At our agency, we recently helped a pet walking startup launch their booking platform from scratch. Along the way, we learned a lot about what it really takes to build a solid MVP in this space - from must-have features to tech stack decisions that keep costs low and scalability high.
If you're thinking about building something similar, here’s what we’ve learned.
Must-Have Features for a Dog Walking Platform
Your users expect more than just basic booking. To stand out (and to even be considered an alternative to apps like Wag or Rover), you’ll need to get a few core features right from the start:
- Profile management: Separate profiles for owners, walkers, and pets. Each pet might have medical notes, behavior tips, and care preferences. Walkers need experience, availability, and reviews.
- Flexible booking: Support for on-demand and recurring walks with calendar integration.
- In-app payments: Integrate Stripe or PayPal for seamless, secure payments and automated payouts.
- Ratings & reviews: After each walk, feedback builds trust and quality across your platform.
- Messaging: A built-in chat makes it easier for walkers and owners to stay on the same page.
- Emergency support: A simple panic button can go a long way in building user trust.
- Push notifications: Keep users in the loop with booking alerts, updates, and reminders.
- Admin dashboard: You'll need oversight tools to manage users, moderate disputes, and track performance.
- Optional but impactful: GPS tracking, walk photos, and verified walker badges are excellent for user retention.
One tip: You don’t need to launch everything on day one. Decide what’s essential for your MVP, and what can be phased in after validation.
Tech Stack: What Worked for Us
To keep the project lean and flexible, we started with a responsive web app. It covered the basics, worked across devices, and shared the same backend with the future mobile app.
Once the platform proved itself, we moved on to a cross-platform mobile app using React Native. This way, we kept development fast and cost-efficient while still offering a native-like experience.
Here’s the stack that worked well for us:
- Frontend: React (web), React Native (mobile)
- Backend: Laravel
- Database: Firebase (real-time updates) + PostgreSQL
- Payments: Stripe
- Maps/GPS: Google Maps API
- Hosting: AWS + Docker setup for scalability
And yes - data privacy matters. If you’re operating in Europe or the UK, make sure you’re GDPR-compliant from day one.
MVP Budget & Timeline
A lean MVP with core features (booking, payments, messaging, admin panel) typically runs around $10,000–$20,000 and takes 6–8 weeks to build. A full-scale product with advanced features can easily stretch to $40,000+ and take 4–6 months.
We’ve put together a complete guide on building a dog walking app - from planning features to choosing the tech stack and estimating costs. It’s based on real projects and hard-won lessons.
Do you have any insights on this topic? Please join the conversation.
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