though fees can differ in some areas and programs. Payments show up in your account 2 days after you complete a service and are then sent to your bank account by direct deposit, which can take up to 5 business days. Rover no longer offers PayPal payouts.

Because you are self-employed, set aside money for taxes. In the US, self-employment tax generally applies once your net earnings reach $400 in a year. You might get a Form 1099-K if your payments pass the IRS reporting threshold, currently more than $20,000 and more than 200 transactions in a year, but the income is taxable either way. Rules vary by state, so check with a tax professional.

What Rover realistically pays

Your earnings depend on your area, your rates, how many services you offer, and how many reviews you build up. Rates vary a lot from city to rural town. Look up sitters near you on Rover to see what they charge.

New sitters often start slowly while they earn their first reviews. After a few months, busy sitters in high-demand areas can earn a meaningful side income, especially around holidays and summer travel. Others get only occasional bookings.

How much time does it take?

It depends on the service. Dog walks usually run 30 to 60 minutes. Drop-in visits are shorter but require driving. Boarding and day care happen in your home but mean caring for an extra animal all day or overnight, including potty breaks, feeding, and play.

Think honestly about how pet care fits with your kids’ schedules, naps, and activities. Boarding a calm senior dog is very different from boarding an energetic puppy while chasing a toddler.

Rover review: pros and cons

Pros

• You set your own rates and schedule.
• Some services, like boarding and day care, can be done from home.
• Rover handles payments, so you do not chase owners for money.
• Kids who love animals can help with age-appropriate tasks.
• Bookings made and paid through Rover include the Rover Guarantee, which can cover eligible vet care up to $25,000, with limits and exclusions.

Cons

• Rover takes a service fee from each booking.
• It can take time to get your first bookings and reviews.
• Pet care carries real responsibility, including emergencies and possible damage at home.
• Holiday demand is high, which may clash with family plans.
• Allergies, other pets, or small kids can limit which pets you can accept.
• Your homeowner’s or renter’s insurance may not cover business activity like pet sitting, so ask your insurer.

Safety tips for moms

• Always do a meet-and-greet before accepting a pet, especially with kids at home.
• Only accept pets that are good with children.
• Ask for vaccination records and emergency vet information.
• Keep pets supervised around young kids at all times.
• Keep all communication and payments inside the app.

Who Rover suits

Rover suits moms who genuinely enjoy animals, have a pet-friendly home setup, and can handle the responsibility. It works especially well for moms with older kids who can help, or moms who are home most of the day. It is less ideal if your home is busy with babies or toddlers, or if anyone in the family has allergies.

Our Side Hustle Spotlights series compares pet sitting with other flexible side hustles, looking at time, money, and what each one really asks of you.

Our verdict

Rover is a legitimate, established way to earn money with pets, and you stay in control of your schedule and prices. Expect a slow start, account for the service fee, and choose services that fit your household. For animal-loving families, it can be a rewarding side hustle.

Quick answers

Is Rover free to join?

New sitters may pay a one-time fee for the profile review and background check, and the amount varies by location. Check the app for the current fee.

Can you do Rover with kids at home?

Yes, many moms do. Choose pets that are good with kids and services that fit your routine.

How do you get your first booking?

A complete profile with clear photos and fair starting rates can help. Rover also lets you request testimonials from people whose pets you have cared for, which show on your profile.

Ready to learn more?

If you are ready to learn more about side hustles that fit around family life, become a member and get access to all of our courses, including Side Hustle Spotlights, plus everything else in the Money Magic for Moms library.