Steps to Build an On-Demand Dog Walker App? Cost & Key Features

“Nobody can fully understand the meaning of love unless he’s owned a dog.”, said Gene Hill. 

Encouragingly, dog adoption rates (including various breeds) have seen a significant upswing in recent years. 

In 2019, the rate stood at a promising 56%, and by 2023, it had risen to an even more hopeful 61%. 

Walking a dog regularly is crucial, besides playing, eating, and sleeping. A dog needs a minimum of 1-2 walks daily (in general), but pet owners fail to accomplish this, maybe because of their busy schedule, time scarcity, or other reasons. 

Around 57% of dog owners admit to skipping their pet walks every week. 

While seeking an alternative to this, an increasing number of tech enthusiasts have proposed a dog-walking app development. For a pet’s physical and mental well-being and pet owners’s ease, dog walking mobile app development is a win-win situation for both parties. 

According to Valuates Reports, the global dog walker app market will reach $10260 m by 2030, which was around $7600 million in 2023, with a CAGR of about 4.6% between 2024 and 2030. 

Well, these statistics seem beneficial for building an app like this and grabbing a considerable market chunk. If you are devising the same, then this is the moment. Just gear it up and kickstart your app development venture. How? 

This guide will guide you on how to develop a dog-walking app, why to invest, how to work, what monetization opportunities are, what must-have features are, and every relevant aspect to help you surface with a successful app. 

Let’s get started. 

What Is An On-Demand Dog Walker App?

A dog walking app is a mobile app that allows dog owners to hire experienced and trusted walkers for their furry babies with only a single tap at any time. On the other hand, the walkers can find more clients (dog owners) and quickly boost their earnings. 

The process of building a dog-walker app that connects dog owners and dog walkers, creating a seamless and efficient experience for both, is known as dog-walker app development.

For Your Information, Basically, You Can Build Two Types of Dog-Walking Apps:

Dedicated Solution: If you own a pet care agency or pet-walking business, you are good to go with on-demand dog-walking app development that offers consumers additional services and products that can foster trust and thereby increase revenue. 

Intermediary Services Solution: You can surface with a mobile platform that may help parents and freelance dog walkers get benefits collaboratively. As an intermediary, you can charge a commission amount from both parties. 

Why Do We Need On-Demand Dog Walking Apps – Facts and Figures to Know

The global dog walking app market is likely to surge at a noticeable rate from 2024 to 2031. Well, simply talking is not going to make any sense. 

Let’s get deeper into research and surface with some of the latest facts and figures of the pet care market that can help us reach some discussion. 

• According to Grand View Research, by 2030, the global pet care market is anticipated to be valued at $236.16 billion at a CAGR of around 5.1% from 2022 to 2030. 
• In the US, in 2022, the total spending on pets was estimated to be $136.8 billion, including pet food and treats, vet care product sales, etc. 
• While researching, last year, the American Pet Products Association (APPA) found that sales aimed to grab $143.6 billion in the US pet market. 
• Also, APPA conducted a national pet owners survey 2023-2024 and found that about 66% of US folks own a pet (bird, cat, horse, dog, small animal, etc.), equivalent to 86.9 million households. 
• By 2027, the pet industry is projected to grab $358.62 billion. 
• Also, about 86% of owners prefer online shopping for their pets. 
• By 2025, the pet grooming industry is anticipated to be valued at $14.69 billion. 
• Considering pets’ health, the parents of furry babies spend almost $31.4 billion annually. 

These stats recite the story of the global pet market, including varied services, such as pet grooming, walking, health, online shopping, ownership, food, and more. All such come under a single umbrella of pet care. 

So, not only for app users, dog walking applications are valuable for businesses looking to build an online presence for their offline pet service venture. 

How Does An On-Demand Dog Walker App Work?

Let’s dive in and scan the working of the on-demand dog walker app. 

First things first. The dog owners create an account in the dog walking app. It includes filling in the mandatory details about them and their pets, like the dog’s breed, age, size, etc. They also need to specify any requirements, if any. 

This complete profile of dogs and their owners helps potential dog walkers understand the dogs’ preferences and needs. 

Owners can review the nearby dog walkers’ profiles, showcasing their ratings, experiences, and reviews, supporting better decision-making. 

When finding the best-fit dog walker, the owners schedule their pet’s walk, choosing their preferred time. 

The dog walking app bridges the dog owners and the walkers, allowing them to discuss every essential detail or instruction initially. 

Through the app, the owners get real-time tracking details of their dogs, which obviously makes you relaxed, knowing their pets are enjoying their walks while being safe in others’ hands. 

After completing the dog’s walk, the owners seamlessly pay through the app, which adds convenience. Also, owners can share their experience of their pet’s walking, leaving a review for that walker, helping the community make the right decisions. 

So forth, the dog walker application benefits the walker and owner in meeting their respective requirements.

Monetization Opportunities Associated With the On-Demand Dog Walker App

Undoubtedly, businesses and enthusiasts have developed an on-demand dog-walking app to boost sales and witness increased revenue. 

So, while you build a dog walker app, ensure associate varied ways to monetize it and earn profit. 

Here, We Have Discussed the Top Ways to Monetize Your App, Let’s Scan:

1. Advertisements

You can drive a profitable income source, allowing businesses providing pet services to run relevant advertisements on your app. 

2. Transaction Fees

Every transaction that takes place between dog owners and the walker is obviously chargeable. You can set a fixed amount as a commission from both parties on the successful service offerings. 

3. Paid Promotions

You can ask dog walkers to opt for a paid promotion to get featured on your app. 

4. Membership Charges for Walkers

Despite transaction fees, you can charge dog walkers with membership fees for listing their services on your platform. 

5. Merchandise Sales

Besides bridging the gap between a dog walker and an owner, you can let your platform act as an online store for selling pet products via your app and earning a profit. 

6. Partnerships

You can collaborate with vet clinics, pet stores, and other individuals providing pet-focused services. 

7. Pet Insurance

You can ask pet owners to purchase health plans for their pets instead of offering coverage for them, like certain veterinary expenses, etc. 

Steps to Develop an On-Demand Dog Walker App

The dog walkers usually prefer browsing online to find the perfect pet sitter and dog walkers nearby. 

Building an on-demand dog-walking app can help you attract such visitors and boost your app revenue. But how to make a dog-walking app? Well, it requires following the sequence of phases mentioned below. 

Let’s get deeper:

Step 1: Market Research

When you start with something new, a deep understanding and knowledge are essential to emerge with the required outcomes. 

Before starting your app development journey, perform relevant market research and check for the service demands and target audience. 

Remember to perform a competitive analysis where you will surface the best on-demand dog-walking apps. Go through the strategies they are following and their strengths and weaknesses. 

Try adopting their profitable approaches and working on their weaknesses, acknowledging them as an opportunity to grab a market share where they lag. 

Step 2: Define Requirements

Before you start designing and developing a dog-walking app, you should plan and define the features, functionalities, and technical requirements of your app for a smooth process ahead. 

Step 3: Design the App

Now, you can start with designing your app’s user interface, ensuring it’s user-friendly and drives increased user engagement and retention. App responsiveness should also be considered to ease the users’ ability to run your app on any device they prefer, of any screen size or type. 

Step 4: Develop the App

It’s time to make the app functional and include the decided features by moving ahead with the app development. You can start with creating the MVP model, which includes the must-have features. Allow a specific set of users to access it and locate issues, if any. This way, you can save time, effort, and money by applying changes to this app version and building a bug-free version of the app. 

Step 5: Test the App 

In this phase, you ensure that you have built a top-quality app by letting it undergo rigorous testing. This way, you identify the issues, address them, and fix them to lead to seamless performance, secure, and properly functioning apps. 

Step 6: Deploy and Launch

Now, your app is set to launch. You need to deploy the app on the app stores (you preferred while developing) and then wait for the approval. Upon receiving it, the app will be available to use for end-users. 

Step 7: Ongoing App Maintenance and Support

Well, development doesn’t end your job. After your app launch, it’s time to maintain your app by releasing frequent updates, making modifications per the users’ requirements, and adding more features and functionalities to make the app run successfully. 

So, by following the above-mentioned steps, you can build a dog-walking application that can meet users’ needs and stay ahead of the curve. 

Popular On-Demand Dog Walker Apps In The Market

On the app stores, there is a list of the best on-demand dog walker apps that are gaining a lot of traction and driving different revenue streams. 

Here, we will have a walkthrough to catch up with some beneficial factors. 

1. Wag! – Dog Walkers & Sitters

Downloads: 10L+

The #1 app for paw parents, Wag offers top-rated dog walking, vet care, dog sitting, and training services globally. Pet parents can easily book their pet care service with the Wag app and let them enjoy it. 

Top Features and Services

• Pet Insurance
• Wellness Plans
• Vet Chat
• Drop-Ins
• Walking
• Sitting
• Boarding
• Training

2. PetBacker-Dog Boarding, Sitter

Downloads: 500k+

PetBacker, one of the popular dog walking apps, connects dog walkers, boarding & groomers, and sitters with pet owners in the major cities and helps get trusted pet sitters who can board the pets after getting requests. 

Top Features and Services

• Pet Boarding
• Pet Day Care
• Pet Sitting
• Dog Walking
• Pet Taxi
• Pet Grooming
• Pet Trainers

3. Rover – Dog Boarding & Walking

Downloads: 10L+

A popular pet sitting, walking, and boarding app, Rover was developed for dog people by the DOg People TM. Using the app, pet parents can get pets’ adorable photo updates, easily message pet sitters, track the dogs while on a walk, or book and securely pay for other pet services. 

Top Features and Services

• House Sitting
• Boarders
• Dog Walking
• Doggy Day Care
• Drop-In Visits
• Dog Training through GoodPup

4. Pawshake – Dog & Cat Sitter

Downloads: 500K+

The Pawshake app helps parents of furry babies find trusted dog or cat sitters who offer dog walking, home visits, dog home boarding, and house-sitting services while you are out or busy with work. 

Top Features and Services

• Vetted Pet Sitters
• Pet Sitter Profiles
• Doggy Day Care
• Dog Walking
• Dog Boarding
• House Sitting
• Home Visits
• Veterinary Coverage
• Personalized and Flexible Pet Care

5. NYC Pooch

One of the top dog walking service platforms, Nyc Dog provides varied dog-relevant services to help your furry baby get everything it needs, even if you are busy with your chores. 

Top Features and Services

• Buddy Walks
• Solo Walks
• Puppy Visits
• Pet Sitting

6. Out-U-Go

The pet care service provider site, Out-U-Go, helps take care of your furry buddy from professionally trained dog walkers, get real-time updates, get your pets insured and bonded, and more. 

Top Features and Services

• Weekly Walks
• Pet Sitting
• Belly Rubs
• Add-on-Dog Walks 
• 100% Scrapdog Guarantee

7. Holidog.com

When you want to go out, home board your pets undoubtedly with the best furry friends, Holidog.com. They understand that pets all need attention and love and take care of their comfort. 

• Get a foster family during your holidays.
• Hire a pet sitter to come and stay in your place until your trip ends. 
• Sitters come to your home for about 30 minutes to provide your pet with food, water, and cuddles. 
• Walkers collect your pooch from your place and take them for a walk for stretching. 

8. Fetch! Pet Care

Pet care at Fetch truly lives and cares for all breeds and types of pets. The pet care services they offer are customized, meeting every specific requirement of the furry buddies, and are crafted to ensure they stay healthy and happy. 

Top Features and Services

• Puppy Sitting
• Pet Sitting
• Dog Walking
• Pet Taxi
• Overnight Care
• Pet Medical Administration

These are a few top dog walker apps that are thriving in the pet care service market, and you can find more information and get deeper into their specifications to come up with something useful that can assist in better app development.

Must-Have Features Does Every Dog Walking App Should Have 

By including essential features in your dog walking app, you can make it functional and useful for pet parents, admin, and dog walkers. 

Let’s discuss important panel features that you can consider while building your app. 

1. Basic Features

a) Admin Panel

b) Dog Parent Panel

c) Dog Walker Panel

2. Advanced Features

a) Admin Panel

b) Dog Parent Panel

c) Dog Walker Panel

These were the basic and advanced features of the dog walker app that you can integrate into your app to make it useful for end users.

Benefits of Developing a Dog Walker Mobile Application

As we said earlier in this post, dog walking app development is profitable for both pawrent and dog walker apps. Here, we will discuss the facts more deeply, including user and business outlooks separately. 

1. User Point Of View 

Users acknowledge that a dog walker app appears to be a trusted friend for their four-legged family members. It eases finding a pet care service provider who can take care of their pet’s walking when they have a busy schedule or are unavailable to take them out. 

Using a local dog walker app, users can track their dogs during walks, chat with the walker, and receive adorable videos and photos of their fur babies having fun. On top of everything, it’s safe and easy and ensures the dog’s well-being and good health. 

2. Business Point Of View

Now, dog care service providers or business enthusiasts looking for an on-demand dog walking app can reap many benefits. Let’s have a look:

a. Market Expansion

By breaking geographical limitations, the mobile app lets businesses reach a wider customer base aloof away from their nearby locations into a broad dog owners’ region seeking the best and most convenient dog walking services. 

b. Brand Building

Apps are the extension of your brand, and so forth; creating a visually appealing and user-friendly interface can help reflect your professionalism and care for pets. This helps with robust brand recognition that builds trust with potential customers. 

c. Streamlined Operations

A dog-walking app automates relevant business operations, such as invoicing, scheduling, and communication. This way, it frees the users to aim at other business matters, offer unique and expected dog walking services, and expand their business. 

d. Customer Retention

The app owners can leave their customers satisfied by offering a transparent and convenient platform for booking pet walks, tracking walk progress, and getting updates. Also, clear communication and fulfilled requirements result in loyal customers.

e. Competitive Edge

With a feature-rich app, business owners can stay ahead of the curve that meets the needs of dog walkers and pawrents. By following this innovative approach, businesses can lead the dog-walking industry. 

f. Partnership Opportunities

 Businesses can make their pet care apps a platform for collaboration where they can partner with dog training services, pet stores, or veterinary clinics that can provide package services or promotions, expanding value proposition and reach.

Smart Gadgets for Dog Walking, Which Operates with An App

Pet wearables or smart gadgets for dog walking are revolutionizing dog walking, offering benefits to animal companions and their human walkers with improved safety, enhanced fitness, data-driven care, convenience, and fun.

Explaining the Scenario:

• The gadget is tied to the pet’s collar.
• It tracks the pet’s health.
• The connected app (via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth) accumulates data from the pet’s wearable and uses it to generate reports and offer insight into the pet’s health. 
• The pawrents can access reports via their wearables (connected to their mobile phones). 

Below, we have discussed some that you can consider catering to better pet care services. 

1. Pet Health Tracker

Being a part of your life and family, you always look for ways to keep your dog happy and healthy. But you can’t be with them every time to track their health, like while they are out with the walker. 

Here, a pet health tracker can help by monitoring the following:

• Activity and sleep of your pet 24/7
• Anxiety, mobility, and skin issues

All you need is to make your dog walking app seamlessly integrate with such a pet health tracker and let it show the updates it receives from the connected gadget tied to the pet’s neck. 

Example: FitBark 2 

2. Real-Time GPS Tracking

You can always know where your dog is anywhere, anytime, with a real-time GPS tracking gadget fastened to your pet’s collar. You can get peace of mind concerning your pet’s safety and well-being with such a gadget. 

Here, a dog GPS tracker can help with pets: 

• Activity monitoring
• Virtual Fence
• Location History
• Live tracking

Example: Tractive 

3. Dog Activity Monitor 

Think of dogs’ Fitbits, attached to their collar, recording their movements and sleep and giving a picture of their activity. 

One such smart gadget, the activity monitor, monitors a pet’s activity by leveraging smart technology. 

Example: Fi Series 2 GPS Tracker Smart Dog Collar

More pet wearables integration, which can make your app more valuable, can lead to increased downloads and revenue. 

Required Tech Stack For Dog Walking App Development

Cost Estimation Of Dog Walking App Development

Developing a dog-walking app can be a great way to tap into the growing demand for pet care services. However, the cost of developing an app can vary depending on location, platform, and features.

Certainly, Here’s an Approximate Cost Table for Developing a Dog Walking App in The Mentioned Regions:

Note: These are approximate costs and can vary based on the app’s requirements, features, and complexity. Additionally, the exchange rates may vary, affecting the final cost.

The cost estimation of a Dog walking app depends on a lot of factors,

• Type of dog walking app
• Different functionalities and features of the app
• Design and app development team
• Marketing and deployment of the app
• Maintenance and upgrades
• Select an app platform, ios or Android

Why Choose EmizenTech for Dog Walking App Solutions 

The dog walking app development services by the top app development company, EmizenTech, provide high-degree customization that meets specific business needs and paces your business growth.

For over a decade, the company has been in app development, helping businesses build robust online presences with ultimate expansion and increased revenue.  

Still in a fog? 

Key Highlights of EmizenTech

• Scalable and Robust Solution
• 24/7 Dedicated Support
• Source Code & IP Rights 
• Exceptional UI/UX
• 100% Customization
• Agile Development Approach
• Cross-ecosystem Expertise
• Business-Oriented Approach
• Industry Experience
• Native and Hybrid App Development Proficiency

Conclusion 

The pet care service market has reached its saturation level; regardless of that, every minute, a new idea surfaces and becomes the trend of the growing app development industry. 

On-demand dog walker app development is profitable for pet care service providers. 

The latest reports say the global pet care app market valuation will boost by 2030 with a CAGR of 18.14%. 

You can acknowledge such figures as a lucrative opportunity and emerge with an on-demand walker app development. 

Connect with an app development company to build a custom dog-walking app for your business and reach a wider customer base.