If you work for a company: hourly wages
Indeed's Canadian salary pages, built from salaries its users report, give these figures for dog walkers:| Where | Average hourly pay | Range reported |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | CAD 23.06 | CAD 18.15 to 37.05 (367 salaries, updated October 4, 2026) |
| Toronto, ON | CAD 26.54 | CAD 17.60 to 42.83 (61 salaries, updated September 27, 2026) |
| Ottawa, ON | CAD 26.81 | not shown on the national page |
| North Vancouver, BC | CAD 29.26 | not shown on the national page |
If you are self-employed: your rate times your bookings
A self-employed walker or sitter earns per walk, per visit or per night. These are the typical rates Petme publishes for Canada, grouped by the city's own population, not the wider metro area:| Service | Cities of 700,000+ people (Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa, Winnipeg) | Cities of 250,000 to 700,000 (City of Vancouver, Hamilton, Quebec City, Halifax) | Cities under 250,000 (Red Deer, Fredericton) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dog walk | CAD 22 to 40 | CAD 20 to 35 | CAD 18 to 30 |
| Drop-in visit | CAD 22 to 38 | CAD 20 to 35 | CAD 18 to 30 |
| House sitting, per night | CAD 50 to 90 | CAD 45 to 75 | CAD 40 to 65 |
| Doggy daycare, per day | CAD 35 to 65 | CAD 30 to 55 | CAD 28 to 48 |
Worked examples: a week of bookings
The numbers below are booking totals at the typical rates above, then the most a sitter keeps on Petme, where sitters keep up to 90% of every booking. They are examples to plan with, not a promise of how many bookings you will get.| Week | Booking total | Kept at up to 90% |
|---|---|---|
| 10 dog walks in a large city (CAD 22 to 40 each) | CAD 220 to 400 | up to CAD 198 to 360 |
| 10 dog walks in a smaller city (CAD 18 to 30 each) | CAD 180 to 300 | up to CAD 162 to 270 |
| 7 nights of house sitting in a large city (CAD 50 to 90 a night) | CAD 350 to 630 | up to CAD 315 to 567 |
| 14 cat drop-in visits in a mid-sized city (CAD 20 to 35 each) | CAD 280 to 490 | up to CAD 252 to 441 |
What comes out of what you earn
- Income tax. Self-employed earnings are reported to the CRA on Form T2125, the Statement of Business or Professional Activities, and so are tips, which the CRA treats as taxable income.
- GST/HST. Once your taxable revenue passes the CRA's small-supplier threshold, you register and charge sales tax. Our GST/HST guide for pet sitters explains the threshold and how it is counted.
- Permits. Some cities charge for group walking. Toronto's commercial dog walker permit, needed for four to six dogs in a park, costs CAD 305.99 for a year from January 1, 2026. See dog walker permits in Canada.
- Insurance. Optional in most places, required by some permits. Our guide to pet sitting insurance in Canada covers what insurers offer and what one quotes for a basic policy.
- Travel and supplies. Transit or fuel between clients, leashes, bags, treats and winter gear for the walker as well as the dog.
How sitters earn more
- Offer overnight care. At typical rates, one night of house sitting is priced like two or more walks, and it fills a whole day without travel between clients.
- Build recurring clients. A weekday walk for the same dog fills your calendar more reliably than one-off bookings.
- Cluster your area. Clients a short walk apart mean more paid time and less unpaid travel.
- Ask for reviews. After each booking, ask the owner to leave a review on your profile.
Frequently asked questions
How much do pet sitters make in Canada?
Self-employed pet sitters earn per booking. On Petme, typical Canadian rates run CAD 40 to 90 a night for house sitting and CAD 18 to 38 for a drop-in visit, depending on the city, and the sitter keeps up to 90% of every booking. Weekly income depends on how many bookings you take.
How much do dog walkers make in Canada?
Employed dog walkers average about CAD 23 an hour across Canada, according to Indeed's October 2026 data from 367 salaries. Self-employed walkers charge per walk instead, typically CAD 18 to 40 depending on the city, so ten walks a week comes to roughly CAD 180 to 400 before costs.
How much do dog walkers make in Ontario?
Indeed reports average dog walker pay of CAD 26.54 an hour in Toronto and CAD 26.81 in Ottawa for employees. Self-employed walkers in Ontario's largest cities typically charge CAD 22 to 40 a walk on Petme, and walking four to six dogs in a Toronto park requires a city permit.
How much do dog sitters charge in Canada?
On Petme, dog sitters in Canada typically charge CAD 50 to 90 a night for house sitting in the largest cities, CAD 45 to 75 in mid-sized cities and CAD 40 to 65 in smaller ones. Each sitter sets their own rate, so some charge more and some less.
Do dog walkers make good money in Canada?
It depends on volume and how tightly you cluster clients. At CAD 22 to 40 a walk in a large city, a full week of short walks can compare well with an hourly wage, but travel time is unpaid and you cover your own tax, insurance and supplies. Recurring clients make the income steadier.
