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Columbia, SCPart-time dog walking in Columbia that fits your day
Plenty of dogs in Columbia need a lunchtime walk while their owners are at work. Walks in Columbia run $14 to $24 per 30 to 60 minute walk, and you keep up to 90% of every booking.
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$14 to $24
per 30 to 60 minute walk in Columbia
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
Why Join Petme
Everything you need to succeed
We provide the tools, support, and protection you need to build a thriving pet care business.
Flexible Schedule
Work when you want. Accept bookings that fit your lifestyle. No minimum hours required.
Petme Protection
The Petme Protection Plan offers up to $22,000 for eligible vet costs. Care for pets with confidence.
Easy Booking System
Our app handles messaging, payments, and scheduling. Focus on what you do best: pet care.
Local Visibility
Get discovered by pet owners in your area. Our search helps clients find the perfect sitter.
Fast Payments
Get paid within 2 business days after each booking. Keep up to 90% of every booking.
A local edge
Local know-how pays off in Columbia
Columbia earns its "Famously Hot" slogan, with July highs near 93°F, heavy humidity, and about 72 days a year at 90°F or above. Sitters walk at dawn and after sunset through the summer to keep paws off scorching pavement, then take advantage of mild winters when highs sit in the 50s.
When demand peaks
Demand climbs around Fort Jackson graduation cycles, when families travel in for the ceremonies, and follows the University of South Carolina calendar and Gamecock football weekends. Boarding and house sitting lead during travel stretches, while dog walking stays steady for downtown and USC-area professionals.
Know your Columbia routes
Most bookings cluster The Vista to Shandon. Owners look for walkers who know the local parks and leash rules, and who can turn up on a regular schedule.
Breeds you will meet in Columbia
Owners here mostly keep Labrador Retriever, German Shepherd, Golden Retriever, French Bulldog. Knowing how those breeds behave, and saying so on your profile, is what turns a first booking into a repeat client.
Getting Started
How it works
From sign up to your first booking in just a few simple steps.
1
Create Your Profile
Download the app, add photos, write your bio, and select the services you want to offer.
2
Get Verified
Complete our verification process. Once approved, your profile goes live.
3
Set Your Services
Choose your rates, availability, and the types of pets you're comfortable caring for.
4
Start Earning
Accept booking requests, provide great care, and build your client base.
Earnings Calculator
See what you could earn
Adjust the sliders to estimate your potential monthly earnings.
Based on typical boarding rates in the United States
Estimated Monthly Earnings
$1,801
per month
Per pet rate: nearly half of our clients have multiple pets
Rate per night$52
Bookings per Week8
Weeks per month4.33
Monthly total$1,801
Actual earnings depend on your rates, services offered, location, and availability. Many sitters earn more by offering multiple services.
Rates in Columbia
Choose your services, set your own rates
Typical Petme rates in Columbia. You set your own price for each service, and keep up to 90% of every booking.
Dog walking
$14 to $24 per 30 to 60 minute walk
Drop-in visits
$16 to $26 per 20 to 30 minute visit
Doggy daycare
$24 to $40 per day
Dog boarding
$30 to $52 per night
House sitting
$30 to $52 per night
Where demand is strongest
Columbia areas that book the most
Petme walk bookings in Columbia come from neighborhoods like Five Points, Shandon, The Vista, with daily walks and recurring schedules the most requested.
South Carolina does not require a state pet-sitter or dog-walker license. Operating in Columbia calls for a City of Columbia business license, and the city leash ordinance requires dogs to be restrained on a leash no longer than six feet in public. Keeping more than three dogs needs a kennel license, so plan multi-dog walks, and any day hosting, around that limit. Pet-care income is self-employment income, reported on Schedule C against the platform's 1099.
Five PointsShandonThe VistaRosewoodElmwood ParkArsenal HillCottontownEarlewoodMelrose HeightsWales GardenUniversity HillHampton
Questions & Answers
Frequently asked questions
How much do dog walkers earn per walk in Columbia?
Dog walking on Petme in Columbia runs $14 to $24 per 30 to 60 minute walk. You set your own rate, and you keep up to 90% of every booking.
Are dog walking jobs hiring near me in Columbia?
Yes. Petme recruits sitters across Columbia year-round, from Five Points to Shandon, and owners send booking requests directly to sitters in their area. There is no vacancy list to wait on: you create a profile, set the areas you cover, and accept the requests you want.
Can I do dog walking jobs in Columbia at 16 or 17?
No. Petme sitters must be 18 or over, so under-18s cannot take bookings yet. From 18 you need a smartphone with the Petme app, to pass ID verification, and a profile that describes the pets you have cared for, including your own.
Where is dog walking demand strongest in Columbia?
Petme walk bookings in Columbia come from neighborhoods like Five Points, Shandon, The Vista, with daily walks and recurring schedules the most requested. You walk where you already know the parks, the quiet routes, and the local leash rules.
Do I choose my own routes and schedule in Columbia?
Yes. You decide where to walk, when, and for how long. No assigned routes, no minimum hours, no shift rosters. Many Columbia walkers build a regular loop through Five Points and Shandon and accept or decline requests as they come in.
Is dog walking a good part time job in Columbia?
It works as flexible income alongside a job or studies. You pick your availability and scale bookings up or down, and a compact route around Five Points keeps travel time low between walks.
What protection do I get on walks?
The Petme Protection Plan offers up to $22,000 for eligible vet costs for the dog in your care, subject to its terms. The same terms apply whether you walk in Five Points or Shandon.
When is dog walking demand highest in Columbia?
Demand climbs around Fort Jackson graduation cycles, when families travel in for the ceremonies, and follows the University of South Carolina calendar and Gamecock football weekends. That pattern shapes dog walking bookings in Columbia across the year. Columbia earns its "Famously Hot" slogan, with July highs near 93°F, heavy humidity, and about 72 days a year at 90°F or above.
What do I need to start dog walking in Columbia?
You need to be 18 or over, have a smartphone with the Petme app, and pass ID verification. Owners choose on reviews, availability and a complete profile, so it is worth describing the pets you have looked after, including your own, and naming the Columbia areas you cover.
Which dogs will I mostly walk in Columbia?
Owners in Columbia mostly keep Labrador Retriever, German Shepherd, Golden Retriever, French Bulldog, Goldendoodle. Saying on your profile which of those you have walked helps owners choose you, because most are looking for someone already comfortable with their dog's size and energy.
What work can I pick up in Columbia with no set hours?
You set the hours yourself. Owners in Columbia send dog walking requests to sitters who cover their area, and you accept or decline each one. Nothing is assigned to you, there is no minimum, and you choose your own rate per service.
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Nearby cities
Dog walking jobs near Columbia
Cover more than one patch. Each city page has its own local rates and demand notes.
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Pet sitters near me in Columbia
Browse verified Petme pet sitters near you in Columbia: 0% owner fee, cashback on every booking, and $22,000 Protection Plan.
Doggy daycare jobs in Columbia
Host dogs during the day. Set your own headcount, hours and rate, and keep up to 90%.
Cat sitting jobs in Columbia
Drop-in cat visits and in-home cat care. Set your own rate per visit and keep up to 90%.
Pet sitting jobs across the US
Board, host daycare, and do drop-ins too. Set your own rates and keep up to 90% of every booking.
Dog grooming jobs in Columbia
Groom professionally? Approved sitters with 6+ months of paid grooming can add it and post their work where owners nearby see it.