Become a pet sitter in Denver
Keep up to 90% per booking. $42 to $78 a night for boarding in Denver. Free $20,000 vet protection on every stay.
Earn flexibly with Petme across LoHi to Wash Park. You set your rate, you choose which dogs and cats you look after, and you keep up to 90% of every booking. Denver sitters report income becoming predictable in month 2 or 3 once the same repeat clients come back week after week.
Earnings
What you can earn in Denver
Sitters in Denver set their own rates. The ranges below reflect typical Petme bookings in the city. Platform data as of June 2026.
Boarding
$42–$78
per night
Dog walking
$16–$28
effective per hour
Doggy daycare
$30–$52
per day
What that adds up to
Three Denver sitting schedules, in dollars
Straight multiplication of the Denver rate bands above across a typical month (about 4.3 weeks). Estimates before expenses and taxes; you set your own rates and keep up to 90% of every booking.
| Schedule | Weekly mix | Estimated monthly range |
|---|---|---|
| Weekend boarder | 2 boarding nights a week at $42 to $78 | $361 to $671 |
| Lunchtime walker | 5 hour-long walks a week at $16 to $28 | $344 to $602 |
| Full mix | 2 boarding nights, 5 walks and 3 drop-ins a week | $912 to $1,608 |
Estimates only, computed from the Denver rate bands (verified May 2026), before expenses and self-employment taxes. Actual income depends on your rates, availability, and repeat clients.
How it works
How it works
Apply
Tell us about yourself, your pets, and your pet-care experience. The application takes about 10 minutes.
Get verified
Government ID check and a background check.
Go live, start booking
Set your rate and availability. Owners across LoHi to Wash Park message you in chat. You decide which bookings to accept.
What Denver owners care about
Why owners in Denver book on Petme
Verified sitters get more bookings
Identity verification plus a background check lift your profile above informal listings on Craigslist or Nextdoor. Owners see the verified badge in search results.
$20,000 vet protection on every stay
Every booking includes up to $20,000 in vet expenses at no extra cost, no deductible. Owners book with more confidence, and you can say yes to medical, senior, or large-breed dogs without personal exposure.
Cashback for owners
Owners earn up to 5% cashback on every completed booking, paid into their Petme balance. That drives repeat bookings, your recurring schedule fills faster.
In-app chat, no phone-number swap
Meet-and-greets, key handover, photo updates: all in chat. You never give out a personal number.
Permits + tax
Permits, business setup, and tax
Permits in Denver
Colorado requires no state pet-sitter licence. Denver enforces a citywide leash-and-waste ordinance and runs permitted off-leash dog parks. Pet-sitting income is self-employment income on a federal Schedule C, with a 1099-NEC from Petme past $600 a year plus a flat Colorado state income tax.
Deductible expenses
Common pet-sitter deductions on Schedule C: mileage to bookings (track via Stride or MileIQ), a share of phone bill, pet first-aid certification, leashes, treats, poop bags, and a home-office prorated by square footage if you board at home. Most sitters set aside 25% to 30% of gross for federal + self-employment tax, and add state tax in NY or CA.
Seasonal demand
Seasonal demand in Denver
Peak windows in Denver
Ski-season weekends (December to March) drive I-70 mountain travel and steady boarding demand, with a second peak over the summer travel window. Daily walks run year-round thanks to Denver's active, dog-heavy population.
What Denver sitting actually looks like
Denver sits at 5,280 feet, so dogs new to altitude tire faster and need more water. Sitters watch for thin-air fatigue on summer hikes, rinse ice-melt off paws in winter, and know that a 70-degree morning can turn into an afternoon snow squall. The top-of-mind breeds among Denver Petme clients are Australian Shepherd, Labrador, Goldendoodle, so familiarity with small-breed pickups, large-breed walking technique, and rescue-mix behavioral cues moves you up in search results. Most local owners search by neighborhood first, so listing the parts of LoHi to Wash Park you cover (especially near Cherry Creek Trail and Washington Park) sharpens your visibility.
Pet care services in Denver
Pet Boarding
Overnight stays at a sitter's home with personalized care and attention in Denver
Dog Walking
Scheduled walks to keep your dog active, happy, and well-exercised in Denver
House Sitting
In-home care where a sitter stays at your place with your pet in Denver
Drop-in Visits
Quick check-ins for feeding, playtime, and potty breaks in Denver
Doggy Daycare
Daytime supervision and socialization while you're at work in Denver
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What does a Petme sitter actually earn in Denver?
What does liability look like on a Petme booking?
What happens after I send my application?
Who handles disputed or charged-back bookings?
Can I work full-time as a Petme sitter?
What happens when a sitter cancels a stay?
How do I apply as a sitter in Denver?
What does pet sitting pay look like across US cities?
Do I need a license to be a pet sitter in the US?
How is pet-sitting income taxed in the US?
Is Petme better for sitters than the bigger apps?
Ready to start sitting in Denver?
Profile goes live, owners in your neighborhood message you in chat. You decide which bookings to accept.
Apply as a sitter