Dog Walking App Development: Features, Cost & Market Insights

Pet Parents have completely unique stories to share. While they cherish their furry companions, they often find themselves missing their free time. You must be wondering Why? Well, pet parents take care of their furry babies like their own children. They bathe, play, and take their pets out for a play! Now, imagine how much easier life would be with a little assistance in pet walking. It would be a huge relief, wouldn’t it? The demand for dog walking apps is therefore increasing especially in the US. With nearly 87 million homes having a pet in the US, the requirement for dog walkers is increasing.
The American Pet Products Association reported that pet industry expenditures reached $150.6 billion in 2024. This growth has opened up opportunities for the development of on-demand dog-walking apps. In this article, we will explore these applications in detail, their target markets, and the key requirements for developing such apps.
To begin with,
What is a Dog Walking Application?
The pet care app market is huge and is expected to grow at a compounded annual growth rate of 10.5% from 2018 to 2030. The on-demand dog walking app is part of this segment, which facilitates dog owners’ seeking help with dog care.
Rover, a dog care application, is very popular in this segment. It helps pet owners find dog walkers, pet sitters, and other related services. Dog-walking applications serve as a platform for dog lovers to connect, chat, and seek help with various services.
Such applications allow dog owners to schedule a service, talk with pet owners, and inquire about any specific needs for their furry friend.
If we specifically talk about the dog-walking app Rover to understand the concept, Rover provides integrated digital payment options for users to conveniently pay for their services.
The walks in the dog walk apps are checked and tested on dogs, to ensure their safety and enjoyment. Additionally, these apps provide a detailed map and set of instructions which helps dog owners to swiftly navigate through the routes.
The app provides comprehensive information regarding the area, including parking availability, refreshment spots, etc.
This kind of approach of dog walking apps enhances professionalism and induces a sense of relief for the dog owners.
In return for the service, passionate dog lovers get paid for it, which is a win-win situation for all.
Dog Walking Application Market:
- Over 85% of consumers prefer using pet care apps for managing pet care services for their comfort.
- Around 70% of U.S. households own at least one pet, highlighting the massive potential audience for dog-walking apps.
- The dog walking services industry is worth $1.1 billion in 2021 and is growing by 1.2% from last year (source).
- Also, pet owners spend more than $60 billion every year on pet-related goods and services —comforting their furry friend at its best.
- Americans spend almost $1480 on dogs’ basic expenses annually.
Beyond the financial benefits, dog-walking apps offer more than just a digital platform—they provide convenience and efficiency for pet owners.
- Convenience: Dog owners can easily schedule services that align with their routines.
- Efficiency: By entrusting pet care to professionals, owners can focus on other essential tasks without worry.
These solutions not only simplify pet care for dog owners but also ensure that pets receive the attention and care they need.
The above reasons justify why we need a dog-walking application in today’s time.
If you are passionate about dog-care services and want to develop a dog-walking app, get in touch with us!
How To Make Money Using Dog Walking Apps?
Deciding a Revenue generation model for your dog walking application is crucial as it helps you decide your profit margin.
Here are a few ways in which you can generate revenue for the dog walking apps.
Transaction fees:
For every service booked using the application, you can charge a percentage of the billing amount as a transaction fee.
Paid Promotions:
If any pet care agencies or dog walking agencies want to list their services on your platform, you can allow them to list them by paying extra for using the platform.
Surge-hours charges:
Due to extremely high demand or certain circumstances, you can increase the rates of services. This way, the application earns more, as well as the pet walker.
Important Features Of Dog Walking Application:
A thorough research of applications like Rover and Wag can help you understand the dog walking app features. This easy, you can create a seamless app that satisfies the needs of both, dog lovers and dog owners.
Feature | Functionality |
User Registration | Allow users to sign up and register their profiles by adding pet details and preferences |
Search and filter | Helps customers find a reliable pet walker or temporary parent using the application |
Photo updates | Let the pseudo-pet parent or dog walker share images about the dog’s health with the pet parents. They can share pics of various activities their pet is performing |
Real-time GPS Tracking | This feature allows dog owners to keep track of their pet’s whereabouts in real-time |
In-app messaging | Allow pet parents to communicate with pet lovers using messages and vice versa |
Reports | Helps dog owners track their past bookings, distance traveled, the performance of the dog walker, etc. |
Accept/Reject Requests | Helps dog walkers or service providers to accept a service request or reject it as per their choice |
Payment gateway integration | Integrate secure payment options using which users can pay securely for their services |
Ratings and reviews | Let pet owners leave a review for their service taken from a particular pet owner. This assists in a better selection of pet owners. |
Push notifications | Keeps users up-to-date about walks, hourly deals, etc using the app |
Popular Dog Walking Apps In The Market:
Rover, Pawshake, and Wag are the two popular dog-walking apps in the market. Both of these platforms have helped pet owners infinitely in all the good ways possible.
Feature | Rover | Wag | Pawshake |
Service Offerings | Dog walking, sitting, and boarding services | Primarily dog walking with extra pet care options | |
Walker Profiles | Detailed profiles with background checks | Transparent walker profiles with reviews and ratings | Detailed walker profiles |
Communication | In-app direct messaging | Quick and easy contact with walkers | Quick messaging services |
Key Advantage | All-in-one pet care platform | Instant matching with nearby dog walkers | Insurance covered bookings |
Perform a detailed analysis of all of these apps to understand the offerings and customize your dog-walking application development accordingly.
Required Tech Stack for Developing a Dog Walking App
Selecting the right technology stack is essential to ensure the smooth functionality, scalability, and security of a dog-walking app. Below is an optimized tech stack that covers both iOS and Android development:
Technology Category | iOS Technology Stack | Android Technology Stack |
Development Toolkits | Xcode | Android Studio |
Programming Languages | Swift, Objective-C | Kotlin, Java |
Software Development Kits (SDKs) | iOS SDK | Android SDK |
Payment Gateway Integration | Stripe, PayPal, Braintree | Stripe, PayPal, Razorpay |
Database | CoreData, Firebase Realtime Database | Room, Firebase Realtime Database |
Cloud Services | AWS, Firebase, Google Cloud | Google Cloud, Firebase |
Push Notifications | Apple Push Notification Service (APNS) | Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM) |
Maps & Location Tracking | Apple Maps, Mapbox, Google Maps | Google Maps, Mapbox |
Authentication & Security | Firebase Auth, OAuth, Apple Sign-In | Firebase Auth, OAuth, Google Sign-In |
Third-Party Integrations | Twilio (SMS), SendBird (Chat), Zendesk (Support) | Twilio (SMS), SendBird (Chat), Zendesk (Support) |
This stack ensures that the app has robust navigation, real-time tracking, secure payment processing, and seamless communication.
What is the Development Process for a Dog-Walking Mobile Application?
Pet care is a very competitive market, and to stand strong in this competition, you need an experienced mobile app development company who has worked in this segment. A software development company like ours has a comprehensive mobile app development process in place that helps us with speedy delivery.
The article explains our approach to app development in more detail. If you have any questions, contact our team.
What Is The Cost of Dog-walking Application Development?
Considering the customization requirements and technology stack we integrate, developing a dog-walking application will cost between $20,000 and $35,000.
However, this might vary depending upon various factors such as,
- Complexity of the app;
- Design and intuitiveness;
- Advanced features that we integrate;
- Location of the app development partner;
- Hourly charges of developer;
- Maintenance etc.
But we assure you that, with IT Path Solutions, you won’t break your bank. Contact us for any more queries.
Conclusion:
Are you passionate about dogs? Start building your on-demand dog-walking app today! IT Path Solutions is a leading mobile app development company with years of experience developing on-demand apps. We cater to multiple industries, including pet care. Get in touch with us and avail free consultation for your business idea.