Pet sitting in Ireland: 22 questions answered for 2026 sitters

Earnings depend on the mix of services and the hours you put in. Active Petme sitters in Ireland typically earn €413–€1204 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 €112+ before factoring in repeat clients. Sitters who go full-time stack multiple boarding stays back-to-back.

Dog walking pays €12–€25 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 €30–€60 per night, and house sitting (you stay at the owner's home) pays €40–€70 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 Ireland 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 Ireland 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.

Dublin dominates, followed by Cork and Galway. Limerick and Waterford have lighter sitter competition, which means new sitters book their first stay quickly.

Ireland has no national home-boarding licence equivalent to the UK's Animal Welfare Licensing scheme. Some councils have local rules around commercial activity in residential properties: Dublin City Council in particular. Check with your local authority if you plan to scale.

Yes. Under €5,000 gross per year, you can declare via Revenue myAccount. Above that, you register for self-assessment and file Form 11 annually. Expenses are deductible.

Deliveroo and Just Eat riders in Dublin clear €10-13/h after costs. Pet sitting on Petme clears €13-20/h effectively, with overnight boarding pushing the average higher.

Dublin sits at €35-55 per night, Cork at €30-45, Galway at €28-42. Smaller cities (Limerick, Waterford) sit at €25-38.

July-August (summer holidays), late October mid-term, and the Christmas-New-Year window. The bank-holiday weekends in May, June, and August drive smaller but reliable bumps.

Yes for most sitters. The Irish minimum wage is €13.50/hour (2025). Petme sitters typically clear €15-22/h effectively, with boarding higher still.

Rates are similar in absolute terms but Irish sitters build deeper repeat-client relationships because the market is smaller. Less licensing burden than the UK: no Home Boarding Licence equivalent.

Cocker Spaniels, Labradors, Cavoodles, and rescue mixes dominate Irish Petme bookings. Cockers need exercise. Irish-bred working dogs (Wheaten Terriers, Setters) need outdoor time, not just suburban walks.

Yes: Dublin and Cork have active sitter WhatsApp groups. We'll connect you after approval.

"Take school-term-time bookings before chasing the holiday rushes. The repeat-client income from a 3-walks-a-week regular is bigger over a year than three frantic Christmas boardings." (Niamh D., Dublin)"

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