Wag: Your Guide to Becoming a Dog-Walker

What is Wag?

Wag is a marketplace that connects dog walkers and animal trainers with pet-parents looking for services

How it works

If you click to become a dog-walker or pet-sitter, it will ask you to fill out a profile that tells the site about you. You’re also supposed to plug in “endorsements” — i.e. other people who can vouch for you. And take a pet quiz. This process will take the better part of 15 minutes, according to Wag.

At that point, the site will tell you that you need to pay a $49 sign-up fee to go further. Naturally, you’ve invested a lot of time, so you’ll probably pay the fee.

Next step? A background check. If you pass, you’ll presumably be approved to be a Wag-walker in about three weeks.

But the site will likely present you with an “expedited” application process, if you want to sign up to be a “Wag Pro” for an extra $149.

Wag review (for walkers/service providers)

Wag used to be primarily a service that enlisted freelancers to do dog-walking. But has since updated its services to add pet-sitters and animal trainers, too. However, some of the concerns we had when we first reviewed Wag years ago appear to have gotten worse.

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Our biggest concern: Wag takes a huge chunk of the dog-walking/watching fees. And, where the site used to be fairly transparent about its 40% cut, it has recently updated its terms to obscure just how much it gets. The site’s fee — still 40% — is a discouragement to both workers and clients.

To add insult to injury, freelancers now need to pay $49 to sign up to work here, too. And, if you want your profile to be boosted in search, you pay an additional $149 to become a Wag Pro.

Getting work

When customers come to Wag, they also need to answer a bunch of questions to tell the site what they’re looking for and when. But they actually have to book and pay for the service — let’s say it’s a dog walk — before they can see who is providing it. Wag then apparently assigns the walk to people who are available nearby during that time.

Lack of transparency

This system lacks transparency for the client, but it appears to be equally murky for freelancers.

Walkers say they sometimes end up watching aggressive dogs, without the slightest warning about what they might be getting into.

Setting your rates

Notably, while this site tells freelancers that they’ll be able to set their own rates, there is no option on the customer side to select a particular caregiver — nor to pay anything but a set rate.

If you go through the process as a customer, you’re told that a 20-minute walk costs $15; 30-minute walk, $22; one-hour, $33. Because Wag takes a 40% fee, the freelancer gets $9 for the 20-minute walk; $13 for the half-hour and $20 for the hour.

It’s unclear what would happen if a freelancer wanted to charge different rates, as Wag maintains they can through their “dynamic pricing” feature.

Getting paid

Wag pays pet caregivers once weekly for the jobs completed in the previous week. Payments are made through Stripe directly to your bank account.

However, walkers complain that Wag gives out coupons that reduce walker earnings. And the site is poor about providing walker support when they have problems with animals in their care — or have problems getting paid.

Referral fees

Where pet caregivers can make good money with this site is by referring clients here. If you work here, you can send a $25 Wag credit to a customer. When a first-time customer uses the credit, you’ll get a $50 bonus. Get friends to work for Wag, and you’ll get a $10 bonus.

App issues

Freelancers also complain bitterly about glitches with the Wag app. (See “what their walkers say” below)

Bad comparison

Comparatively, Rover also charges a $49 application review fee when pet-sitters/boarders/service providers sign up. But, you only pay 20-25% of your revenue to the platform when you book a gig.

The site also lets pet-parents choose their walkers and dog sitters based on the freelancer’s profile and reviews. Freelancers are also encouraged to meet the dogs before they care for them to avoid problems with aggressive and protective pets.

Recommendations:

Pet sitting is a great gig. But Wag’s main competitor, Rover, is a much better place to provide it. Rover takes just a 20% – 25% commission and really (truly and in reality) allows you to set your own rates.

You can also build a regular clientele on Rover because people have the ability to see your profile before they agree to a service. And, it connects with twice as many customers as Wag.

You can sign up for Rover here.

What their walkers say (from Google Play)

One of the worst apps I’ve ever had the displeasure of using! Constantly breaking, crashing, or failing to pull up crucial information. There is no technical or walker support available, and there is literally no way for a walker to cancel a walk without incurring a penalty. Genuinely pathetic. Take your business elsewhere.

I love caring for animals but this app not so much. If I could leave zero stars I would. Help only via email & after multiple emails to multiple people over multiple days my issues are still not resolved. More error messages than I can count. I was booked for a walk & a request for me came up at the same time so I had to turn down the request & my acceptance rate goes down- through no fault of my own. Why does the app allow a request when I am already booked at that time? Awful-should be easier.

App doesn’t work

I became ill suddenly and Wag posted a one star to my profile saying I didn’t show up. I contacted the pet owner and went through the app. It doesn’t work right and even though I was responsible for contacting the pet parent and following what I should do for cancellation in the app. I’ve tried support and I get no response. I’ve been on the app for 2 years and it’s always been bad.

The app is always broken. I have a flagged walker account because I’ve missed too many walks but my bookings page won’t ever load no matter what i do. It always says “no bookings scheduled” Today i did a free walk and probably pissed off an owner because the whole walk disappeared while i was out. I have tried to contact help several times Edit: ive emailed customer service 3 times and have gotten zero responses.

Not only does the app take forever to load up, it never gives me walks or sits within a 20 mile radius. On top of that I can get one ONE walk a month. I request at least 5 and get denied*Edit* Really it’s not good. It’s difficult to manage, and do i really need to mark WHERE they went to the bathroom?

I won’t be able to accommodate the pet parent if I can’t get there within a reasonable timeframe. Also, I should be able to communicate with the pet parent prior to accepting a walk. The app should be able to read the schedule of.the walker and see what I’d realistic and what isn’t.

from Glassdoor:

“With one client and I found out that their three walks a week were breaking the bank. This is when I realized they were paying $20 a walk plus tip and I was only getting half of that. They said that they loved having me walk for them and that I was the only reason that they use the app anymore.”

“Working with many dog breeds and personalities is fun! You can set your own schedule, including early morning and late night walks; Some owners tip very well (I have a few clients who tip 50% on a $12 walk). If you wear Wag gear and put a Wag bandana on the client’s dog you get a $1 advertising bonus per walk; dog sitting/boarding is worthwhile in terms of payment….But, the app does not give you enough info on the dog(s) before you accept a walk.

Big commission

Wag takes 40% of what the owner pays (major downside!).  Owners should be informed how much the walker actually receives so they are more likely to tip.

Provide more support for the walkers. You should also consider paying out more to walkers that have walked a lot. I walked my 350th dog and I was still making only 60%.

They don’t care

I’ve used wag on and off for dog walking for 5 years. The pay isn’t great. they don’t care if you get attacked by a dog, or really care about anything. But they’ll come for you with finders fees if you try to take pet owners off the app. Horrible, exploitative and if I didn’t need money here and there over the years I wouldn’t bother.

Terrible pay. Terrible walker support. Extremely competitive. Not transparent about policies. Many of the customers set you up for failure by not giving clear communication about what you are walking into.

Over-saturated with walkers at this point, or just no longer enough customers. Customers leave low tips because their cost was high. But Wag eats most of the cost.

*Updated 2/19/2025