How it works
Booking an Irish dog walker or sitter, start to finish
Whether it is a 30-minute walk in Phibsborough or a long weekend of boarding in Galway, the flow is the same: search vetted local sitters, message for free, pay securely, and follow photo check-ins while your dog is out. Here is every step, including the money and the cancellation rules.
Step 1
Search your own area
Enter your town or use your location, then filter by service, distance, price and rating. Results are ranked by proximity and real review volume, not by who paid — we do not sell placement.
Step 2
Message, then book
Messaging is free and unlimited before you commit. When you book, you pick the dates and times, add your dog's routine, medication and vet details, and pay by card or Apple Pay.
Step 3
Photo check-ins during care
The sitter posts photo updates from each walk or overnight stay, and for multi-day bookings PawPals can summarise the week's updates into a short daily report for you.
Step 4
Payout after, reviews both ways
The payment releases to the sitter 24 hours after the booking ends. You review the sitter, the sitter reviews you, and only completed paid bookings can leave a review.
If you own the dog
- 1.Create a free owner account and add each dog: breed, age, lead behaviour, recall, medication, vet.
- 2.Search your area, shortlist two or three sitters, and message them with your dates.
- 3.Book a free 15-minute meet-and-greet for boarding or for reactive dogs.
- 4.Confirm and pay. Your card is charged now, held in escrow, and the sitter's address is shared.
- 5.Follow photo check-ins during care, and message the sitter directly for any schedule change.
- 6.Leave a review after it ends. Repeat bookings with the same sitter are one tap.
If you want to sit or walk
- 1.Apply as a sitter and complete the five vetting steps (ID, Garda vetting, address, insurance, references).
- 2.Set your services, your own rates, your radius and your weekly availability calendar.
- 3.Add your payout bank details so escrow releases can reach you automatically.
- 4.Accept or decline requests within 24 hours; a fast, consistent response rate lifts your ranking.
- 5.Post photo check-ins on every walk or overnight — this is a requirement, not a nicety.
- 6.Payout lands 24 hours after each booking ends, minus the 15% PawPals commission.
Where the money goes
| Booking payment | Charged to your card at the moment you confirm the booking. |
|---|---|
| Held in escrow | Funds sit with our regulated payment processor for the whole booking. |
| VAT | Irish VAT at 23% is itemised on your receipt, shown at checkout before you pay. |
| PawPals commission | 15% of the booking value, taken from the sitter's payout — not added on top. |
| Payout to sitter | Released automatically 24 hours after the booking end time. |
| Refunds | Back to the original card within 5 to 10 working days. |
Cancellations, refunds and no-shows
Cancel more than 48 hours ahead and you get a full refund including fees. Between 48 and 24 hours, half the booking value is refunded. Inside 24 hours the booking is non-refundable, because the sitter has already turned down other work for that slot. If the sitter cancels — at any notice — you are refunded in full and our Dublin support team helps you find a vetted replacement for the same dates.
Common questions
How far in advance should I book a dog walker in Ireland?
For a weekday walk, 48 hours is usually enough outside Dublin. In Dublin, Cork and Galway city, regular midday slots get taken a week ahead, and boarding over bank holidays or Christmas is typically booked 4 to 6 weeks out.
What does PawPals charge?
Sitters set their own rates. PawPals takes a 15% service commission from the sitter's payout, and Irish VAT at 23% is shown as a separate line on your receipt. There is no membership fee and no charge for messaging a sitter.
What is the cancellation policy?
Cancel more than 48 hours before the start time for a full refund including fees. Between 48 and 24 hours, 50% of the booking value is refunded. Inside 24 hours the booking is non-refundable, but if the sitter cancels at any point you are refunded 100% and we help find a replacement.
When does the sitter get paid?
Your card is charged at booking and the money sits in escrow. The payout is released to the sitter's bank account 24 hours after the booking ends, which gives you a window to raise anything that went wrong.
Can I meet the sitter before booking?
Yes, and we recommend it for boarding. Message the sitter through PawPals to arrange a free 15-minute meet-and-greet. Keep the conversation in the app so it forms part of the booking record.
Not sure which service you need? Compare walking, day care and boarding or check 2026 dog walker prices by county.