Rover Review 2025: Is Dog Sitting a Worthwhile (or Safe) Gig?

If rover review dog sitting is on your radar, this short guide cuts through the noise. Here is what is worth knowing, and how to put it to work today.

Key Takeaways

• Rover Review 2025: Is Dog Sitting a Worthwhile (or Safe) Gig?
• Pet sitting can be an enjoyable way to combine your love of furry friends with the need to make a few extra bucks.
• Here's how to do exactly that using the Rover pet care marketplace.

Rover Review 2025: Is Dog Sitting a Worthwhile (or Safe) Gig?

Pet sitting can be an enjoyable way to combine your love of furry friends with the need to make a few extra bucks. Here's how to do exactly that using the Rover pet care marketplace.

Written by Ben Huber Last Updated: April 1, 2025 Reviewed by Jeff Proctor

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Launched in 2011, Rover has quickly become the world’s largest online marketplace for pet-sitting services.

From dog walking and daycare to boarding and house sitting, needy pet owners look to independent contractors to provide these essential services when there’s no room left at the inn for their furry friends.

But just because it’s the largest forum for providing pet care doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the best place to offer your services.

Sitter protections, pay, company-provided training, equipment, and insurance coverage are all factors you should take into consideration.

In our Rover sitter review, I examine the pros and cons of listing on the platform, what top (and bottom) percentile earners are making, share my best tips for advertising your services, and help you determine whether or not you’d be better off choosing a Rover.com alternative.

In This Article show What Is Rover? How to Become a Pet Sitter on Rover Consent to Background Check Select Services to Offer Set Pricing Set Your Availability Purchase Needed Equipment Prepare Your Space Consider Training Have an Emergency Plan Rover Guarantee How to Be Successful on Rover Rover.com Alternatives Rover vs Wag Rover vs. Fetch FAQs The Bottom Line

Pros

✔️ Can get started in just 5 to 10 days. ✔️ Flexible self-scheduling. ✔️ Can self-select services to provide (boarding, walking, etc.) ✔️ Set own rates. ✔️ Pause and resume service as desired. ✔️ A legitimate side hustle with scalable earnings ($100 to $1,000+ per month).

Cons

❌ $35 background check fee. ❌ Competition can be fierce. ❌ Rover fee of 20% per booking. ❌ Vehicle wear and tear can add up. ❌ High responsibility gig. ❌ Can be found liable for injury to person or property.

Best for: Side hustlers with pet care experience looking to make extra money.

Verdict: 4.0 out of 5 stars

• Earnings: 4.0 out of 5 stars
• Cost: 3.0 out of 5 stars
• Flexibility: 4.5 out of 5 stars
• Schedule: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Rover is a legit and simple-to-use marketplace for connecting pet owners with contractor sitters.

Scheduling and cost-setting flexibility allow Sitters to determine their own earnings to some degree. Pet sitting is not without risks, though. Injuries to self, property, personal pets, or watched animals can and will occur even in the safest and most well-prepared environments.

You will rely on your personal experience and training when reacting to those situations, so knowing what to do in a variety of situations is of paramount importance.

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What Is Rover?

Rover.com connects pet owners with screened independent contractors who provide a variety of pet care-oriented services. To date, over 80 million services have been booked through the platform, making it the largest network of pet owners in the United States.

While there are, of course, pet care horror stories that scatter the internet, by and large, pet owners resoundingly appreciate the service provided.

“Sitters on Rover have received over 7.15 million reviews - 97% of which have a 5-star rating,” according to the company.[1] On a more independent note, Rover.com holds a 4.6-star (out of 5) rating on Trustpilot by pet owners who use the platform.[2]

For pet sitters interested in making money on Rover, the following services are currently offered on the platform:

Dog Services:

• Boarding
• House Sitting
• Drop-In Visits
• Doggy Day Care
• Dog Walking

Cat Services:

• Boarding
• House Sitting
• Drop-In Visits

 

When choosing which services to provide, sitters can set their own schedules, rates, size limitations, and whether they want to watch pets in their homes or those of the pets’. All payment is done through Rover, so the only thing to collect in person are the snuggles.

Getting started is simple, and prospective sitters can register, consent to [and pay for] a background check, and set up their profile in 20 minutes or less.

Get Started $35 Background Check Paid by sitter 20% Rover Fee Per booking

DollarSprout Rating 4.0 out of 5 stars

Final Thoughts

Before you check out, double-check rover review dog sitting against current offers and any coupons you can stack. Small habits like this add up to real savings over a year.

Originally published at dollarsprout.com.