Petme sitter guide · Canada

Pet sitting in Canada: 21 questions answered for 2026 sitters

Toronto and Vancouver sitters now charge close to US-metro rates while paying Canadian rent. The arbitrage is real: and the regulatory burden is lighter than south of the border.

Canada's pet sitting market is more relaxed than its US counterpart on licensing and tax paperwork, but the earnings have caught up fast in major metros. This guide answers what you actually need to know to start, broken into clear questions.

Apply to be a Petme sitter in Canada

Up to 90%

of every booking kept by the sitter

20,000

in Protection Plan per booking

200k+

pet parents on the platform

4.9 / 5

average sitter rating

Earnings snapshot

What Petme sitters actually earn in Canada

You keep up to 90% of every booking one of the strongest take-home rates in the industry. The numbers below are the live rate bands in Canada. Sitters set their own price within these bands, and most active sitters earn $619 to $1,548 per month, depending on the mix of services and how many overnight stays they take.

Service	Rate range	Per
Dog walking	$18 to $35	walk
Drop-in visit	$18 to $30	visit
Pet boarding (at sitter's home)	$40 to $75	night
House sitting (at owner's home)	$50 to $90	night
Doggy day care	$30 to $55	day

Top Canada cities for sitter demand right now:

TorontoVancouverMontréalCalgaryOttawaEdmontonHalifaxQuébec City

Ready to set up a profile and pick your rates? Start your application.

The practical side

Everything sitters in Canada need to know before signing up

Earnings are only half the picture. Below are the tax, scheduling, protection, and payout realities of running a Petme sitter profile in Canada. We've written them out the way an experienced sitter would explain them to a friend.

Cashback for high performers

Beyond the up to 90% you keep on every booking, Petme pays cashback on top. The more you sit and the stronger your reviews, the larger the cashback tier you unlock. High-performing sitters with consistent 5-star reviews and steady booking volume earn the biggest bonus. Automatic, no claim paperwork, paid out alongside your normal weekly payouts.

Apply in Canada

Protection on every booking

The Petme Protection Plan provides up to 20,000 on every reservation. Automatic on every booking. No separate purchase required. The 24/7 support team is there for emergencies, so you are never alone with a problem at 3am.

Seasonal demand

July-August and the late-December holiday window are the peak periods. Calgary and Banff sitters see an additional ski-season bump in January and February.

Payouts within 2 days

Petme releases your payout automatically once a booking is marked complete. The money lands in your bank account within 2 business days. No invoicing, no chasing the owner. The platform takes care of it.

Set your own schedule

Accept only the bookings you want. Pause your profile any time. There are no minimum hours and no schedule lock-in. Most Petme sitters in Canada start while holding another job and only go full time once their calendar fills naturally.

FAQ

21 questions, answered straight

These are the questions Petme sitters in Canada actually ask before signing up, and the ones they wish they had asked sooner. Each answer is specific to Canada, not a generic template.

How much do pet sitters earn in Canada?

Earnings depend on the services you offer and the hours you put in. As a worked example at Canada rates, eight dog walks a week at the lowest walk rate come to about $619 a month, and four nights of house sitting a week at the top rate to about $1548. Overnight boarding and house sitting pay the most per booking, drop-ins and walks the least. You keep up to 90% of every booking: Petme's service fee is 10-20%.

What does a typical week look like for a Petme sitter in Canada?

You set the week yourself. One example: 4 dog walks during weekday lunchtimes, 2 drop-in visits in the evenings and one overnight stay at the weekend. At the lowest Canada rates that week comes to about $158. Taking more overnight stays is the quickest way to raise it, because they pay the most per booking.

How much do dog walkers make in Canada?

Dog walking pays $18–$35 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.

How much does overnight pet boarding pay in Canada?

Boarding at the sitter's home pays $40–$75 per night, and house sitting (you stay at the owner's home) pays $50–$90 per night. Overnight care pays more per booking than any other Petme service, so a few stays a month move your income the most.

How does Petme's service fee work?

Petme takes 10-20% from each completed booking and the sitter keeps up to 90%. The fee covers payment processing, customer support, and the Petme Protection Plan that covers every booking automatically.

How fast do payouts arrive in Canada?

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.

What protections do sitters get on every booking?

Every booking is covered by the Petme Protection Plan, which includes up to CAD 32,000 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.

What do I need to start 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.

How quickly can I get my first booking?

It depends on the services you offer, your rates and how many owners near you are looking, so there is no fixed wait. What you control is the profile owners choose from: at least 4 clear photos, a written bio, clear service descriptions and rates in line with Canada. Opening your calendar over school holidays and Christmas, when owners travel, puts you in front of more requests.

Can I pet sit alongside my regular job?

Yes. You set your own availability and accept only the bookings that fit, so sitting in Canada can run alongside a full-time job: dog walks fit lunchtime windows, drop-in visits fit evenings, and weekend boarding fits around a Monday-to-Friday week.

What are the busiest cities for pet sitting in Canada?

Toronto and Vancouver dominate booking volume. Montréal, Calgary, and Ottawa form the next tier. Wherever you are, from Halifax to Victoria, you set your own rates and choose the areas you cover.

Do I need to declare pet sitting income for tax in Canada?

Yes. The CRA treats it as self-employment income on form T2125. If you cross $30,000 in gross revenue in any rolling 12-month period, you need to register for GST/HST. Most part-time sitters stay below that. Expenses (gear, mileage at the CRA per-km rate, a share of home utilities for boarding) are deductible.

How does pet sitting in Canada compare to Uber or SkipTheDishes?

Uber and Skip drivers in Toronto report C$14-18 hourly after fuel and vehicle costs. Petme pet sitting clears C$18-30 hourly with no vehicle, plus the protection-plan safety net. Repeat clients also make pet sitting less feast-or-famine than gig delivery.

What's the going rate for boarding in Toronto vs Vancouver?

Toronto sits at C$45-65 per night, Vancouver at C$50-70: Vancouver is slightly higher due to tighter sitter supply and downtown density. Montréal trends a touch lower at C$40-55. Calgary and Ottawa sit in the C$40-55 band.

When is the busiest season for pet sitters in Canada?

July through mid-August is peak (cottage country trips). Late December to early January is the second peak. In ski-towns and gateway cities (Calgary, Vancouver), January-March holds higher-than-baseline demand because of ski trips.

Are there local rules around home boarding in Canada?

Canada has no federal home-boarding licence equivalent. Some municipalities (parts of Toronto, Vancouver) limit the number of dogs in a single household, but the limits typically only kick in at 4+ dogs. Renters should check their lease: condo boards sometimes restrict short-stay pets.

Is pet sitting more profitable than retail or hospitality in Canada?

Yes for most sitters. The federal minimum wage is C$17.30 (2025); retail and hospitality sit close to that. Petme dog walkers earn C$18-25 per hour effectively, and boarding sitters clear C$25-35 hourly on a per-night-divided basis.

How does pet sitting in Canada differ from the US?

Canadian rates are roughly 15-25% lower in absolute terms than equivalent US metros, but the platform fee structure and protection plan are the same. Canadian sitters report less tax complexity (one CRA form instead of US Schedule C plus state forms).

What's it like sitting for popular Canadian dog breeds?

Labradors, Goldendoodles, and Bernese Mountain Dogs are everywhere: particularly in suburbs around Toronto and Vancouver. Winter-coat breeds (Huskies, Malamutes) need a lot of cold-weather exercise; small breeds need booties in real Canadian winters.

What's one thing Canadian sitters wish they knew before starting?

"Build out availability for both Christmas AND March break right when you sign up. New sitters who hold those two windows fill their calendar within their first three months." (Mike D., Vancouver)"

Where do I go to apply as a pet sitter in Canada?

Apply at petme.social/canada/become-a-pet-sitter. The application covers your pet-care experience and the services you want to offer. Once your identity is verified, your profile goes live and owners nearby can message you in the app.

Ready when you are

Apply to become a Petme pet sitter in Canada

The full apply page has the signup form, service-by-service rate setting, and ID verification flow.

Start your application