Tax Write-Offs for Dog Walkers & Pet Sitters
Dog walkers and pet sitters string together midday walks, drop-in visits, and overnight stays, driving between client homes with a bag of leashes, waste bags, and treats riding shotgun. Platforms like Rover and Wag take a cut of every booking, weather gear wears out fast, and boarding pets in your own home brings its own equipment costs. Add pet first-aid certification, liability insurance, and GPS walk-tracking subscriptions, and a simple-looking business turns out to have a long expense list. This guide sorts those costs onto the right Schedule C lines.
14 deductions dog walkers & pet sitters should track
Each write-off below shows the IRS Schedule C line (or form) it maps to.
01Leashes, waste bags, and treats for client pets
Supplies — Line 22Backup leashes, harnesses, poop bags, treat pouches, and training treats you use on client dogs are ordinary supplies of the trade. Items used for your own pets don't count, so it helps to keep a dedicated work bag.
02Rover, Wag, and platform service fees
Commissions and fees — Line 10The percentage Rover or Wag keeps from each booking is a commission you paid to get the client, and it's generally deductible. If the platform reports your gross earnings, deducting its fees keeps you from paying tax on money you never received.
03Driving between walks and sitting visits
Car and truck expenses — Line 9A midday walker may hit a half-dozen homes in a shift, and every mile between client stops is generally business mileage. Trips to an overnight house-sitting client or to pick up a boarding dog count too; the first and last legs from your own home are usually commuting.
04Pet first-aid and CPR certification
Other expenses — Line 27aCertification courses in pet first aid and CPR make you more bookable and safer with client animals, and course fees for maintaining or improving skills in your existing business are generally deductible. Renewal fees qualify the same way.
05Pet-care liability insurance
Insurance (other than health) — Line 15Coverage for a dog bite, a slipped leash, or damage inside a client's home is a core cost of professional pet care. Premiums for pet-sitter liability policies, including care-custody-and-control coverage for animals in your charge, are deductible.
06Rain gear and dedicated walking shoes
Supplies — Line 22Walks happen in every kind of weather, but the IRS generally treats clothing that's suitable for everyday wear — even shoes you destroy on the job — as personal. Gear that's clearly work-specific, like branded jackets or protective overtrousers you'd never wear otherwise, has a stronger claim; ordinary sneakers and raincoats generally do not.
07Key lockboxes and key management
Supplies — Line 22Lockboxes you place at client homes, labeled key organizers, and smart-lock credentials are how a walker gets in the door without playing key courier. These small security purchases are ordinary business costs.
08GPS walk-tracking app subscriptions
Office expense — Line 18Apps that record each walk's route and send owners a map and report card are part sales tool, part liability record. Subscription fees for walk-tracking, scheduling, and client-messaging software are generally deductible.
09Crates, gates, and boarding equipment
Supplies — Line 22Crates, exercise pens, baby gates, and washable bedding bought for dogs boarding in your home are business equipment. Because your own household (and your own pets) may use some of it, deduct only the portion fairly attributable to client animals.
10Cleaning up after boarding guests
Supplies — Line 22Enzyme cleaners, lint rollers, extra vacuuming supplies, and carpet-cleaner rentals after a messy boarding stay are direct costs of hosting client pets. The business-only share is generally deductible even though the cleanup happens in your own home.
11Business-use percentage of your phone
Utilities — Line 25Owners expect photo updates mid-walk, booking apps ping all day, and GPS tracking runs on your phone the whole shift. The business share of your phone plan is generally deductible; estimate the split honestly if the line is also personal.
12Advertising and local promotion
Advertising — Line 8Flyers at the dog park, neighborhood-app posts, branded car magnets, and a simple booking website are how independent walkers grow beyond the platforms. These marketing costs are deductible advertising.
13Business license and local permits
Taxes and licenses — Line 23Some cities require a business license to offer pet-care services, and commercial dog walking in certain parks requires a permit. These government fees, plus renewals, are deductible.
14Backup sitters as contract labor
Contract labor — Line 11Paying another sitter to cover a booking you can't make — while the client still pays you — is contract labor. Track these payments; enough paid to one person in a year may require a Form 1099-NEC.
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Dog Walker / Pet Sitter tax questions, answered
Can I deduct treats and poop bags?+
Generally yes, when they're used for client dogs — treats, waste bags, and backup leashes are ordinary supplies of a walking business. The catch is mixing them with purchases for your own pets, which are personal. A separate work bag and separate receipts keep the line clean.
Rover already took its cut — can I still deduct the fee?+
If the platform reports your gross bookings (the amount before its fee) as your income, then deducting the service fee is generally appropriate so you aren't taxed on money you never received. Check whether your 1099-K or earnings summary shows gross or net, and deduct accordingly. Only deduct the fee once.
I board dogs in my house — can I take the home office deduction?+
The standard home office rules require exclusive business use of the space, which a living room that hosts boarding dogs and your family generally fails. Direct costs of boarding — crates, cleanup supplies, laundry — may still be deductible on their own. Some sitters explore a daycare-style allocation, but that path has specific requirements and is worth researching carefully.
Are the shoes and rain jackets I wear out on walks deductible?+
Generally not, if they're ordinary clothing suitable for everyday wear — the IRS applies that test even when the job destroys your gear quickly. Items that are distinctly work-only, like a branded uniform jacket, have a better argument. When in doubt, treat everyday apparel as personal.
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Disclaimer: This page provides estimates and general information for educational purposes only — it is not tax, legal, or accounting advice. Tax rules change and depend on your specific situation. Consult a qualified tax professional before making tax decisions.