Let’s talk about the side hustle that doesn’t feel like work most days. Dog sitting.
I’ve been doing this on Rover for a while now. And this summer, it actually added up to something real.
Here’s what Rover alone paid out.
- April: $202.50
- July into August: $672.00
- Early September: $144.00
That’s just Rover. That doesn’t count the dogs I sit for friends and family, outside the app, no fees attached, just people I already know trusting me with their pups. Between both, Rover and the friends-and-family jobs, it’s brought in an extra $2,000 this summer. Two thousand dollars. From dogs.
How I manage it and caretaking.
I keep my service area tight. On purpose.
I don’t take jobs across town. I don’t drive an hour for a booking. I keep everything close to home, close to dad. That’s not an accident. I tell every single client that up front, before they even book. I need to be able to get back to dad quickly if he needs me. Always.
It means I say no to some jobs. It means my radius is smaller than it could be. But it means I never have to choose between a paycheck and being there for him. That’s not a trade I’m willing to make.
This week I get to watch a pack of five. I was so excited to meet a “crazy” person like me who loves a houseful of dogs. Many of you all will remember me and my 5 kids with 7 dogs. The good ole days!
Five dogs. All week. I am so excited I can barely stand it. There’s something about a house full of wagging tails and different personalities all figuring out how to share space that just… fills me up. It’s chaos. Good chaos.
The real math of it.
An extra $2,000 didn’t come from one big client or one lucky break. It came from small, steady bookings. A weekend here. A week there. Dogs I’ve come to love like my own. And it fit into a life that already has a lot going on.
Sometimes the side hustle that helps the most isn’t the flashy one. Sometimes it’s just… dogs. And love. And staying close to home.
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