Welcome to Rover: A Guide to Getting Started
Congrats! Your profile has been approved and is now live on Rover.com. What happens next?
If you’re feeling overwhelmed or unsure where to begin, we’ve got you covered. Read on to learn more about how to use Rover, how to provide amazing care, and where to find answers if you have any questions.
Before you begin, be sure you download the Rover app. The app acts as your dashboard where you can respond to requests, get paid, and send Rover Cards.
Get the app for iOS or get the app for Android
How to Get Your First Request Faster
Once your profile is live, pet parents can start sending you requests. Even though you’re new, there are a few things you can do to give yourself a competitive advantage. You’re more likely to get your first request if you:
- Set competitive rates. Research top sitters in your area and note what they charge. Set your rates accordingly.
Edit your rates - Keep your calendar updated to get requests you can accept.
See how to update and sync your calendar - Update your preferences to get requests that are right for you. If you offer in-home boarding but have breed restrictions, be sure your preferences reflect that.
Edit your service preferences, then edit your dog preferences
How to Turn Your First Request Into a Booking
How do clients send requests? How do you respond? Here’s how it all works, from start to finish:
- Watch for requests. When a pet parent sends you a request, you’ll get notifications via email, text, and the Rover app.
- Respond as soon as you can. Requests that receive a response within five minutes are 42% more likely to turn into a booking.
- Schedule a Meet & Greet using the Meet & Greet button in your Rover inbox. While Meet & Greets aren’t mandatory, they’re super helpful in letting clients and sitters get to know each other to determine if the booking will be a good fit. Sitters who do a Meet & Greet are 15% more likely to get a second booking.
- Book the service. If you and your client agree to book, either one of you needs to select “Book It Now,” also in your Rover inbox. Here’s more info on how to book.
- Complete the service. You’ll automatically get paid two days after the service is complete. Here’s how to request a payout.
- Deliver 5-star service to get that 5-star review. One tip is to be sure to update your clients during the service. For boarding or house sitting, send photos through Rover at least once a day. For dog walking, drop-in visits, or other services, send a Rover Card through the app.
Important: Booking and Getting Paid Through Rover
Because pet safety is our top priority, our Terms of Service require you to book through Rover. Booking on the site keeps your personal information secure and allows you to access a number of great benefits, including 24/7 support, ongoing resources to build your business, and the Rover Guarantee.
How to Provide Safe Care
We hope you love your clients and all the animals in your care. We also want to make sure you feel prepared for any situation. If you follow these safety tips, you’re much more likely to enjoy safer stays and walks:
- Supervise animals when they’re outside, even in a fenced yard.
- Keep animals safe around doorways to the outside. Baby gates and exercise pens work great as blockades. When opening car doors, use your body as a gate between the animal and the outside world.
- Remove anything that can fit in a dog’s mouth—toys, socks, you name it. Watch out for counter-surfing and read up on dog proofing.
- Separate dogs during mealtimes. If they’re from different families, separate them when you’re not able to supervise.
- Brush up on safe practices for dog walking. Walking one or more dogs can present a number of challenges. Check out our dog walking safety post for more info.
- Add our Trust & Safety team to your contacts: 888-727-1140. Give us a call if you have a health or safety issue during a booking. Someone is available to help 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
You can also check out our YouTube channel, which has several safety videos just for sitters and dog walkers.
How to Attract Clients
While Rover advertises on your behalf, you can also do your own outreach to attract clients who might not be familiar with Rover.
Create your profile link and promo code. If you haven’t already, go ahead and create your profile link and promo code on your dashboard. You can do this under the heading “Earn More, Play More.”
When a pet parent new to Rover creates an account from your profile link and adds your promo code to their account, they’ll get $20 off their first booking—and you’ll still get paid your full rate.
We’ve got some ideas about how to share your profile link and promo code—check ’em out and find some that work for you.
How to Get Answers to Your Questions
As you take on more clients, you’re bound to have questions. Luckily, you have a few places you can consult any time you have a question:
- The Sitter Resources Center is a trove of helpful information, including tips from fellow sitters.
- The Help Center is a great place to start when you have questions.
- The Rover.com YouTube Channel has a lot of videos that cover safety basics, including a series on foods that are safe for dogs to eat and more.
We hope this guide helps you get started and that you’re able to celebrate your first booking soon. Thanks so much for being part of our community—we’re so excited you’re here!