How to create a listing that actually gets booked
We see thousands of enquiries a month, so we know exactly which listings convert and which sit idle. This is the same advice we give sitters one to one — photos, bio, rates, availability, and the first-reply habit that beats everything else.
- Photos to add
- 5–8
- Best reply time
- < 1 hour
- Busiest slot
- 11am–2pm
- Reviews to target
- 5 in month 1
The six parts of a listing
In the order the onboarding wizard asks for them.
1. Photos
Bright, real and recent. Faces beat logos, and dogs beat scenery. If you're offering boarding, show the room and the garden — owners are picturing where their dog sleeps. Avoid stock images entirely; owners spot them instantly and it reads as a red flag.
- · Cover photo: you with a dog, outdoors, daylight
- · Include your garden or the walking route you use
- · No sunglasses, no group shots where you're unclear
2. Your bio
Three short paragraphs beat one long one. Say who you are and where exactly you cover, what your day looks like, and who you're best with. Be specific about limits — 'I'm not comfortable with reactive dogs over 30kg' builds more trust than claiming you can handle everything.
- · Name your actual streets, estates or parks
- · Say how many dogs you take at once
- · Mention your own dog, if you have one
3. Rates
Set a rate per service, plus your second-dog discount. Owners compare you against the local band shown on every PawPals county page, so a rate wildly under it reads as inexperience rather than value.
- · Match your county average to start
- · Charge +50%, not double, for a second dog
- · Add a small evening/weekend premium if you want them
4. Availability
Accuracy matters more than volume. A calendar that says you're free when you aren't will cost you reviews. Midday (11am–2pm) is the busiest window in Ireland — if you can cover it, say so prominently.
- · Block holidays before they arrive
- · Mark your recurring weekly slots
- · Turn on instant-book only once you're confident
5. First replies
Response time is displayed on your profile and it's the strongest ranking factor in search. Answer every enquiry, even the ones you'll decline, and always offer the free meet-and-greet.
- · Reply inside an hour where you can
- · Ask two questions about the dog in your first message
- · Confirm the route and the key handover in writing
6. Reviews
Only owners who completed and paid for a real booking can review you, so early reviews are worth chasing. Send a photo update at the end of every booking and ask for the review in the same message.
- · Aim for five reviews in your first month
- · Photo updates during the booking lift ratings
- · Reply publicly to any review under 5 stars
Two mistakes that cost bookings
Pricing to be cheapest
The lowest rate in a town rarely wins the weekly regulars. Owners reading a €9 hour next to a €16 one assume something is missing. Match the local band and compete on replies, photos and reviews instead.
A vague service area
'Dublin' covers 1.4 million people. 'Rathfarnham, Templeogue and Knocklyon, walking Bushy Park and Marlay' tells an owner in Knocklyon you're their walker. Specific radius, more enquiries.
Where we need cover most
Open a county to see local rates, demand notes and the towns with owners waiting.
Listing FAQs
How long does it take to create a listing?
About ten minutes for the listing itself. Verification takes longer — ID checks usually clear the same day, Garda vetting can take a few days to a couple of weeks depending on volume. You can build and save your listing while vetting is in progress.
How many photos should I add?
Five to eight. One clear photo of your face without sunglasses, two of the space the dog will actually be in (including the garden if you have one), one of you out on a walk, and one or two of dogs you've minded — with the owner's permission. Listings with a garden photo get noticeably more boarding enquiries.
What rate should I set?
Start within €1–€2 of your county's average, not below it. Undercutting attracts price shoppers and one-off bookings; matching the local rate and replying fast attracts the weekly regulars that actually make this work. You can raise your rate once you have five reviews.
Should I offer walking, sitting and boarding?
Offer what you can genuinely do well. Walking is the easiest to start and the most repeatable. Boarding earns the most per booking but needs a suitable home, an enclosed garden and household agreement. Drop-in sitting suits anyone with a car and a flexible middle of the day.
How do I get my first booking?
Set your radius tight, keep availability accurate, and reply to enquiries within an hour. Offer a free 15-minute meet-and-greet in your first message — that single line converts better than anything else in your profile. Ask your first two owners for a review the day the booking ends.
Can I edit or pause my listing later?
Yes. Rates, radius, services and availability are all editable from your dashboard, and you can pause the listing when you're away without losing your reviews or your response-time record.