Hey all. Just got approved to walk dogs on one of the apps and already have a first booking in Astoria. I figured it'd be easy side money since I like dogs and my office is hybrid.

But now I'm realizing the walk is 20 minutes from my apartment and the payout might not cover much after the app's cut. Anyone doing this consistently? Is it actually worth it after subway/bus time and the fact that my feet are already tired from my actual job? Or should I only take dogs in my own building/block?

You hit it on the head. I did app walks on and off and the real killer is travel. A 30-minute walk can take two hours out of your evening once you factor getting there, building lobby nonsense, waiting for the dog to decide if it wants to walk, then getting home.

Only take jobs within walking distance or same subway line you use anyway. Also screen the owner hard: if the dog has 'high energy' in the profile, that means it will drag you across a bridge. Ask for a meet and greet even for repeat walks.

Wait, this is the part I don't get. The app says they have insurance or some background check, but then people in other threads say you need your own insurance if you ever walk off-app.

And how does everyone handle keys? I'm scared I'll lose some stranger's apartment key on the F train and end up replacing a lock.

DykerNewbie, the app will tell you a lot but read the terms. Their coverage is mostly to cover them, not you. If you start taking cash clients from a building flyer, get your own pet sitter insurance; it's not that expensive and it makes you look less sketchy to owners.

Keys: use a carabiner that locks, clip it to a belt loop, not your bag. Never put the keychain with the building fob in your jacket pocket; it will absolutely fall out when you pull your metrocard.

For first_apartment_sam, I'd say keep it hyperlocal. A steady dog two nights a week in your own building is worth more than a high-paying walk three neighborhoods away.

Thanks Rita. I did the Astoria walk yesterday and the dog was a sweetheart but the owner casually asked if I could also do a 'quick midday break' two days a week. My office is in Manhattan three days so I'd have to say no unless I want to get fired.

Does anyone actually do lunch walks around a hybrid schedule? Or is that only for people who live next to their job? Also my socks are soaked because the dog insisted on walking through every puddle on Steinway.

Lunch walks are a trap if you work in an office. I had one client ask me to come between 12:30 and 1:30 and I thought it would be fine because my boss was flexible. Then I ended up on a delayed N train with a pee pad in my work bag, sweating through my shirt, and my status said 'available' the whole time.

If you can't walk to the dog from your desk in under 10 minutes, don't take it. Also, dry socks in your desk drawer.

That midday thing confuses me because I see dog walkers out at noon in my neighborhood and assume they do it full time. Are they making a living from it, or is it just a second job?

I put a flyer in my building laundry room and got one elderly beagle two nights a week. The lady pays me cash and keeps telling me not to report it. Is that normal? I feel weird about it but also the beagle is the only exercise I get.

DykerNewbie, a lot of the noon walkers are either full-time pros with a route, or people who live nearby and work remote. It can be full-time but it's a grind, especially in winter and August.

As for cash, don't take tax advice from a beagle's owner. If it's steady money, report it, but you also get to subtract supplies and your metrocard if it's really a business. Keep a little notebook even if it feels silly.

And first_apartment_sam, welcome to dog walking: you will never look at puddles the same way again.

Okay wait, I need to rewind because I thought app dog walking money was just extra fun money and I didn't have to think about taxes until I made a lot. My W-2 already takes taxes out, so if I make extra money every month walking dogs, does the city really care?

Someone told me to just have the owners Venmo me friends and family. Is that a thing people do, or is that an audit waiting to happen? I don't want to be dramatic but I'm already overwhelmed.

Sam, the city and IRS don't know about your Venmo, but if you get flagged or the app reports you, it's not fun money. The rule is if you're doing it for profit regularly, it's self-employment income.

Most people do Venmo off-app, but 'friends and family' for business is asking for the app to lock your account. Don't commit tax fraud over a few hundred bucks. Keep it simple: only take app payments or keep a paper trail, and set aside a piece of each walk. You'll thank yourself in April.

Good thread. My final take: dog walking as a side hustle is real but only if you treat it like a tiny business, not a hobby. That means track your walks, ignore anyone who says it's all cash under the table, and don't cross the borough for one client.

The best setup is two or three dogs on your block, a set schedule, and owners who leave a spare key with the super. Anything else and you're basically paying for the privilege of listening to someone's dog bark at a delivery guy.

Also, boots are deductible if you keep a log. Maybe.