Walking is essential for dogs to stay healthy, fit, and happy. But if you don’t have the time, energy, or motivation to walk your dog, someone else can do it for you. You just have to pay that person to do the job. Now you probably wonder how much a dog walker will cost you.
How Much Do Dog Walkers Charge?
In general, dog walkers charge around $20 for a 30-minute walk. However, dog walking service rates can range anywhere between $10 and $40 per walk. How much it will cost you to pay someone to walk your dog depends on the length of the walk, your location, the experience of the dog walker, and various other factors.
What Can Influence The Cost Of Dog Walking Services?
Some dog walkers will charge more than others for different reasons. But there’s quite a bit of a difference between $10 and $40 per walk. Therefore, let’s understand why dog walking rates vary so much and what causes that. Then, it will be easier to figure out how much it might cost you to hire a dog walker.
Dog Walking Cost By Length
The first element to consider is how long you want your dog to be walked. Obviously, the longer the walk, the more you will be charged. However, longer walks usually cost less on a per-minute basis. So you might be able to save some money by increasing the length of the walk and decreasing the frequency.
For example, let’s say a dog walker charges $20 for a 30-minute walk and $30 per hour. With those rates, you can get 3 hours of walking per week for 90$ instead of 6 half-an-hour walks (3 hours in total) for 120$. So the length of the walk will influence how much it will cost you.
How Much Do Dog Walkers Charge For 30 Minutes?
Dog walkers generally charge between $15 and $25 for 30 minutes. According to my research, the average cost for a 30-minute dog walking service across the US is $21.12 in 2022. But it ranges from $10 to $60. The most common rate a dog walker charges for a half-hour walk is $20.
The length of a standard walk is generally 30 minutes, and it should be enough for most dogs. So you can expect to pay around 20 dollars per walk. But some dog walkers may charge more or less than that, depending on their experience, location, and other details.
How Much Do Dog Walkers Charge Per Hour?
Dog walkers typically charge between $20 and $40 per hour. However, the hourly rates for dog walking services can vary a lot depending on how long the walk lasts and the dog walker. According to my research, a dog walker will charge on average $33.29 for a 60-minute walk across the US in 2022.
But longer walks generally cost less on a per-hour basis. Most dog walkers will charge $20 for a 30-minute walk, which makes $40 per hour, and around $30 for a full-hour walk. So the hourly rate can vary depending on the length of the walk.
The longer the walk, the less money dog walkers will charge per hour. The initial costs are the same, and it’s probably more convenient for them to do one long walk than two shorter ones. That’s why most dog walking services offer discounted hourly rates for longer walks.
How Much Do Dog Walkers Charge Per Week?
Most dog walkers offer weekly packages and recurrent walks. They will usually charge less per week than per hour or walk. How much dog walkers charge will depend on how often you want your dog to be walked, for how long, and the standard rates. In general, dog walkers will give between 5% and 20% weekly discounts.
If the average dog walking service is around $20 for a 30-minute walk and you take one per day, it would cost you around $140 per week. But dog walkers will generally charge less if you pay weekly on an ongoing basis. So, you should expect to pay someone between $112 and $133 per week to walk your dog daily.
How Much Do Dog Walkers Charge Per Month?
Dog walkers generally have monthly discounts or packages for multiple walks to offer. So they will often charge between 5% and 20% less per month than per walk. For 30 walks a month at $20 each, it would cost $600 per month. But with monthly rates, dog walkers are more likely to charge somewhere from $480 to $570.
That’s for daily walks. Not everyone needs that many in a month. If you can walk your dog yourself on the weekends, you will only require a dog walker for about 21 days. So he would probably charge you between $336 and $399 per month.
Takeaway: The longer and more frequently you hire a dog walker, the lower the rates will be.
Dog Walking Cost By Location
Another factor that will influence how much you will pay for a dog walker is your location. The dog walking rates are different from one place to another because of the demand, offer, and cost of living there. The higher the demand, the lower the offer, and the more it’s expensive to live there, the more dog walkers will usually charge.
Let’s take the four most populated states as an example. According to my data, dog walkers charge, on average, $20.16 in California, $20.68 in Texas, $18.64 in Florida, and $25 in New York for a 30-minute walk. As you can see, it’s generally more expensive in New York than in Florida.
But just in New York, the rates are higher in NYC than anywhere else in the state. So dog walkers in your area might charge more or less than the average and standard prices mentioned above. But the difference is usually not that significant.
How Much Do Dog Walkers Charge In My Area?
Looking and analyzing the rates in your area should give you an idea of how much dog walkers charge where you live. You can type “dog walker in [add your location]” on Google or search for dog walkers on Rover in your area. Then, you will see the average rates for dog walking services around your neighborhood.
If you live outside of the US, the cost of living will usually be lower, and maybe the demand too. So dog walkers will usually charge less. All the numbers I shared with you refer to rates in the United States. You might pay less for a dog walking service in another country.
Other Factors That Influence How Much Dog Walkers Charge!
Apart from the length of the walk and location, there are many other elements to consider. How much dog walkers cost might still vary a lot for the same service in a given area. But why would someone walk your dog for only $10 when some dog walkers charge $40 or more for practically the same offer?
Experience
As with any other job, the more experience you have, the more you can charge. Dog walkers with a lot of experience and a good pet care background will generally have higher rates. On the other hand, some people that just started walking dogs might charge less to get their first clients and gain experience.
Quality
As for anything else, you typically pay for what you get. The more a dog walker charges, the better the quality of the service should be. There are always exceptions where you can find good deals or pay too much for nothing, but it’s generally not the case.
Number Of Walks
Dog walkers generally charge less if you order many walks from them. They can offer discounts for ongoing clients that guarantee them a certain amount of work. In general, you can save around 10% by taking more walks. But dog walkers might charge anywhere from 5% to 20% less for package and ongoing deals.
Travel Costs
Another expense that might influence how much dog walkers charge is the travel fees. They will often offer to walk your dog in your neighborhood or anywhere else you want. However, you might have to pay the dog walker to get there, depending on how far you are from his location.
Number Of Dogs
How many dogs you have to walk might also influence the cost of a dog walking service. Some dog walkers don’t charge extra if you have 1 or 2 dogs, while others offer a discounted rate for a second dog. In general, you should expect to pay $5 for each additional dog or have 40% to 60% off the original price.
Time Of The Day/Year
Dog walkers might charge more than their standard rate depending on when you want your dog to be walked. Early/late visits, weekends, and holidays will often be more expensive. In general, dog walkers will charge an extra $5 or $10 if you make them work out of their normal schedule.
Additional Services
There are many add-ons that dog walkers can offer besides walking your dog. They can run instead, serve meals, give fresh water, train, play, and give feedback or proof after the walk. So the more additional services a dog walker provides, the more it will cost. He might also make them optional and charge extras for each.
Private or Group Dog Walks
Another factor affecting the rate is whether the dog walker will walk your dog alone or with other dogs. If your dog requires the full attention of the dog walker, it will be more expensive. On the other, pack walks are more affordable and good for social pups.
The Dog Walker
At the end of the day, it’s the dog walker that sets his price. So he can charge you whatever he thinks his time and service are worth. It might also depend on his financial needs. For example, full-time dog walkers might charge more than those doing it just for fun.
My Research On Dog Walking Service Rates!
I did some research to have a better idea of how much dog walkers charge. This article is the result of my research. I randomly took the rates of 100 dog walkers across the four most populated states of the US (California, Texas, Florida, and New York) on Rover and other independent walking dog service providers in those areas.
Then, I analyzed the offers and numbers to understand why certain dog walkers charge more than others. I also did some calculations to find the average cost of a walk depending on the duration and location. The data and information in this article are based on the results of this research.
Concrete Examples Of How Much Dog Walkers Charge!
Now that you have a better idea of the cost of a dog walking service, let’s take a look at some actual offers on the market. Rates can vary a lot from one dog walker to another. So how much you will pay for one will depend on what you’re looking for.
Low-End Dog Walker In California.
Jazmin A. is a dog walker based in Dinuba I found on Rover. She only charges $10 for a 30-minute walk and $16 for one hour. It’s definitely on the lower end. She doesn’t seem to have much experience with pet sitting and walking, which might explain the cheap rates.
Average Dog Walking Service In Florida.
Venice Dog Walkers is a professional dog walking and sitting service in Florida. They charge $20 for 30 minutes and $30 for a full hour. So it’s an excellent example of the average price dog walkers will charge in this area.
Premium Dog Walker In NYC.
Freya B. is a dog walker on Rover located in Brooklyn. She charges $30 for a 30-minute walk and $50 for an hour. The location and her experience with dogs are the main factors that might explain the higher rates.
Why Are Dog Walkers So Expensive?
Dog walkers are expensive because the demand is relatively high, the offer is quite low, and it involves costs. Furthermore, a 30-minute walk might take closer to 1 hour if you include the travel and greeting time. The dog walker also has to pay for the gas and equipment. That’s why dog walking services are so expensive.
How Much Do Dog Walkers Make?
With an hourly rate of $30, a full-time dog walker working 40 hours per week would make approximately $5,200 per month and $62,400 per year. That’s assuming the dog walker charges around $20 for a 30-minute walk and $30 for an hour. With those rates, an independent dog walker should be able to make $30 per hour.
But according to Indeed, the average base salary for dog walkers is only $14.12 per hour, which represents $2,328 per month and $32,886 per year. So a dog walker will make much more money by working independently. But it might be harder to find enough clients to do it full-time.
Last Thoughts About How Much Does A Dog Walker Cost!
Finally, dog walkers generally charge $20 for a 30-minute walk and $30 for an hour. They can also give 5% to 20% discounts to ongoing clients. However, the cost of dog walking services will vary a lot depending on the location, experience of the dog walker, and many other factors.
Now that you have a better idea of how much dog walkers charge, it’s time to hire one in your area with reasonable rates. You can also use the information above to find and negotiate deals. I’m sure someone would be happy to walk your dog for a fair price.
Let’s Find That Dog Walker!