Petme sitter guide · Italy

Work as a pet sitter in Italy: Milan, Rome and beyond

A Milan boarding sitter doing four overnight stays a month already out-earns a full-time retail clerk on a quarter of the hours.

The Italian pet sitting market shifted from side-hustle to full-time profession between 2023 and 2026: higher rates, a real verified-sitter class, and steady year-round demand outside the August peak. This guide answers the practical questions sitters ask before they sign up.

Apply to be a Petme sitter in Italy

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 Italy

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 Italy. Sitters set their own price within these bands, and most active sitters earn €275 to €946 per month, depending on the mix of services and how many overnight stays they take.

Service	Rate range	Per
Dog walking	€8 to €15	walk
Drop-in visit	€8 to €15	visit
Pet boarding (at sitter's home)	€20 to €45	night
House sitting (at owner's home)	€30 to €55	night
Doggy day care	€15 to €30	day

Top Italy cities for sitter demand right now:

MilanRomeTurinBolognaFlorenceNaplesVeronaVenice

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

The practical side

Everything sitters in Italy 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 Italy. 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 Italy

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

Italian demand peaks during the mid-August national holiday week (when most Italians take their main vacation) and again across the late-December Christmas window. Easter and the spring long weekends (25 April, 1 May, 2 June) drive smaller but reliable bumps.

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 Italy start while holding another job and only go full time once their calendar fills naturally.

FAQ

Pet sitter questions about Italy, answered straight

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

How much do pet sitters earn in Italy?

Earnings depend on the services you offer and the hours you put in. As a worked example at Italy rates, eight dog walks a week at the lowest walk rate come to about €275 a month, and four nights of house sitting a week at the top rate to about €946. 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 Italy?

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 Italy rates that week comes to about €78. 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 Italy?

Dog walking pays €8–€15 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 Italy?

Boarding at the sitter's home pays €20–€45 per night, and house sitting (you stay at the owner's home) pays €30–€55 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 Italy?

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 Italy. 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 Italy 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 Italy?

Milan and Rome dominate booking volume. Turin, Bologna, and Florence form the second tier. Naples, Verona, and Venice are growing fast and competition between sitters is still light.

Do I need to register as self-employed for pet sitting in Italy?

For occasional income under €5,000 per calendar year, no: you can operate under the casual-work regime with a single end-of-year tax form. Above that threshold, you register for a self-employed VAT number, typically in the flat-rate scheme (15% tax, reduced to 5% for the first five years for qualifying new businesses). The €5,000 is gross.

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

Yes. Below €5,000 per year, you declare it as casual income on your annual tax return. Above that, registering as self-employed means quarterly social-security payments and one yearly tax declaration. The flat-rate scheme does not let you deduct individual expenses, but the lower rate compensates.

How does pet sitting in Italy compare to Glovo or Just Eat?

Glovo and Just Eat riders in Italy report €6-9 per hour net after costs. Pet sitting on Petme nets €10-16 per hour and does not wreck your back in the rain. Overnight boarding stays push the per-hour average higher still.

What is the going rate for boarding in Milan vs Rome?

Milan and Rome sit at €28-55 per night. Turin, Bologna, and Florence at €22-45. Naples and mid-size cities at €20-40. Apartments with a garden or terrace consistently command the upper end of the band.

When is the busiest season for pet sitters in Italy?

The mid-August national holiday week (10-20 August) is by far the highest single demand block. The Christmas window (23 December to 6 January) is the second peak. The spring long weekends (Easter, 25 April, 1 May, 2 June) produce smaller but reliable spikes.

Is pet sitting more profitable than retail or restaurant work in Italy?

For most sitters, yes. Italian retail and restaurant contracts pay €8-11 gross per hour. Petme dog walkers in major cities clear €12-15 net per hour, and overnight boarding sitters earn more again.

How does pet sitting in Italy differ from Spain?

Rates in euros are similar, but the Italian market is more concentrated in two cities (Milan and Rome carry the majority of the volume), while Spain spreads more evenly across many metros. The self-employed tax setup is comparable in structure on both sides.

What is it like sitting for popular Italian dog breeds?

French Bulldogs, Labradors, Jack Russells, and Dachshunds dominate bookings. French Bulldogs suffer in summer heat. Jack Russells have boundless energy. Dachshunds need protection from stairs because of their backs. Large breeds like Maremma Sheepdogs are rare in city center and common at boarding sitters outside it.

What is one thing Italian sitters wish they knew before starting?

"Track every booking from day one in a spreadsheet or app, whatever works. When you cross from casual income into a self-employed VAT registration, the tax office wants the exact history." (Marco T., Milan)

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

Start your application at petme.social/it/diventa-pet-sitter. The form takes about 5 minutes.

Ready when you are

Apply to become a Petme pet sitter in Italy

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

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