Pet sitting in Germany: 22 questions answered for 2026 sitters

Earnings depend on the mix of services and the hours you put in. Active Petme sitters in Germany typically earn €344–€1118 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–€55 per night, and house sitting (you stay at the owner's home) pays €35–€65 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 Germany 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 Germany 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.

Berlin, Munich, and Hamburg are the top three by booking volume. Frankfurt, Cologne, and Dusseldorf form the second tier. Leipzig and Stuttgart are growing fast: sitter supply has not caught up with the influx of dog ownership post-2021.

Yes, regular commercial home boarding in Germany typically requires a permit under Section 11 of the Animal Welfare Act, issued by your local veterinary authority. Occasional sitting for family or friends is exempt, and dog walking plus drop-in visits usually do not require it. The exact threshold varies by state.

Yes. You register a commercial activity at the local trade office, then report income annually on your income tax return. Below the small-business threshold (€25,000 per year revenue), you do not need to charge or pay value-added tax. Expenses are deductible against the income.

Lieferando and Uber Eats riders in Germany report €11-14 hourly after costs. Petme pet sitting clears €14-22 per hour effectively and you do not need a bike or vehicle. Boarding pushes the effective hourly higher because of the overnight component.

Munich sits at €35-55 per night (highest in Germany), Berlin at €30-50, Hamburg at €28-48. Stuttgart and Frankfurt are similar to Hamburg. Smaller cities (Leipzig, Dresden, Nuremberg) sit at €25-40.

The long summer holiday (mid-July through early September, depending on state) is the single biggest stretch. The Christmas to New Year window comes second. Whit holidays (May/June) and the autumn break (October) round out the calendar.

For most sitters, yes. A mini-job caps at €538 per month with rigid hours. Petme dog walkers in major German cities easily clear that with 6-8 walks per week and full schedule control. Boarding sitters earn substantially more.

Austrian rates are similar in euros but the market is smaller. Swiss rates (in Swiss francs) are 50-80% higher in absolute terms: Zurich and Geneva sitters command boarding rates of CHF 60-90 per night. Switzerland has stricter import rules for sitters moving across the border.

Labradors, French Bulldogs, Australian Shepherds, and Dachshunds are everywhere. Aussies need a lot of mental and physical work. Dachshunds need stairs-carrying for back protection. French Bulldogs overheat in summer. Working-line breeds (German Shepherds, Malinois) want structured exercise, not just a casual walk.

Yes: Berlin, Munich, and Hamburg have active sitter WhatsApp groups. Members share local veterinary-authority advice, recommend local vets, and trade overbooked bookings. We connect you after approval.

"Sort out the commercial home-boarding permit with the local veterinary authority before you accept your first boarding booking. It saves you stress and fines later." (Florian M., Munich)

Apply at petme.social/de/become-a-pet-sitter. The form is in English and German; approval is typically returned within 48 hours.