How to Offer Home Dog Walking and Pet Sitting Services in Colombia

According to Colombia Move's active signals (August 2026), the services section has 103 active listings, but it still has 16 categories with scarce supply and the largest internal supply gap in the marketplace. For thousands of professionals, students, and animal lovers, this represents an excellent opportunity to generate independent income by providing dog walking, home visits, or home pet daycare. However, to stand out in this sector, simply saying you "love animals" is not enough; the key to success lies in providing trust, professionalism, and operational order from the very first contact.

If you want to structure your service offer seriously, set reasonable prices, and secure a steady flow of clients in your complex or neighborhood, this guide shows you the detailed step-by-step process to achieve it.

1. Define Clear and Adapted Service Packages

Many pet owners look for specific solutions based on their work routines or travel. Offering flexible options will allow you to cover different needs in your service area:

• Individual or personalized walks: Ideal for older dogs, puppies going through socialization, or animals with special handling requirements.
• Small group walks: Controlled routes only with compatible dogs and a limit you can truly manage safely.
• Home visits (Cat/Dog Sitting): Feeding, cleaning the litter box or space, hydration, and play for pets that prefer to stay in their usual environment.
• Hourly or overnight care at home: Continuous companionship when owners travel or have long working days away from home.
• Accompaniment to veterinary appointments: Transport and management of checkups or vaccinations when owners do not have time.

2. Build Trust: What Every Owner Demands Before Hiring

Entering a client's home or taking charge of a member of their family requires clear transparency standards. As with home deep cleaning services, initial trust determines whether you will be hired once or on a recurring basis.

To build a professional image, prepare a presentation profile that includes:

• Your official identification and updated background records.
• Exact areas you cover and available service hours.
• Verifiable prior experience or training in canine/feline first aid.
• References from previous clients with contact numbers.
• Evidence of communication: a commitment to send photos, videos, and real-time location during each service.

3. Safety Protocols and Pet Technical Record

Avoiding accidents or escapes is the absolute priority. Before accepting your first service with a pet, hold a brief preliminary interview with the owner and complete an individual technical record:

Pet record: It should include name, age, current vaccination schedule, medical history, temperament toward other dogs or strangers, energy level, primary veterinarian, and emergency contact.

Safe handling rules on public roads:

• Always use a leash or lead that is secure and in good condition. Check clips and collars before leaving the property.
• Carry bags for waste collection and adequate hydration for long routes.
• Avoid areas with heavy traffic or unsupervised loose dogs.
• Set defined geographic limits for your routes, just as is done when delimiting logistics in hauling and local transport services.

4. Legal Compliance and Rules in Horizontal Property

In Colombia, responsible pet ownership and citizen coexistence are mainly regulated by Law 1801 of 2016 (National Police Code) and Law 2054 of 2020, consulted on August 11, 2026. If you work in residential complexes or urban areas, it is essential to know these rules:

• Leash use: On public roads, places open to the public, and common areas of condominiums, dogs must mandatorily be walked on a leash.
• Breeds or dogs requiring special handling: They must wear a muzzle when applicable and comply with the applicable permit. In Bogotá, since July 2026 there is a free digital platform to register dogs requiring special handling, and registration must be updated annually.
• Residence rules: Each residential complex has its own provisions for pet movement in elevators, hallways, and lobbies. Always coordinate authorized entry to the property with the owner.
• Tax formalization: If the service generates tax obligations, the RUT is the identification mechanism before the DIAN and its registration has no cost; confirm with an accountant which obligations apply to your case. When setting your rates, consider how to structure your operating costs similarly to those who provide independent technical services.

5. How to Set Transparent Prices Without Falling into Unfair Competition

Instead of setting arbitrary or excessively low prices, structure your rate by analyzing the following factors:

• Service duration: Walks of 30, 45, or 60 minutes; or home visits by the hour.
• Travel cost: Distance between your location and the client's home.
• Number of pets: Moderate discounts for a second animal from the same household.
• Special requirements: Complexity of the instructions authorized by the owner and health restrictions you must respect.

6. Publish Your Offer and Get Direct Clients

To attract recurring clients near your home area, combine word of mouth in your complex with online listings where you detail your rates and service rules. As when you learn how to structure listings for personal services at home, a transparent description generates immediate and serious contacts.

Below, we answer the most common questions from those starting out as independent pet walkers or caregivers in Colombia.

Frequently asked questions

❓ How much should I charge for walking dogs or caring for pets at home?

The rate depends on the service duration, geographic area, travel, and number of pets. It is advisable to define clear prices by exact time or prepaid monthly packages.

❓ What information should I request before accepting a pet?

Request the vaccination booklet, the primary veterinarian's details, an emergency contact, behavior habits around other animals, and prescribed health or feeding restrictions.

❓ Can I walk several dogs at the same time?

Yes, as long as the dogs are compatible in temperament, size, and energy level, and you can maintain individual control and the safety of each one with its own leash.

❓ What should I keep in mind if I provide the service in residential complexes?

You should know the building's residence rules, always use a leash in common areas, strictly pick up waste, and coordinate entry authorization at the front desk with the owner.

❓ Do dogs requiring special handling need different care?

Yes. According to the national regulations consulted on August 11, 2026, they must be walked on a leash and wear a muzzle when applicable, in addition to having the applicable permit. Confirm beforehand that you have the physical capacity and experience to handle them safely.

❓ How do I get my first clients for pet care?

Publish a detailed listing with real photos, coverage areas, and verifiable references. Quick responses and recommendations among neighbors are the best growth tool.

❓ Where can I publish my service as a walker or caregiver?

You can list your offer in the local services section of open classifieds platforms such as Colombia Move, allowing direct contact without intermediaries.