PawPals
Earn with PawPals · All 32 counties

Become a dog walker in Ireland — and get paid without chasing anyone

Set your own rates and radius, get vetted once, and let the bookings come to you. Owners pay up front into escrow, so the money for every walk is already there before you clip the lead on.

See available sittersHow PawPals works
Typical hourly rate
€14–€22
PawPals fee
15%
Cost to list
Free
Payout time
2–3 days
4.98 average rating Garda-vetted sitters Ireland only

What you'll actually take home

Real bands from live PawPals listings, shown net of our 15% commission. Nothing here is a projection — it's what walkers on the platform are charging in 2026.

ServiceTypical price
5 walks a week (part time)≈ €68 net
10 walks a week≈ €136 net
20 walks a week (full time)≈ €272 net
Home boarding, one dog≈ €30–€60 net / night

  • The 15% explained

    It covers Stripe card fees, the escrow account that guarantees you get paid, the care guarantee, dispute handling and support. There's no listing fee, no subscription and no charge on an enquiry that goes nowhere.

  • Where the money is

    Group walks and home boarding have the best hourly margin. A midday round of three dogs collected within one estate beats three separate solo walks across a city, every time.

How you get started

Four steps, and most of the work is in the first one.

  • 1. Create your listing (10 minutes)

    Add photos, your walking radius, the services you offer and your rates. Our onboarding wizard shows you what other sitters in your area charge so you don't underprice yourself.

  • 2. Verify and get vetted

    Upload photo ID and complete Garda vetting. We also confirm your address and take two references. Nothing goes live until all of it clears.

  • 3. Take your first bookings

    Owners near you message first. Reply fast, offer a free meet-and-greet, and confirm in the app. Your response time is shown on your profile, so speed is worth real money.

  • 4. Get paid automatically

    The money is already held before you start. Complete the service, and the payout lands in your bank within a few days. No invoicing, no cash, no awkward conversations.

Create a free sitter listingSee how to write a listing that books

Where rates are highest

The 12 counties with the strongest walking rates on PawPals right now. Open your county to see local demand and the towns we most need cover in.

Questions walkers ask before signing up

How much can I earn as a dog walker in Ireland?

Rates on PawPals run €14–€22 for a 60-minute walk depending on the county — Dublin and Wicklow at the top, the midlands and border counties lower. Ten walks a week at €16 is about €160 gross, €136 after our 15% fee. Walkers who stack two or three dogs from the same street into one small-group walk earn considerably more per hour.

Does it cost anything to list?

No. Creating a listing, appearing in search, and messaging owners are all free. PawPals takes 15% of a completed booking, which covers card processing, the escrow account, the care guarantee and support. There is no monthly fee and no charge for a booking that doesn't happen.

When do I get paid?

The owner pays by card when they confirm the booking, and PawPals holds the money in escrow. Once the service is complete the balance is released to your Stripe payout account, and it typically lands in your bank within 2–3 working days. You are never chasing cash.

Do I need Garda vetting to walk dogs?

There is no state licence for dog walking in Ireland, but PawPals requires it: ID verification and Garda vetting must both clear before your profile goes live. It's the single biggest reason owners pick a platform sitter over an ad on a noticeboard.

Do I need my own insurance?

Bookings made and paid for through PawPals are covered by our care guarantee for incidents during the service. Many walkers also carry their own public-liability cover once they're doing this full time — it's not required to start, and we'd rather you started small and properly insured yourself later.

Do I have to declare the income?

Yes. Walking dogs for payment is self-employed income in Ireland, so it goes on a Form 11 (or Form 12 if it's small and you're also PAYE). Revenue's non-PAYE reporting threshold and your allowable expenses (mileage, leads, poo bags, phone) are worth a quick chat with an accountant. PawPals gives you a downloadable earnings statement for your return.

Can I do this part time around a job?

Most of our walkers do. Midday walks (11am–2pm) are the busiest slot in Ireland by a wide margin, so a flexible lunch hour or a four-day week works well. You set your availability per day and can pause your listing any time without losing your reviews.

What if I've never done it professionally?

Plenty of our best-reviewed walkers started with their own dog and a neighbour's. Start with two or three regular clients near home, keep to shorter walks while you learn each dog, and be honest on your profile about what you're not comfortable with — reactive dogs, puppies, very large breeds.

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