Dog walking offers teenagers flexible earning opportunities, valuable work experience, and skill development. While platform restrictions exist, numerous paths allow teens to build successful neighborhood dog walking businesses.
Age Requirements
- Platform services: Most require age 18+ due to liability and contract law. Rover requires 18+, Wag requires 18+, and Tails requires 18+ for independent contractor status.
- Independent work: No age minimum for neighborhood dog walking as long as parents consent. Check local business license requirements (usually not needed for informal work).
- Parental involvement: Teens under 16 should have parent supervision or permission. Parents can hold insurance and handle business aspects while teen provides service.
- Working papers: Some states require working papers for teens under 16. Check your state's Department of Labor requirements.
Getting Started as a Teen Dog Walker
- Start with people you know: Walk dogs for family friends, neighbors, and relatives. Build experience and references before expanding to unknown clients.
- Create simple marketing: Design flyers (Canva templates free) with your name, age, services, rates, and parent contact info. Post in your neighborhood.
- Use neighborhood apps: Post on Nextdoor (with parent supervision) offering services. Many parents prefer hiring responsible local teens over unknown adult platforms.
- Set appropriate rates: Charge slightly below market ($10–$20 for 30 minutes) to attract clients while building experience. Increase rates as you gain testimonials.
- Get certified: Take Red Cross Pet First Aid course (online, $30–$40) to demonstrate responsibility and preparedness. Parents appreciate this extra qualification.
Safety Considerations for Teen Walkers
- Always tell parents: Share client addresses, walk times, and expected return. Use phone location sharing during walks.
- Walk in safe areas: Stick to well-populated neighborhoods during daylight hours. Avoid isolated parks or unfamiliar areas alone.
- Start with small dogs: Build confidence with small, easy-to-handle breeds before working with large or strong dogs.
- Bring a phone: Always carry a charged phone for emergencies, communication with parents, and contacting dog owners if needed.
- Know emergency procedures: Learn basic pet first aid, locate nearest emergency vet, and understand when to call for help.
Building Your Teen Dog Walking Business
Week 1–2: Create flyers and post in neighborhood. Tell family and friends about your services. Walk 1–2 dogs for free to get testimonials.
Week 3–4: Post testimonials on Nextdoor with parent permission. Set up basic payment method (Venmo linked to parent account or cash). Aim for 3–5 regular clients.
Month 2–3: Request client reviews. Increase rates slightly as you gain experience. Expand to dog sitting for trusted clients. Target 10–15 walks per week.
Ongoing: Build reputation through excellent service. Send photo updates to clients. Be punctual and reliable. Consider adding services like pet sitting once established.
What to Charge as a Teen Walker
- Starting rates: $10–$15 for 20–30 minute walks
- Established rates: $15–$20 after gaining 5+ regular clients and reviews
- Extra services: +$5–$10 for additional dogs, puppy care, or medication administration
- Holiday premium: Charge time-and-a-half for major holidays when you're sacrificing teen activities
Skills and Lessons for Life
Teen dog walking teaches valuable life skills: responsibility, punctuality, customer service, money management, problem-solving, and business basics. These skills translate to future careers and college applications. Many successful adult dog walkers started as neighborhood teens building long-term client relationships.
Transitioning to Professional Platforms
When you turn 18, transition your established neighborhood business to professional platforms. Apply to Tails (which requires an in-person interview and experience), Rover, or Wag with ready-made testimonials and references. Your teen business foundation gives you a significant advantage over other new platform walkers. Learn more in our dog walking jobs guide.