Dog walking jobs in Des Moines

Become a dog walker in Des Moines, from Beaverdale to downtown

Walk dogs around Downtown and East Village for $14 to $27 per hour. You pick the hours, set the rate and keep up to 90% of every booking.

Daily walks and recurring schedules are what Des Moines owners book most. Get verified and start taking requests near you.

Start Walking DogsUp to 90% kept. $22,000 Protection Plan.

Prefer to apply from a laptop? Start your application on the web

$14 to $27

per hour in Des Moines

Up to 90%

of every walk kept by the walker

$22,000

Protection Plan for eligible vet costs

4.9 / 5

average sitter rating on Petme

Working around the Iowa seasons

Hot July afternoons, January ice and a calendar that follows both

Des Moines has muggy summers and cold winters with about 34 inches of snow a year, and the work changes with them. In July, walkers move to early or late slots so paws stay off hot pavement. In January they salt up and shorten routes. Weekdays belong to the office crowd downtown, who book daily walks, while summer travel, the winter holidays, the Iowa State Fair in August and students moving in near Drake University bring extra requests. Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, Australian Shepherds and Goldendoodles are the dogs owners here keep most.

Plan for the weather

Early and late walks in summer, shorter salted routes in winter. Owners notice a walker who adapts.

Anchor a few areas

Requests come from Downtown Des Moines, East Village and Sherman Hill. Cover a few of them and your route stays short.

Keep up to 90%

You set the hourly rate. Petme takes a small commission and you keep up to 90% of each walk.

Where the requests come from

Neighborhoods where Des Moines owners book walks

Requests spread from downtown out to Beaverdale. Choose the neighborhoods you can reach on foot or a short drive and your route builds around them.

Downtown Des MoinesEast VillageSherman HillBeaverdaleDrakeIngersoll ParkHighland ParkUnion ParkWaveland ParkRiver Bend

Before you take your first booking

Dog walking in Des Moines, answered

What new walkers ask before signing up on Petme in Des Moines.

How much do dog walkers make in Des Moines?

Dog walkers in Des Moines set rates of $14 to $27 per hour on Petme. You name your own rate and keep up to 90% of each booking, so the amount in your pocket depends on the price you pick and how many walks you fit in a day.

How do I start dog walking in Des Moines?

Download the Petme app, build a profile with photos and a short bio, and name the Des Moines areas you cover. Then complete ID verification, set your hourly rate and accept the walk requests that suit your day.

What do I need to become a dog walker in Des Moines?

You need to be 18 or over, have a smartphone with the Petme app, and pass ID verification and a background check. Owners choose on reviews, availability and a complete profile, so mention the dogs you have looked after.

Can I walk dogs part time in Des Moines?

Yes. You accept or decline each request, so you can fit walks around another job. Daily walks and recurring schedules are the most requested bookings in the city, which suits a regular before-work or after-work slot.

Are there dog walking jobs near downtown Des Moines?

Yes. Owners in Downtown Des Moines, East Village and Sherman Hill send walk requests to sitters who cover their area, and you accept or decline each one. You choose the areas you cover, so you can keep your route to a few neighborhoods.

Can I also be a dog sitter in Des Moines?

Yes. Besides walks at $14 to $27 per hour, you can offer drop-in visits at $14 to $28, daycare at $24 to $44, and boarding or house sitting at $33 to $68. Summer travel and the winter holidays lift boarding and house sitting.

Is there dog walking work in Des Moines all year?

Yes, though the mix shifts with the seasons. Weekdays run on daily walks for the downtown office crowd, while summer travel, the winter holidays and Iowa State Fair week add requests. Hot July afternoons and January ice only change your hours and route.

More US cities

Dog walking jobs in other US cities

Petme is hiring walkers across the country. Pick another city to see local rates and where demand is strongest.

New to dog walking? Read how to become a dog walker in the US for the steps, what walkers list per walk and the park rules to know.

Get started

Start walking dogs in Des Moines

Set your own hourly rate. Up to $22,000 through the Protection Plan for eligible vet costs, and cashback on every booking that keeps your clients rebooking.

Start Walking Dogs