Pawshake

What Is Pawshake and How Does It Work?

Pawshake is essentially a platform that connects pet owners with pet sitters, mainly focused on dogs but also covering other pets in some cases. The whole system is pretty simple. Pet owners jump on the platform, search for a sitter in their area, check reviews, arrange a meet-and-greet, and then book directly through the site. Everything, from communication to payment, happens inside the platform, which adds a layer of safety for both sides.

From your side as a sitter, your job is to create a profile, list your services, set your prices, and wait for bookings to come in. Sounds easy, right? Well… not so fast. There are a few important things you need to understand before you jump in thinking this is quick money.

Types of Services You Can Offer

One of the cool things about Pawshake is the variety of services you can actually offer. You’re not just stuck doing one thing, you can mix and match depending on your schedule and comfort level.

Here are the main services available and average payment:

– Walking Dogs for a set time $15–$30

– Watching pets during the day $20–$50

– Staying overnight at client’s home $30–$70

– Dropping by to feed and check on pets $15–$30

– Keeping pets in your home $25–$60

Now here’s where it gets interesting. You can set your own pricing, but that doesn’t mean you can just charge whatever you want and expect bookings to roll in. Pricing is actually one of the biggest factors that determines whether you succeed on this platform or not.

And we’ll get into that in a bit.

Where Is Pawshake Available?

Before you even think about signing up, you need to check if Pawshake is available in your country. This isn’t a worldwide platform, and that alone cuts out a lot of people right from the start.

Pawshake is available in:

• Australia
• Austria
• Belgium
• Canada
• Denmark
• Germany
• France
• Hong Kong
• Ireland
• Italy
• Japan
• Luxembourg
• The Netherlands
• New Zealand
• Norway
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• The Netherlands
• Singapore
• Finland
• United Kingdom

Interestingly, it’s not heavily focused on the United States, which surprises a lot of people. Instead, the platform has built a strong presence in Europe and Australia.

So if you’re in one of these regions, you’re good to go. If not, unfortunately, this won’t be an option for you. You can check Pawshake alternatives we have on our website.

Limitations Based on Location

Even if Pawshake is available in your country, your exact location matters a lot. This is something most people don’t think about.

If you’re in a busy city like Melbourne, London, or Toronto, you’ll likely see more demand. More pet owners means more potential bookings.

But if you’re in a smaller town or rural area? That’s where things get tricky. You might go days or even weeks without a single request.

So while Pawshake is technically available, your earning potential is heavily tied to where you live. It’s not just about being on the platform, it’s about being in the right place at the right time.

How to Become a Pawshake Pet Sitter

Alright, so let’s say you’re in a supported country and you’re ready to give this a shot. What does the signup process actually look like?

It’s pretty straightforward on the surface. You go to Pawshake, select your country, and click on “Become a Sitter.” From there, you’ll fill out your details, create a profile, and submit your application.

But here’s the part a lot of people don’t realize…Pawshake doesn’t approve everyone as their approval rate is a bit low compared to their competitors.

Why so strict? Most likely because Pawshake wants to maintain quality and trust on the platform. Pet owners are trusting sitters with their animals, so they can’t just let anyone in.

Still, it’s something you need to be aware of. This isn’t a guaranteed side hustle, you might not even get through the door.

Is Pawshake Legit or a Waste of Time?

Yes, Pawshake is legit. But is it a guaranteed way to make money? Not even close. This sits somewhere in the middle. If you love animals, live in a high-demand area, and are willing to put in the time to build your profile and reputation, Pawshake can become a solid side hustle.But if you’re expecting quick cash, instant bookings, or a full-time income right out of the gate, you’re probably going to be disappointed.

Why Your Profile Matters So Much

If there’s one thing you should not rush, it’s your profile. Your profile is basically your entire business on Pawshake. It’s what people use to decide whether they trust you with their pet or not.

A few things that make a big difference is having a clear, friendly profile picture (preferably with an animal) a detailed description of your experience, mentioning your love for animals (yes, it matters) and highlighting reliability and availability.

Think about it from the pet owner’s perspective. Would you trust someone with zero effort in their profile? Exactly.

And here’s the kicker, since most people already on the platform have reviews, you’re starting at a disadvantage. So your profile needs to do a lot of heavy lifting early on.

Getting Your First Client (The Hard Truth)

When you first join Pawshake, you have zero reviews. And in a marketplace built on trust, that’s a big problem.

If a pet owner is choosing between someone with 20+ positive reviews and someone with zero reviews, chances are they are going to choose the one with positive reviews.

That’s why getting your first few clients is the hardest part. It’s not impossible, but it can take time. Sometimes weeks.

And during that time, you might feel like nothing’s happening. That’s normal. Everyone starts at zero, but only the people who stick it out actually start seeing results.

Pricing Strategy for Beginners

Here’s the truth, if you set your prices too high with no reviews, people won’t book you. But if you go too low, you might look suspicious. The sweet spot? Price yourself somewhere in the middle.

For example: If most dog walkers charge $25, start around $20–$22. Build reviews first then gradually increase your rates.

This is exactly what successful sitters do. They start lower, build trust, then raise prices as demand grows.

How Much Can You Earn on Pawshake?

Let’s talk about the part you actually care about, how much money you can realistically make on Pawshake.

If you browse through listings in cities like Melbourne, London, or Toronto, you’ll notice a pretty clear pricing pattern. Most sitters fall within a certain range depending on the service they offer and, more importantly, how many reviews they have.

For example, dog walking typically sits around $17 to $30 per walk, while house sitting can range anywhere from $30 to $70 per night. Doggy daycare and boarding usually land somewhere in the middle, depending on how long the pet stays and what’s included.

But here’s something interesting. You’ll often see sitters charging higher prices and still getting booked consistently. This is because they’ve built trust through reviews. Someone with 30+ positive reviews can charge $30 for a walk without much resistance, while someone brand new might struggle to get booked at $20.It’s not just about pricing, it’s about perceived value.

Also, don’t forget that these prices are before Pawshake takes its cut (we’ll get to that next). So your actual take-home amount is slightly lower.

Now, can you turn this into full-time income? In most cases, probably not, at least not right away. But as a side hustle, it can definitely bring in some decent extra cash, especially if you stack multiple services like walking, daycare, and overnight stays.

Factors That Affect Your Income

Your earnings on Pawshake aren’t fixed, they can fluctuate quite a bit. Some weeks you might be busy, while other weeks are completely quiet. Your location, reviews, service variety, availability and Responsiveness play a huge role in the game.

There’s also a bit of luck involved. Timing matters. Sometimes people need last-minute sitters, and if you’re available, you can land quick jobs.

But if you’re expecting consistent, predictable income from day one, that’s not how this works. Pawshake is more like a slow build than a quick win.

Pawshake Fees and Commission

Pawshake takes a 19% commission from your earnings. So if you charge $20 for a dog walk, you’re not actually keeping the full $20. You’re walking away with roughly $16 after fees.

At first glance, that might feel like a lot. And yeah, it’s not nothing. But to be fair, this is pretty standard. Most freelance platforms, whether it’s Fiverr, Upwork, or similar marketplaces, take around 20% as well.

Is It Worth It?

This really depends on how you look at it. If you’re thinking, “I’ll just find my own clients and keep 100%,” that’s valid but it also means doing your own marketing, handling payments, and building trust from scratch.

Pawshake basically gives you a ready-made marketplace. So for beginners, the 19% fee can actually be worth it because it removes a lot of the hard work involved in finding clients.

But as you gain experience, some sitters eventually branch out and find private clients to avoid fees altogether.

Pros and Cons

✔ Pawshake is a legit platform that connects pet owners with sitters in a simple and secure way.

✔ You can choose your own schedule and work as much or as little as you want.

✔ It’s a great side hustle if you genuinely enjoy being around animals.

✔ You can set your own prices and increase them as you gain more reviews.

✔ The platform handles payments, which makes the process smooth and hassle-free.

✗ Low approval rate of applications and strict criteria.

✗ It can take weeks to get your first booking due to lack of reviews.

✗ Pawshake takes a 19% commission from your earnings.

✗ Income is inconsistent and depends heavily on your location and demand.

✗ You’ll be competing with experienced sitters who already have strong profiles and reviews.