How to Become a Dog Walker with Wag!

Considering becoming a dog walker with Wag!? Hooray! We’re excited to get to know you, and we’re sure you’ll be a “furrific” dog walker. Signing up is super easy — but we’ll get to that in just a minute.

It’s important to know that dog walkers on the Wag! platform are self-employed independent contractors, not employees of Wag!. This means you get to be your own boss, set your own schedule, and run your dog walking business however you wish.

Before applying to become a Pet Caregiver with Wag!, watch the short video below to see what walkers on our platform have to say about their experience.

Once you've done your homework and you're ready to take the plunge, it's time to get started. Read on for a step-by-step guide to what you need to do to become a dog walker with Wag!.

There are 2 ways to apply to become a walker with Wag!. You can either:

• Download the Wag! app (available on iOS and Android), tap “Become a Walker” from the main menu, and complete an application form; or
• Fill out this online application form

You’ll need to provide some basic information, including your:

• Legal name
• Email address
• Phone number

Please note that you’ll need to be 18 years of age or older to become a Pet Caregiver with Wag!. A one-time application fee applies, and it only takes a few minutes to register. The approval process takes an average of 14 days, but this may vary depending on the number of applications processing.

While it’s not required, we also encourage all applicants to provide at least 5 endorsements from friends, family members, colleagues, and anyone who can attest to their ability to care for pets. Providing endorsements is a great way to speed up the application process and increase your chances of being approved. 

When you sign up as a Pet Caregiver, you’ll receive an endorsement link. Pet Parents from the community can access this link to share their personal experiences and recommendations of your love of animals and your skills as a Pet Caregiver. 

The link must be accessed from a mobile device. In order to ensure that all endorsements are authentic, the Pet Parent must also create a Wag! account before they can submit an endorsement.

Once Wag! has received your application, you'll need to pass a background check. Background checks are performed by third-party provider Vetty, which will verify your identity and may also check your: 

• Address history
• Employment history
• Education history
• Criminal record (including a nationwide search of Sex Offender Registries as well as checking domestic and international terrorist watchlists) 
• Credit history
• Motor vehicle records
• License records

Please note that you’ll need to provide a valid form of ID as part of the background check, such as a driver’s license, state-issued ID, US passport, or a US Permanent Resident Card (Green Card).

You can check the status of your background check by visiting the Vetty website. You can also visit Vetty's website to find out more about Wag!’s background screening process.

The next step to become a dog walker with Wag! is to prove your knowledge of dog walking best practices and what to do in real-life pet care situations. To do that, you’ll need to pass the Wag! pet care quiz.

The quiz allows you to demonstrate that you know how to be a responsible Pet Caregiver, and that the dogs in your care will always be in safe hands. It’s a crucial part of the sign-up process, ensuring that Pet Parents can enjoy complete peace of mind when scheduling a walk through the Wag! app.

Your Pet Caregiver application will be rejected if you don’t pass the quiz, but you will get 1 additional attempt to successfully complete the test if you don't get it right the first time around. We’ll let you know via email if you’ve passed the quiz and been approved.

Once your application is approved and your Pet Caregiver profile is active, you'll need to download the Wag! Pet Caregiver app on iOS or Android. 

The app contains all the tools you need to build your own business as a dog walker with Wag!. You can set up your profile, promote your dog walking services, connect with Pet Parents, and start turning your love of dogs into an income. We’ll share some handy tips on how to set up and optimize your Pet Caregiver profile a little further down the page.

For the moment, check out the brief video tutorial below to learn how to navigate the Pet Caregiver app.

When you download the app, you’ll be invited to complete a test "walk". This mock walk lets you familiarize yourself with the app's features and how they work. It will be available for 30 days after you download the app, and completing it now will help make your first “real” dog walk an easier and less stressful experience.

Pet Caregivers on the Wag! platform are paid through third-party payment processing system Stripe. You’ll need to set up a Stripe account to receive payments — you can register on the Stripe website. Payments for the previous week’s services are distributed on Fridays.

Now you’re ready to become a dog walker with Wag!, so it’s time to get out there and start pounding the pavement. Before you do, here are some simple tips to help you maximize the visibility of your profile and start building your business.

Go public

Make sure your profile is set to “Public” so that it’s visible to Pet Parents. You can do this in the Settings section of the Wag! Pet Caregivers app main menu.

Create a better bio

A detailed and interesting bio will help you stand out from the crowd. So use your profile to tell Pet Parents who you are, what sort of pet care experience you have, and why you absolutely love dogs. Remember, adding a "pawsonal" touch will help make you so much more relatable to Pet Parents.

Here’s how to edit your profile, and make sure to check out our guide to writing a Wag! profile bio that wins clients. If you need more inspo, check out these 7 Wag! profile examples to help you boost your biz. 

Include "pawsome" pics

Don’t just upload a single, out-of-focus image of yourself from 10 years ago. Instead, make sure you have at least one clear photo, preferably with a fur-baby. And the more photos the better, as top Pet Caregivers on Wag! usually include at least 3 profile mages. 

Craft a clever catchphrase

Your catchphrase is another way to add some fun to your profile and help Pet Parents get to know you a little better. So take your time crafting something funny, punny, or just memorable — and feel free to update it regularly. 

Offer other services

Wag! isn’t just about walking. You can also boost your pet care biz by offering your services as a dog sitter, boarder, and even trainer, so why not expand your repertoire? Our guide to transitioning from dog walking to overnight pet care is a "grrreat" resource.

Stay up to date

Finally, ensure that your Pet Caregiver profile is always accurate and up to date. Moved house or changed your availability? Make sure this is reflected in your profile.

If you’ve got more questions about navigating the app or creating a killer profile, head over to the Pet Caregiver Help Center for all the answers you need.

To sum up, it’s easy to become a Wag! walker by completing a few simple steps:

• Apply online or through the Wag! app 
  
• Pass a background check
• Pass a pet care quiz
• Download the Wag! Pet Caregiver app and complete a test “walk”
• Set up your payment details
• Create a "furbulous" profile
• Start walking!

So if you love dogs and you want to start a dog-walking side hustle or maybe even your own full-time pet care business, sign up to become a dog walker with Wag! today.