Pet sitting in Belgium: 22 questions answered for 2026 sitters

Earnings depend on the mix of services and the hours you put in. Active Petme sitters in Belgium typically earn €344–€1032 per month. Sitters who lean into overnight boarding and house sitting reach the top of that range, while drop-in and dog-walking-only sitters sit in the lower half. You keep up to 90% of every booking: Petme's service fee is 10-15%.

A common pattern: 3–5 dog walks during weekday lunchtimes, 1–2 drop-in visits in the evenings, and one overnight stay across the weekend. That's roughly 12–15 hours of actual paid time per week and clears €95+ before factoring in repeat clients. Sitters who go full-time stack multiple boarding stays back-to-back.

Dog walking pays €10–€20 per walk on Petme. A 30-minute neighbourhood walk is typically priced near the lower end; longer walks, multi-dog walks, or walks in busy city centres command the upper end. You set your own rate when you build your profile.

Boarding at the sitter's home pays €25–€50 per night, and house sitting (you stay at the owner's home) pays €35–€60 per night. Boarding is where most full-time Petme sitters concentrate their income because the per-booking value is the highest.

Petme takes 10-15% from each completed booking and the sitter keeps up to 90%. There's no signup cost, no monthly subscription, and no charge to keep your profile live. The fee covers payment processing, customer support, and the Petme Protection Plan that covers every booking automatically.

Payouts are released automatically once a booking is marked complete in the Petme app. The money lands in your bank account within 2 business days. You don't need to invoice the owner or chase payment: the platform handles it end-to-end.

Every booking is covered by the Petme Protection Plan, which includes up to 20,000 in veterinary expenses if something happens to the pet in your care. It's automatic on every reservation: no separate purchase, no claim paperwork upfront. Petme also offers 24/7 customer support so you're never left handling an emergency alone.

No formal qualifications are required to apply as a Petme sitter. You need to be 18 or older, own a smartphone capable of running the app, complete ID verification, and demonstrate genuine experience around animals during your profile review. Some local rules apply for commercial-scale boarding: see the country-specific question below.

Most new sitters in Belgium go live within 24–48 hours of submitting verification. Your first booking typically lands within 1–2 weeks if your profile has at least 4 good photos, a written bio, clear service descriptions, and a competitive rate for your city. Sitters who add availability over a major holiday (Christmas, summer break) often book their first stay within days.

Yes: most Petme sitters in Belgium start while working full-time elsewhere. Dog walking fits into lunchtime windows; drop-in visits work around evenings; weekend boarding stacks on top of a Monday-to-Friday office job. You set your own availability and accept only the bookings that fit your schedule.

Brussels dominates by volume, followed by Antwerp and Ghent. Liège, Bruges, and Leuven are smaller markets where sitter competition is lighter.

For regular pet sitting income, yes. Indépendant complémentaire (alongside another job) is the lighter-touch option; principal is for full-time. Register through a guichet d'entreprises like Securex or Liantis.

Yes. Social contributions go to your caisse d'assurances sociales quarterly (around 20.5% of net). Income tax flows through your annual déclaration. Expenses are deductible.

Deliveroo and Uber Eats in Brussels report €9-12/h after costs. Petme pet sitting clears €12-18/h with overnight boarding pushing the average up.

Brussels sits at €30-50 per night, Antwerp at €28-45, Ghent at €25-42. Smaller cities sit at €22-38.

July-August summer holidays, Christmas-New-Year, and Carnival weekend in February drive the peaks. Brussels has unusually steady demand year-round due to the EU institutional travel schedule.

Yes for most sitters. Belgian minimum wage is around €13.06/h (2025). Petme dog walkers in Brussels and Antwerp clear €14-20/h effectively, boarding sitters higher.

Belgian sitters in Brussels work across French, Dutch, and English client bases. Dutch tax structure (ZZP) is simpler than Belgian (indépendant) but Belgian rates skew higher in Brussels because of the expat density.

Belgian Malinois (locally everywhere), Bouviers, Labradors, and Cavalier King Charles dominate bookings. Mali and Bouviers need real exercise. Cavaliers are small, easy, perfect first bookings.

Yes: Brussels and Antwerp have active sitter WhatsApp groups, often bilingual French/Dutch/English. We'll connect you after approval.

"List your services in English alongside French/Dutch from day one. Brussels has more English-speaking dog owners than locals expect, and they tip well." (Thomas D., Brussels)"

Apply at petme.social/be/become-a-pet-sitter. Verification returns within 48 hours.