How to Become a Dog Walker in Australia (2026) — The Complete Guide

Dog walking in Australia is a legitimate, flexible business — not a favour you do for your neighbour. If you're serious about it, here's the exact path from zero to earning your first dollar.

Step 1: Assess Whether Dog Walking Is Right for You

Before you register an ABN, be honest with yourself about the physical and lifestyle demands.

Physical requirements: You'll be on your feet for 3–6 hours a day at full-time volume. Wet weather, extreme heat, and uneven terrain are unavoidable. If you're based in Brisbane or Perth, summer morning starts before 7am are standard practice.

Dog handling comfort: You don't need to be a qualified trainer, but you need to read dog body language, confidently manage reactive dogs on lead, and know when a dog isn't safe to walk in a group. If you've only ever handled your own calm labrador, spend time around unfamiliar dogs before committing.

Schedule reality: The best-paying slots are 7–9am and 4–6pm on weekdays. Owners with dogs who need lunchtime walks add a midday run. Saturday mornings are busy; Sunday afternoons are quiet. Your income isn't 9-to-5, and gaps between walks mean unpaid travel time.

Starting baseline: No formal qualification is required to walk dogs in Australia. That said, completing a basic animal first aid course (see Step 5) and obtaining a National Police Check (Step 4) will meaningfully improve your platform profile and owner trust.

Step 2: Set Up as a Sole Trader

Dog walking income is assessable income under Australian tax law. You operate as a sole trader, which means the ATO treats your dog walking earnings like any other self-employment income.

Get an ABN. Apply through the Australian Business Register at abr.gov.au — it's free and takes about 10 minutes. You need an ABN before you receive any payment for services. Most platforms, including TruePath, require one before you can receive payouts.

Choose a business name (optional). You can trade under your own name or register a business name through ASIC for $44 per year. Many solo walkers skip this and simply operate as "[Your Name] Dog Walking."

GST threshold: If your annual turnover stays under $75,000, you're not required to register for GST. Most part-time and many full-time walkers remain under this threshold. If you cross it, you'll need to charge GST on your services and lodge a BAS quarterly.

Record keeping: Keep records of every job — date, client, duration, amount received. Your platform will generate most of this automatically, but maintain a backup. Dog-related business expenses (leads, first aid kit, treat pouches, insurance) are generally deductible. Consult a registered tax agent if your situation is complex.

Step 3: Get Public Liability Insurance

If a dog you're walking bites a child, pulls free and causes a car accident, or damages a client's gate, you are liable. Public liability insurance protects you.

Look for policies that specifically cover:

• Animal care and custody (some general liability policies exclude it)
• Third-party property damage
• Third-party personal injury

Providers used by Australian pet care professionals include PetSure (pet industry-specific), BizCover, and various brokers. Expect to pay $300–$600/year for $10–$20 million cover. Some platforms require proof of insurance before listing you — check each platform's requirements.

Keyholder liability is worth adding if you'll be collecting keys or using access codes for clients' homes.

Step 4: Get a National Police Check

A National Police Check (issued by ACIC — the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission) tells clients you have no relevant criminal history. It's not legally required to walk dogs, but it's a strong trust signal and mandatory on verified platforms.

TruePath requires an ACIC National Police Check as part of its three-step verification process. You can apply directly through ACIC or accredited providers; results typically arrive within 1–3 business days. Cost is around $42 direct through ACIC.

Step 5: Complete a Pet First Aid Course

A pet first aid certificate isn't mandatory, but it's the single fastest way to differentiate yourself on a platform profile. Australian providers include:

• Pet First Aid Australia — one-day in-person workshops in major cities, around $150–$200
• PetSafe — online modules you can complete at home
• TAFE NSW/VIC — certificate courses in animal studies (longer, but comprehensive)

At minimum, know how to recognise heatstroke, manage a choking dog, apply pressure to a wound, and perform basic CPR on a dog. These scenarios are rare but not theoretical.

Step 6: Join a Platform (or Go Independent)

You have two main options: join a booking platform, or build a fully independent client base. Most walkers starting out do both over time.

Platforms handle payment processing, insurance co-ordination, client discovery, and messaging. The trade-off is a commission or platform fee. Here's how the main Australian options compare:

Feature	Platform	Commission / Fee	Verification Required	Australia-Specific	Client Base Size
TruePath	Lower than Pawshake/Rover	Police check, references, interview	✓ AU-built, AU support	Growing rapidly
Mad Paws	~15% booking fee	Basic ID check	✓ AU-only platform	Large, established
Pawshake	19% commission	Profile review only	✓ AU/NZ listings	Moderate
Rover	20% commission	Background check (limited AU)	Partial — US-centric	Smaller in AU

TruePath's verification is more rigorous than competitors — it rejects around 35% of applicants — but that selectivity means clients on the platform are specifically seeking verified, trusted walkers, which translates to less price resistance.

Going independent means building your own client list through local Facebook groups, suburb noticeboards, flyers at vet clinics, and personal networks. You keep 100% of your rate, but you handle all your own marketing, admin, payment collection, and credibility-building from scratch. Most walkers use a platform initially to build reviews and income, then supplement with direct clients.

Step 7: Build Your Profile and Land Your First Clients

Your first 3–5 reviews are the hardest. Owners are risk-averse about someone new. Here's how to accelerate the trust cycle:

Offer a free meet-and-greet. Before the first walk, spend 20 minutes meeting the owner and dog at their home. It costs you nothing and converts hesitant owners. TruePath's booking flow includes a meet-and-greet step as standard.

Tap your personal network first. Friends, neighbours, colleagues, and family are the fastest path to your first paid walks and written reviews. Ask them explicitly — "Would you leave me a review on TruePath after I walk your dog?" Don't assume they'll do it automatically.

Start with a focused suburb radius. Travelling 30 minutes between walks destroys your hourly rate. Focus your first month on a 2–3 suburb radius around your home. Density matters more than reach.

Post-walk updates build retention. Send a photo and one-sentence update after each walk. Owners who get walk updates rebook at dramatically higher rates than those who don't. This is built into TruePath's walker app.

Set competitive rates initially, then raise them. Starting slightly under market rate for your first 10 bookings is a reasonable trade for review velocity. Once you have 10+ reviews and a track record, raise your rates to market level.

What You Can Earn

At current Australian average rates (April 2026), a 30-minute walk is $32 nationally and a 60-minute walk is $55. After TruePath's platform fee, walkers retain the bulk of the booking price.

These are booking price figures before the platform fee. The take-home figure depends on your mix of 30-min vs 60-min walks, add-on services (overnight sitting at $88/night national average), and whether you add direct (off-platform) clients over time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a qualification to become a dog walker in Australia?

Do I need to register a business to walk dogs for money?

Can I walk dogs as a side hustle while employed full-time?

How many dogs can I walk at once?

How long does TruePath's verification take?

The Fastest Path Forward

The practical sequence: get your ABN this week, apply for your police check tomorrow, get a public liability quote, and submit your TruePath application. While your application is under review, take a pet first aid course online. By the time you're verified, you'll be set up to take your first booking.

Want to earn this walking dogs?

TruePath walkers set their own hours and rates. Apply once, pass our verification, and start booking walks in your suburb.

Apply to walk

Keep reading

become a walker

What You Need to Start Dog Walking in Australia — ABN, Insurance, and Police Check

Before you take your first paid walk, you need an ABN, public liability insurance, and a police check. Here's exactly what each involves, what it costs, and how to sort it quickly.

become a walker

Best Apps to Be a Dog Walker in Australia (2026) — Ranked for Walkers

Comparing TruePath, Mad Paws, Pawshake, and Rover from the walker's side: commission, client volume, payment timing, and which platform actually pays you more.

become a walker

Dog Walking as a Side Hustle in Australia — Is It Worth It? (2026)

An honest 2026 assessment of dog walking as a side hustle in Australia — realistic income at 8–12 walks per week, time investment, tax implications, and how it compares to Airtasker or Uber Eats.