Dog Boarding in Merle Hay, Des Moines, IA
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Top rated Merle Hay dog boarders
Prices are estimates per night. Pricing may vary based on your search. A booking fee of 11% and taxes will apply.
“We love Erin, Chris, and their family! They treat our dog, Bailey like their own. They are super easy to work with and I love knowing that Bailey is in a loving home while we are gone.”

“Bella could not have been happier when we picked her up from two nights at Rachel’s...in fact I don’t think she has ever been so sad to say goodbye to a sitter!! We are already planning our second stay and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Rachel. She is a very clear and honest communicator and I trusted her to let me know if something wasn’t right.”

“Dog (Buddy) had a great time there playing with all the other dogs, got many pictures/videos! Rachael was very flexible with the schedule, including allowing me to pick up my pet ~1 hour later than expected. Great sitter if your dog loves to play and burn off energy with other dogs.”
“Jessica was great with our pups. She made sure Chopper got his medicine every day and they had so much fun playing with the other dogs that were there. Jessica was also super friendly and sent pictures and videos regularly”


“I think Bella settled in happily at Traci’s home which was a huge relief for me while away. Traci sent messages and photos while I was vacation which was so thoughtful. Thank you for caring for my little girl.”

“Cassandra was amazing with our girls! She kept us updated and sent pictures during their stay. We highly recommend her and we’ll definitely be back! Thank you, Cassandra!!”
“This was our first rover experience and I don’t think we could have asked for a better one. Ashly took great care of snoopy and sent me some cute pictures as well. He had so much fun playing with the other dogs. We will definitely be back!”


“Cory was very responsive and had great communication before and during Moose’s stay! When we picked up Moose after his stay he was happy and tired. He even got to meet new friends! Cory was easy going and handled my high energy dog well!”


“Lucia was the best pet sitter for our kitty cat Sai. She went above and beyond and picked him up and dropped him off. She sent pics often and I was able to relax knowing he was in great hands. Lucia also just has a kind and friendly personality. I highly recommend her for any of your pet sitting needs. I am very happy with our experience.”

“Cynthia took great care of Brooks for a weekend stay. Her home and big backyard were perfect for him, and she kept us updated with photos and quick responses, which made us feel really comfortable. He clearly felt right at home — he almost didn’t want to leave! Friendly, flexible, and easy to work with. We’ll definitely be booking with her again.”

“We hit the lottery finding this family!!! Alicia, Dan, and their daughter took absolutely incredible care of my dog, Coco. From the moment we connected, they made me feel completely comfortable leaving her in their care. They treated Coco like she was part of their family! Every day Alicia sent updates and photos, which meant so much to me and gave me total peace of mind while I was away. It was clear from the pictures and messages that Coco was happy, loved, and getting tons of attention 😊 I could not have had a better experience!!! I will absolutely be booking with them (and only them!) again! ❤️🐾”

“Alexandra was awesome! I’m a paranoid helicopter mom who had never left my dogs with anyone but friends and family before, but I felt completely at ease leaving them with Alexandra! She let me bring my dogs over for a meet and greet before their stay to make sure everyone got along and her pup is super sweet. Her huge yard is absolutely amazing for my high energy dogs. Her knowledge of dog behavior and separating for dinner time made me feel very safe that my girls were in good hands. I’ll be using her services again!”

“Nothing but stellar things to say! Meagan is a wonderful caregiver and even with other dogs - she made sure my pup was safe, relaxed and well cared for! Highly recommend!”

“My Lola had a blast staying with Lisa! She sent many pictures and updates during her stay and was very responsive. Plenty of toys and comfy places for a pup to enjoy in the household and a safe fenced in yard. Would definitely recommend!”

“Kevin was absolutely wonderful with my sweet Terry. From the very first day, he kept in constant communication, sharing updates that truly put my heart at ease. It was clear that Terry was not just cared for, but genuinely loved and treated like family during the 9 days she stayed with him. I’m so grateful to have found Kevin through Rover, and I wouldn’t hesitate for a second to trust him with Terry again. Highly, highly recommended!”

“Christy and Erkham were so great! Dilly had a great time and were so thankful we found a trusted caregiver for us! Thank you Christy & Erkham!”

Merle Hay dog parents share their Rover experiences
We hit the lottery finding this family!!! Alicia, Dan, and their daughter took absolutely incredible care of my dog, Coco. From the moment we connected, they made me feel completely comfortable leaving her in their care. They treated Coco like she was part of their family! Every day Alicia sent updates and photos, which meant so much to me and gave me total peace of mind while I was away. It was clear from the pictures and messages that Coco was happy, loved, and getting tons of attention 😊 I could not have had a better experience!!! I will absolutely be booking with them (and only them!) again! ❤️🐾

Cynthia was great! She was very attentive and kept me updated by sending pictures and videos of Sano during his stay. It was clear he was having a lot of fun and adjusted really well to his new surroundings. I especially loved seeing him run around and play in their fenced in yard. Both she and her husband were fantastic hosts for Sano, and I would definitely recommend them to anyone looking for a caring and reliable sitter.

Even though my dog didn't act very well. She found ways to make maverick do very well. Friendly person. She contacted when she needed to to try n help. Very well trained sitter. I recommend her for your pet. Thanks again rachel if I ever need her again I will definitely ask her again.

Dog (Buddy) had a great time there playing with all the other dogs, got many pictures/videos! Rachael was very flexible with the schedule, including allowing me to pick up my pet ~1 hour later than expected. Great sitter if your dog loves to play and burn off energy with other dogs.
Morgan is AMAZING!!!! I was able to enjoy my trip knowing my pup was in the best care and could tell she truly cared for my dog the same way I would! He came home extra happy and in good spirits. I’m so glad I found such a reliable dog sitter - Morgan is truly the best and I look forward to using her service again!

Buster enjoyed another wonderful overnight at Meghan’s— or what we have started calling his “vacation home,” because he gets so much love and attention! Meghan is an excellent communicator, a wonderful dog-caretaker, and a top-notch photo-sender. She is our go-to, and we are incredibly grateful for her!

We continue to ask Alexandra to care for our pup every time we go out of town. This time, our dog hurt his leg just before we left and she right away reassured us she could manage whatever he needed. She is always responsive and takes great care of Auggie. We are grateful for the peace of mind!

Erin, Chris and family took such great care of our Sadie when we were out of state for the holiday! They welcomed her as if she was part of the family! Our girl had so much fun playing with their dog in the backyard and even a couple of other dogs that were visiting at the same time. We appreciate all the love they provided and we will without question be back again soon! 😍

Holly was absolutely fabulous. She graciously took our dogs last minute before Thanksgiving and they loved her! She took them on tons of walks, sent fantastic pictures and was always in regular correspondence (very quick responder), which reassured us that our boys were in great hands. 10/10 recommend!

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Dog Boarding FAQs
Frequently asked questions about Rover
Typically, dog boarding sitters on Rover respond in under an hour, so you should be matched with the perfect sitter for you and your dog in no time!
Experience can vary widely from sitter to sitter, but you can view reviews, years of experience, and number of repeat clients when comparing sitters available in Merle Hay.
Rover makes it easy to find Merle Hay dog boarding sitters to provide loving care from their own home. The background-checked, 5-star sitters you can find on Rover will welcome your dog into their home when you’re away—whether it’s just for the weekend or longer. Dog boarding is great for:
- Dogs of all ages and abilities, including puppies
- Pet parents looking for a safe, loving alternative to a kennel
- Dogs who’d love to socialize with their sitter’s pets
Yes! Sitters joining Rover must pass a background check before offering their services. You can also easily keep in touch with your dog boarding sitter through messages on Rover for delightful photo updates. The Rover team is available 24/7, and your sitter has access to advice from qualified veterinary professionals. In the rare event of any issues during a booking, rest easy knowing your pet is covered by the Rover Guarantee reimbursement program for eligible veterinary care.
Note: If your dog boarding sitter requested to cancel this booking, then they need to cancel from their account. Please contact them via Rover Messages.
We get it—sometimes plans change and you may need to cancel your dog boarding service. You can cancel an upcoming booking directly from the Rover app or your computer, in accordance with your sitter’s cancellation policy.














