Petme sitter guide · Ireland

Pet sitting in Ireland: 21 questions answered for 2026 sitters

A Dublin-based dog boarder now earns more for a single weekend than a typical retail shift pays in a fortnight.

Ireland's pet sitting market is smaller than the UK's but more relationship-driven: repeat clients are everything. This guide answers what new Irish sitters need to know, including the Revenue side and the surprisingly relaxed local licensing situation.

Apply to be a Petme sitter in Ireland

Up to 90%

of every booking kept by the sitter

20,000

Protection Plan maximum for eligible vet costs

200k+

pet parents on the platform

4.9 / 5

average sitter rating

Earnings snapshot

What Petme sitters actually earn in Ireland

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 Ireland. Sitters set their own price within these bands, and most active sitters earn €413 to €1,204 per month, depending on the mix of services and how many overnight stays they take.

Service	Rate range	Per
Dog walking	€12 to €25	walk
Drop-in visit	€12 to €22	visit
Pet boarding (at sitter's home)	€30 to €60	night
House sitting (at owner's home)	€40 to €70	night
Doggy day care	€25 to €45	day

Top Ireland cities for sitter demand right now:

DublinCorkGalwayLimerickWaterfordDrogheda

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

The practical side

Everything sitters in Ireland 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 Ireland. 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 Ireland

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

Irish demand peaks during the July-August summer holidays, October mid-term, and the late-December window. Dublin and Cork sitters often command a 15-20% premium during these stretches.

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 Ireland 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 Ireland actually ask before signing up, and the ones they wish they had asked sooner. Each answer is specific to Ireland, not a generic template.

How much do pet sitters earn in Ireland?

Earnings depend on the services you offer and the hours you put in. As a worked example at Ireland rates, eight dog walks a week at the lowest walk rate come to about €413 a month, and four nights of house sitting a week at the top rate to about €1204. 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 Ireland?

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 Ireland rates that week comes to about €112. 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 Ireland?

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.

How much does overnight pet boarding pay in Ireland?

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. 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 for eligible vet costs.

How fast do payouts arrive in Ireland?

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?

The Petme Protection Plan, which can contribute up to €20,000 toward eligible vet costs if something happens to the pet in your care. It is a discretionary fund, not insurance. 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 Ireland. 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 Ireland 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 Ireland?

Dublin dominates, followed by Cork and Galway. In Limerick, Waterford or anywhere else, you set your own rates and choose the areas you cover.

Do I need a licence to board dogs at home in Ireland?

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.

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

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.

How does pet sitting in Ireland compare to Deliveroo or Just Eat?

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.

What's the going rate for boarding in Dublin vs Cork?

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

When is the busiest season for pet sitters in Ireland?

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.

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

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.

How does pet sitting in Ireland differ from the UK?

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.

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

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.

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

"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)"

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

Apply at petme.social/ie/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 Ireland

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

Start your application