Petme · Vancouver

Earn as a pet sitter in Vancouver

Up to 90% kept per booking. CAD 50–85 per night in Vancouver. CAD 20,000 vet protection on every booking.

Earn flexibly with Petme in Vancouver. You set your rate, you pick which dogs and cats to look after, and you keep up to 90% of every booking. Petme charges pet owners 0% so your rate stays competitive on repeat bookings, and Vancouver owners come back week after week.

Apply as a sitter
Up to 90%
kept per booking
CAD 50–85
typical boarding in Vancouver
200K+
pet owners on Petme
4.9 / 5
sitter rating

Pet sitting in Vancouver

Earning as a pet sitter in Vancouver

Vancouver is a dense, condo-heavy market with steady pet-care demand, and that demand has a clear local shape. The downtown core and west side are dense with condo dwellers whose dogs cannot use an on-site relief area, so weekday drop-in visits and seawall walks along English Bay, David Lam Park, and Kitsilano Beach are steady work. Sitters who are comfortable with concierge handoffs and smart-lock codes in Yaletown, Coal Harbour, and Olympic Village towers get rebooked, because strata access is the part many owners worry about most.

Knowing the local trails is a real advantage here. Stanley Park, Pacific Spirit Park, Point Grey, and the UBC endowment lands all have documented coyote activity, and owners look for walkers who keep dogs leashed through those corridors and handle an encounter calmly. Vancouver's mild, wet climate also means a reliable rain routine, towel-off after walks, and indoor play on heavy-rain days are part of the job most of the year rather than just in winter.

Vancouver sitters keep up to 90% of every booking, with rates set on their own profile: roughly CAD 50 to 85 per night for boarding, CAD 22 to 32 per hour for walks, and CAD 38 to 60 per day for daycare. Owners pay a 0% platform fee, and every booking includes up to CAD 20,000 in vet protection.

Earnings

What you can earn in Vancouver

Sitters in Vancouver set their own rates. The ranges below reflect typical Petme bookings in the city, in CAD.

Boarding

CAD 50–85

per night

Dog walking

CAD 22–32

effective per hour

Daycare

CAD 38–60

per day

How it works

How it works

Apply

Tell us about yourself, your pets, and your experience. The application takes about 10 minutes.

Get verified

Identity check with a government-issued ID and a background check.

Go live, start booking

Set your rate and availability in CAD. Owners in your neighbourhood message you in chat. You decide which bookings to accept.

Why owners in Vancouver pick Petme

Why owners in Vancouver book on Petme

0% owner fee = repeat bookings

Petme charges pet owners 0%. Owners feel less checkout friction and rebook the same sitter for weekly walks and recurring boarding.

CAD 20,000 vet protection

Every booking includes up to CAD 20,000 in vet expenses at any licensed Canadian vet clinic. Owners book with more confidence, you work with less worry.

Cashback for owners

Owners earn automatic cashback on every booking. That drives repeat bookings and grows your recurring schedule.

In-app chat

Meet and greets, key handover, photo updates: all in chat. No SMS, no WhatsApp, no scattered threads.

HST + tax

HST/GST, business registration, and tax

Self-employment income

In Canada, pet sitting income is reported as self-employment income on your annual tax return. HST/GST registration becomes mandatory once you exceed CAD 30,000 in revenue over four consecutive calendar quarters. Provincial business registration is usually only needed once you operate under a business name or exceed certain thresholds. Always confirm with a Canadian accountant for your specific province.

Deduct expenses

Poop bags, leashes, paw balm, mileage for sittings, a share of your phone bill, pet first-aid courses are all classic deductions. Keep receipts. A Canadian tax professional can confirm what applies to your situation.

Seasonal demand

Seasonal demand in Vancouver

Peak periods in Vancouver

Canadian demand peaks during July-August summer holidays and the Christmas through New Year window. March break drives a smaller bump in central Canada. In Vancouver, weekly dog walks and drop-ins stay steady year-round.

Plan your year

Open your July, August, and Christmas availability early. Vancouver owners often lock in their preferred sitter in April or May for summer stays.

Petme sitter in Vancouver

“Vancouver owners are loyal once they pick you. My weekly walks turned into a predictable monthly income within three months of going live.”

Petme sitter in Vancouver

More in Vancouver

Other Petme pages for Vancouver

Looking for a sitter in Vancouver instead?Read the national Canadian sitter guideSitter guide for British ColumbiaDog walking · VancouverCat sitters · VancouverDrop-in visits · Vancouver

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What does a Petme sitter earn in Vancouver?
Boarding in Vancouver typically runs CAD 50–85 per night, walks clear CAD 22–32/hour effectively, and daycare lands at CAD 38–60 per day. Petme charges 0% to pet owners, so up to 90% of every booking lands with you.
What are the busiest cities for pet sitting in Canada?
Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal dominate by booking volume. Calgary, Ottawa, and Edmonton come next, with Calgary and Edmonton growing fastest in the past three years. Smaller metros like Halifax and Victoria have less volume but stronger sitter retention.
Do I need to register a business to be a pet sitter in Canada?
Small-scale sitting can be reported as self-employment income on your personal tax return. Provincial business registration is usually only needed once you exceed certain revenue thresholds or operate under a business name. Check your province’s rules; the process is light in most provinces.
Do I have to register for HST/GST?
Yes, if you exceed CAD 30,000 in pet sitting revenue over four consecutive calendar quarters. Below that threshold you can choose to register voluntarily but you don’t have to. Most beginning sitters operate under the threshold.
How does pet sitting income compare to gig delivery in Canada?
Uber Eats and DoorDash drivers in Toronto and Vancouver report CAD 16-20/hour after vehicle costs. Petme dog walkers clear CAD 22-32/hour in major Canadian cities, and boarders earn more on a per-hour basis since the hours overlap with sleep.
When is peak demand for pet sitters in Canada?
Summer (July-August) and Christmas through New Year are the two biggest windows. March break drives a smaller bump in central Canada. Cottage-country weekends from late May to early September drive sustained weekday-Friday demand in Ontario and Quebec.
How do you handle winter walks in Canadian cities?
Most experienced Canadian sitters use pet-safe ice melt zones, paw balm before walks, salt-paw wipes after, and shorter loops when temperatures drop below -15°C. Many sitters keep small dog boots in their bag for clients who want them.
Are background checks required to sit on Petme in Canada?
Yes. Every Petme sitter passes identity verification with a government ID and a background check before profiles go live.
How does Petme pricing compare to Rover.ca?
On Petme, owners pay 0% to the platform and you keep up to 90% of every booking. On most platforms with an owner-side service fee, your effective take-home is similar but owners pay more at checkout. The Petme model means owners feel less price friction on repeat bookings.
Can I sit pets if I live in a condo?
It depends on your building’s pet policy. Many sitters who live in condos focus on dog walking, drop-in visits, and daycare while at-home; full boarding requires owner permission. Check your strata or condo board rules before listing overnight services.
What pets are most commonly booked through Petme in Canada?
Labradors, Goldens, Goldendoodles, Bernedoodles, and Bulldogs dominate dog bookings. Domestic shorthairs are the most common cat bookings. Bilingual French/English sitters in Montreal and Gatineau are highly requested.
Where do I go to apply as a pet sitter in Canada?
Apply at petme.social/ca/become-a-pet-sitter. You describe your experience and choose your services; once your identity is verified, your profile is live and Canadian owners near you can message you in the app.
what can a dog sitter earn in vancouver?
Vancouver sitters set their own rates and keep up to 90% of each booking. Common ranges are CAD 50 to 85 per night for boarding, CAD 22 to 32 per hour for walks, and CAD 38 to 60 per day for daycare. Downtown drop-in visits add steady weekday income from condo owners who work in the office.
is there demand for dog walkers in downtown vancouver?
Yes, downtown demand is strong because most central Vancouver owners live in condo towers with no on-site pet relief area. Weekday drop-ins and seawall walks for dogs left during work hours are the most consistent bookings, especially in Yaletown, Coal Harbour, and the West End.
do i need to know vancouver's coyote areas as a sitter?
It helps a lot. Stanley Park, Pacific Spirit Park, Point Grey, and the UBC endowment lands have documented coyote activity, mostly at dawn and dusk. Owners prefer walkers who keep dogs leashed through those corridors and stay calm during an encounter, so trail awareness wins repeat bookings.

Application takes 10 minutes

Profile goes live, owners in your neighbourhood message you. You decide which bookings to accept.

Apply as a sitter