- Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.
If you have to travel for work or vacation, or need overnight care for your dog for any other reason, you might consider boarding your pet. Dog boarding means your dog will stay overnight at a pet sitter’s home or in a boarding facility.
Boarding should include a comfortable space to sleep, regular meals, bathroom breaks, and supervision until you return, with trained staff or a pet sitter providing care.
Depending on the type of service you choose, your dog may follow a routine similar to the one they would at home. Your dog’s specific experience will depend on where they stay.
Read on to learn what to expect from dog boarding, with insights from Dr. Maggie O’Brian, a board-certified veterinary behaviorist at Southeast Animal Behavior and Training and Virtual Veterinary Behavior Medicine.
What Happens During Dog Boarding?
No matter where your dog stays, most boarding will include:
- Overnight accommodation: Depending on the facility, your dog might sleep in a crate, bed, or shared sleeping area.
- Feeding and fresh water: The pet sitter or staff will give meals on your dog’s usual schedule, using food you provide.
- Bathroom breaks: Your dog will get regular potty breaks throughout the day.
- Exercise and play: Depending on the facility setup and your dog’s needs, they’ll get walks, yard time, or play sessions.
- Rest: The staff or pet sitter will make sure your dog gets some down time between activities to avoid overstimulation.
- Supervision: Boarding centers and pet sitters monitor pets to keep them safe.
- Routine care: Agree on specific care beforehand, like your dog’s feeding times or favorite toys.
- Updates: Most sitters will send photos or messages to let you know how your dog is doing.
- Medication or special care: You can arrange with many providers beforehand to make sure they can give medication, but check beforehand that they can handle your dog’s needs.
You can also pack a bag with your dog’s things, including their food, favorite treats, and a toy to help them feel more settled in a new environment.
Types of Dog Boarding
Each type of dog boarding offers a different environment, caregiver setup, and level of care.
| Type | Environment | Caregiver | Dog interaction | Routine flexibility | Medical care |
| In-home boarding | Your sitter’s home | One dedicated sitter | One-on-one or small groups | Very flexible. Usually follows your dog’s schedule. | May give medication, depending on sitter experience |
| Boarding kennels | Facility with individual kennels or runs | Rotating staff | Varies depending on facility | Moderate flexibility. Follows facility schedule. | Can usually give medication |
| Luxury pet hotels | Upscale facility with private suites | Rotating staff | Varies by package | Moderate flexibility with some customization available | Can typically give medication |
| Veterinary boarding | Vet clinic | Vet staff and technicians | Usually limited | Lower flexibility. Follows clinic schedule. | On-site medical support for dogs with high care needs. |
In-home boarding with a Rover sitter tends to work well for dogs who need a quieter setting, one-on-one attention, or a routine similar to their home routine. You can search for a sitter based on their environment, experience, and availability to find the right match.
Dr. O’Brian explains that the right choice depends on your dog. If they already do well at day care, they may thrive in a kennel with familiar staff and dogs. However, a dog who has anxiety or trouble adjusting to change may do better with an in-home sitter. Dogs with medical issues may need to board at a vet clinic.
Keep in mind that the cost will vary, too: In-home boarding and luxury pet hotels tend to cost more than kennels or vet boarding.
Dog Boarding Environment Checklist
Before booking, you’ll want to make sure the boarding environment is right for your pup. Here’s what to check for and some key questions to ask before boarding.
- Check out the environment beforehand: A Meet and Greet lets you visit in person, meet caregivers, and look at the space before committing.
- Ask how dogs are matched and supervised: Find out whether dogs are grouped by size or temperament and how closely they’re watched during play. Many Rover sitters also offer sitting for one dog at a time.
- Confirm rest is part of the schedule: Ask how about scheduled downtime and share your dog’s needs with the caregiver.
- Clarify routines for feeding, medication, and regular care: Ask how they handle meals, medications, and any specific routines. Sitters on Rover can follow your dog’s routine, but you’ll want to agree on these details before booking.
- Check vaccination and health requirements: Most providers require proof of core vaccinations to keep all dogs safe.
- Ask about their emergency plan: Find out how they handle emergencies, including medical emergencies, extreme weather, and other situations. Your sitter or boarding facility should also know how to reach the closest 24-hour vet and your dog’s regular vet.
- Make sure they’re willing to learn about your dog: A good provider will ask questions about your dog’s habits, triggers, health needs, and preferences.
- Find out how and when you’ll get updates: Sitters on Rover can send text and photo updates through the app to keep you informed on how your dog does while you’re away.
Risks of Dog Boarding
Although dog boarding is often a great experience, it does come with a few risks. Common concerns include stress from a new environment, exposure to illness from other dogs, injuries during play, or a missed detail in your dog’s routine or care needs.
Choosing the right environment and asking the right questions beforehand can lower these risks. Preparing your dog before the stay can also help them adjust more easily.
Tip: When you book through Rover, you get the Rover Guarantee, which helps cover eligible vet care if something goes wrong during a stay.
Alternatives to Dog Boarding
Boarding isn’t right for every dog. Some do better in a familiar environment or need a different level of care. A few alternatives to consider include:
- Drop-in visits: A dog sitter will come to your home at scheduled times to handle feeding, bathroom breaks, and playtime. This option might work better for dogs who get anxious away from home.
- House sitting: A dog sitter will stay in your home overnight so your dog can follow their usual routine. This option suits dogs who don’t adjust well to new places.
- Day care: Your dog will spend the day at a facility or sitter’s home, then sleep at home. This option can work well for social dogs who don’t need overnight care.
- Stay-and-train: If you want to keep up with your dog’s training, you can search for a trainer who also offers boarding, like select providers on Rover.
FAQs About Dog Boarding
What’s the average cost of dog boarding?
Dog boarding typically costs $40 to $50 a night, though the exact price depends on the type of boarding and where you live. Many sitters and boarding facilities also offer discounts for longer stays. A week of boarding can cost anywhere from $150 to $480, and a month can range from $750 to $2,400.
Kennels and vet boarding tend to cost less, while in-home boarding and pet hotels cost more due to the added attention and personalized care.
Is boarding stressful for dogs?
Boarding can cause stress for some dogs. Dr. O’Brian says noise, confinement, changes in routine, and separation from you can all add to a dog’s stress. Dogs with higher baseline anxiety and dogs unfamiliar with boarding tend to have a harder time.
Signs a dog isn’t coping well include diarrhea, vomiting, not eating, or higher stress for a few days after returning home. If your dog seems reluctant to go back the next time, this can also mean the environment wasn’t a good fit.
A trial stay can help reduce stress before boarding. Dr. O’Brian recommends doing a practice night before a longer trip to find out how your dog handles food, routine, and behavior with the sitter.
A calmer environment with a consistent routine can cause less stress. If your dog has a history of struggling with boarding, house sitting may be a better fit.
How does dog boarding through Rover work?
Rover focuses on in-home boarding through sitters, so you can customize your dog’s experience and match with a sitter who fits their routine, care needs, and social preferences. You can get boarding for one dog at a time or group boarding with other dogs, depending on what your pup prefers.
Every stay booked through Rover is protected by the Rover Guarantee, which covers up to $25,000 in eligible vet care reimbursement and 24/7 emergency support for you and your sitter.
