Dog Boarding Novato
Find a loving dog sitter to watch your dog overnight at your sitter's home.
Over 380 pet parents in Novato have booked dog boarding
Novato, Find top rated dog boarding
Prices are estimates per night for 1 dog. Pricing may vary based on your search and includes a booking fee of 11%.
“Dustin was great! He sent us a ton of pictures/videos of our dog during her stay and made us feel comfortable she was in safe hands. Lots of space to run around- our dog came back tired and seeming like she had a blast. Referred Dustin to our friends and family in town! 10 / 5 stars.”
About: I’m attentive, patient, and happy to adapt to each pet’s routine and personality. I’m comfortable caring for puppies and senior pets, and I’ll keep you updated so you can relax while your furry friend is in my care. I work remotely, so I have a flexible schedule and can give pets plenty of attention throughout the day. I can plan walks, playtime, and check-ins around their routine I follow each pet’s routine and their owner’s instructions, including feeding, walks, playtime, and any special care. I keep pets safe, comfortable, and cared for, and I send regular updates so you know how they’re doing.
About: I grew up with dogs and know firsthand how much they become part of the family. Our beloved dogs, Bonbon and Bambii, were like siblings to me, and I loved spending time with them on walks, hikes, and playtime adventures. Although I don't currently have pets of my own, I miss that special connection and would love the opportunity to care for and spend time with your furry companions. I also have experience looking after my sister's dog, Toast, and always enjoy giving pets the attention, exercise, and affection they deserve. I will treat your pets with the same love and care I would give my own. Pet care fits naturally into my daily routine because I genuinely enjoy spending time outdoors and being around animals. I love starting my mornings with a walk, hike, or run, and I'm available between 6:00 AM and 8:00 AM for dogs who need exercise, fresh air, and attention before the day begins. In the evenings, I enjoy going on walks after work, usually from 7:00 PM onward. This gives me dedicated time to focus on your pet, whether that means a relaxing walk, playtime, or simply keeping them company. Having grown up with dogs and caring for my sister's dog, Toast, I understand that pets thrive on consistency, affection, and quality time. Caring for pets doesn't feel like a chore to me, it's something I genuinely look forward to and enjoy incorporating into my weekly routine.🐶🤍 When caring for pets in a client's home, I prioritize keeping them comfortable by maintaining their usual routine as closely as possible. I follow all instructions carefully, including feeding schedules, walks, playtime, medications (if needed), and any special preferences. I make sure pets receive plenty of attention, affection, and exercise while also respecting their individual personalities and needs. I believe communication is important, so I am happy to provide updates, photos, and messages to give pet parents peace of mind while they are away. My goal is to create a safe, calm, and loving environment where pets feel secure and cared for in their familiar surroundings.
About: With over two decades caring for animals, I understand the importance of consistency, structure, and heartfelt connection. I tailor care to their unique & individual energy level and temperament, making sure they feel safe, loved, and engaged. Skills include: • Providing daily walks, playtime, and mental stimulation • Administering medication and special dietary care • Following training cues and behavioral guidelines • Handling puppies, seniors, and animals with special needs • Ensuring safety and comfort during solo time or socialization • Offering basic grooming and cleanliness maintenance I’m dedicated to creating a fun, secure space for pets to thrive while their humans are away. I’m currently focused on getting a book published, which means my schedule can be flexible yet full—if you catch my drift. Working with animals not only keeps me inspired but also supports my growing business, which combines professional cleaning with attentive pet sitting. ⸻ Pet care is a meaningful and energizing part of my daily routine. Whether it’s morning walks, play sessions, feeding, or simply offering quiet companionship, I prioritize pets’ well-being and happiness every day. Because I’m currently working on publishing a book, I have the flexibility to dedicate focused, consistent time to each animal I care for. This means I can adapt my schedule to meet your pet’s specific needs—whether that’s extra playtime, medication administration, or simply being a calm presence while you’re away. Our family continues to heal from the loss of our beloved cat, Giraffe, last year. Caring for animals has been a vital source of comfort and strength as we embrace this new chapter. I’m dedicated to creating a clean, calm, and nurturing environment where pets feel safe and cherished. I look forward to providing thoughtful, reliable care for your furry family members while you’re away. Pet care is not just a job for me; it’s a source of inspiration and joy that fits naturally into my lifestyle and supports the balance I’m building in life here in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Whether I’m caring for your pet in your home or mine, my goal is always to provide a safe, loving, and stress-free environment tailored to their needs. In Your Home: I follow your routines closely — feeding schedules, exercise, medication, and any special instructions — so your pet experiences as little disruption as possible. I keep their space clean, respect their boundaries, and offer companionship and playtime based on their personality and energy level. I also ensure your home stays tidy and secure while you’re away. In My Home: If your pet stays with me, they’ll be welcomed into a calm, comfortable space where I prioritize consistency and care. I maintain a clean, pet-friendly environment with plenty of attention, exercise, and mental stimulation. I’m attentive to signs of stress or discomfort and adjust accordingly to keep them happy and relaxed. No matter the setting, I treat every animal like family — with patience, respect, and affection — ensuring they feel safe and loved throughout their stay.
“Sylvie was terrific from the day we contacted her to the day Caramel came home. She always responded quickly and kindly to our questions and requests. She took many pictures with Caramel in the pro and during the walks. Highly recommend.”
“Kylie (Ying) was amazing with my dog Pippa! She was suuuuper flexible and chill and sent cute pics and lots of updates. Her dog, Noodles, is really sweet too. Will be booking again!”
About: Although I have never owned a dog myself, I have several years of experience caring for family dogs. My sister has had a dog since 2016, and my mom got a dog in 2023. I regularly help care for them when my family is out of town, including feeding them on schedule, providing fresh food and water, taking them on walks, and making sure they are safe and comfortable. While I do not have extensive pet-sitting experience, I genuinely enjoy spending time with dogs and caring for them with patience, love, and responsibility. I would be grateful for the opportunity to care for your furry friend and appreciate the trust you place in me. I am a full-time student during the weekdays and a mom to a 6 six year old girl who also loves dogs. I am available in the evenings to take your dog on a walk. I am also available anytime on the weekend to board your pup or to take them for walks. I make sure dogs are safe and comfortable while in my home and I let them lead their walks. I keep them on a secure leash at all times, pay attention to their surroundings, allow them time to sniff and explore, and make sure they release enough energy without getting them overtired.
“We can’t sing her praises enough! Emily was so sweet and welcoming to our Javier. He’s a new rescue for us and she is his first sitter. She sent so many updates showing him making himself right at home. When we picked him up she ran one of his toys out to us and he ran to her. THAT’S how at home he was there. She’s fantastic!”
“Guillermo was awesome! He was super accommodating with timing of drop off/pick up of my 2 pooches including coming to my house to grab and drop. He took them on adventures, sent pics/updates and they got along great with his sweet dog. Will definitely use him again!”
“Tucker always love to go to the farm and hang out with his retriever buddies. Jake and Shayla are great, attentive and professional. He gets so much love there, I feel good about leaving him when I’m away.”
“Bianca is fantastic! We have a senior dog and Bianca goes above and beyond to make her feel comfortable. After our dog’s first stay with her, we immediately booked our next one with her because of how great she is. Our dog is clearly so much happier staying with Bianca than when we used to take her to the kennel. Highly recommend!”
“We are incredibly grateful for the care that Charlie received while staying with Edward. This was the first time that we’ve left him with a stranger which, of course, created some anxiety. Edward was a great communicator and seemed to get to understand Charlie very quickly. Edward put our worries at ease. We would highly recommend him! Thanks so much Edward!!”
“Ariane looked after our dog for four nights while we were away, and she was amazing! Our dog immediately took to her and I could tell he would be in the best hands. He looked so comfortable and happy when I picked him up, and we couldn’t have been more pleased. She was very communicative and sent daily photos and videos of him. We look forward to using Ariane again soon!”
“Emily and family took amazing care of our dog Chloe when we were out of town. From our meet and greet, Emily asked a lot of very good questions like what habits we allowed and did not allow, what kinds of updates we needed, whether we allowed her to wear her harness when not on a leash, etc. Emily seemed to have a strong background in training young dogs. Their dog Chaka seemed to play with Chloe all day and tired her out. Chloe went home very tired and very happy. While we were stressed about packing and forgot our mini white noise machine, Emily offered to lend us hers. We received frequent photo updates, and Chloe was always very happy in the photos. We would definitely recommend Emily and family took take care of your dogs.”
“I was headed on vacation when, last minute, my family got sick and couldn’t watch my dog. Thank goodness for Rover and especially for Xi! I’ve always hated the idea of boarding my dog in a tiny kennel with limited attention unless you pay extra. That’s why I’m so grateful I found Xi and Yohanas She was an exceptional host from start to finish. She kept me updated with photos and messages throughout Osito’s stay, which gave me such peace of mind. Not only did she care for Osito like her own, she even had homemade food ready for him! He got daily walks, plenty of love and attention, and he absolutely loved playing with her sweet dog. It felt like he was staying with extended family, not a sitter. Xi and Yohanas went above and beyond, and I will 100% continue using her!”
About: I have taking of dogs for about to years of all kind. I love them. Neighbors have relied on me to take of there dogs. Hi, I work part time and I go to school over the weekdays.so, I’m free to take care of your dogs over the weekend, and during school breaks. I I live by myself in my apartment of a bedroom and a living room and there is a patio that I could walk with your dog or take him for a walk or just play with him. I really love dogs and I really want to have one, but I can’t at the moment because I don’t make that much money to have one.
About: I grew up with cats and dogs and even started my own dog walking business when I was ten. I love animals … maybe even more than people. 😂 I’d be honored to care for your cats and dogs while you’re away. I would love to help you care for your pets when my children are at school…and if it’s okay for them to visit with your sweet dogs and cats as well I have TONS of flexibility all day. I am very careful with pets. They are part of the family. Please tell me what you feel comfortable with and I will follow the instructions to the last detail. I have so much love to give these animals and am hoping to get to spend my time with helping them not miss you too much while you’re away.
“Aniqua was great with our dog and puppy! She sent me updates and pictures and took great care of them. She followed our care instructions and even went the extra mile to meet me for drop off and pick up. Will definitely be using her again when in the area!”
“Matt and Amanda were absolutely wonderful with my dog! They were kind, attentive and kept me updated with messages and photos throughout the stay. My dog came home happy and relaxed - I could tell that she was really well cared for. I'd definitely book with them again and highly recommend to anyone looking for a trustworthy and loving sitter!”
The median cost per night for dog boarding in Novato is $75
Dog parents share their Rover experiences - Novato
Tamara was responsive to our inquiry when we contacted her. She suggested a meet and greet, which really helped when deciding where to leave our girl Mimi. Mimi seemed very comfortable and relaxed, always a good sign! Tamara gave us updates and pictures daily. We really appreciated her communications. It helped us relax and enjoy our vacation knowing Mimi was being cared for. Plus I think Mimi made a couple new friends.Thank you, Tamara!
Rafi delivered such professional service, offering to pick up and drop off our pet even when we had not requested that service. She also created a safe and accommodating home for our dog, helping it become part of her pack so quickly. We were blown away by Rafi's innate ability to put animals at ease: our usually nervous pup approached her immediately and got into her car without assistance after only meeting her once.
Devrie took my dogs into her home and cared for them as if they were her own. She made my hectic day so much easier and took all the stress off my shoulders. When they came home , they were happy, relaxed, and clearly well loved. Knowing they were in such good hands gave me complete peace of mind. I would highly recommend her!
Jessica was great in every way as a pet sitter! I had no concerns; my two dogs were well cared for by her. She is very kind and nice, and was easy to communicate with, and always professional. Her home is lovely, and safe, and ideal for caring for pets. It is also convenient as a drop off location- right near the highway. She sent updates regularly, and took them for walks. Both my dogs seemed happy and calm when I picked them up. It was a wonderful experience. I highly Jessica.
Edward is a gentle dog whisperer! Bella is our sweet standard poodle who gets lots of love at home and naturally we always worry when we travel and leave Bella behind, but not anymore, she was in excellent hands! Thank you Edward for your daily pictures and videos too.
Heidi, Lars and their family are the absolute best! We are convinced that our golden retriever, Penny, loves them more than us now! They are incredibly caring and communicative while pet sitting and go above and beyond to give Penny the best day - multiple walks / hikes, playing ball outside, taking her on car trips, etc. the first time we picked up Penny after a wonderful, long day with Heidi and Lars, she was so content and tired. I couldn’t recommend them enough!
Robyn took care of our boys very well and we appreciated her photos updating us. We can see that Benji and Harry are comfortable and happy at her home. We will definitely be coming back to Robyn when we go on holidays. We can’t wait to see her again. I would highly recommend Robyn for your pet.
Book with peace of mind
- Screened pet sitters have passed a third-party background check and show verified reviews from other pet parents, like you.
- Every booking is backed by the Rover Guarantee, which includes up to $25,000 reimbursement for eligible vet care. Learn more
- 24/7 support from the Rover team–here to help if you ever need someone to talk to.
Why Choose Rover?
Cashless payments
Book and pay through Rover’s secured platform—no cash or checks required.
Reservation protection
It doesn’t happen often, but if your sitter has to cancel, we’ll work with you to find a new sitter.
World-class support
We’re friendly, knowledgable, and total pet fanatics. You can get in touch with us anytime.
How to book dog boarding
1. Search
Browse profiles of sitters near you who offer dog boarding.
2. Meet In Person
Schedule a free in-person Meet & Greet to find the perfect fit.
3. Book & Pay
It's that easy! All payments are processed through Rover's secured platform.
Popular requests for dog boarding - Novato
Select a filter and find qualifying sitters offering dog boarding.Sitters in Novato average 10 repeat dog boarding clients
FAQs for Dog Boarding - Novato
Frequently asked questions about Rover
The average cost of Dog Boarding in Novato is $78 per night as of November 2026. Most bookings cost between $49 and $111 per night. On Rover, sitters set their own rates based on factors such as their experience, the length of care, the number of pets, and your pet’s specific needs. As long as your booking dates and pet profiles are accurate, the price shown before you confirm is the total, including any booking fee.
As of November 2026, there are 4,203 sitters on Rover offering Dog Boarding across Novato. Enter your ZIP code to see which available sitters are closest to your home.
If you would like updates while you’re away, you can discuss with your sitter how many or how frequent you’d like those updates to be. The Rover app allows sitters to send photos, videos, and messages about your pet, including how many pee or poop breaks occurred. You can message your sitter at any time through the app and our support team is available 24/7 by email or chat if you have concerns.
The personalized, in-home nature of pet care through Rover can mean more individual attention for your pet.
Every sitter on Rover has their own routine. Depending on the arrangements you agree on before the stay, a sitter can follow your dog’s regular feeding schedule, provide a comfortable place to sleep, offer companionship, and support their usual exercise and play needs.
94% of sitters in Novato can provide daily exercise during dog boarding stays. Depending on the sitter, their home environment, and your dog’s needs, this may include walks, outdoor play, indoor enrichment activities, or supervised play with compatible dogs. These activities are not automatically included with every booking, so ask the sitter what a typical day looks like.
During the Meet & Greet, discuss your dog’s usual exercise and play routine, whether they can safely interact with other dogs, and any activities or restrictions the sitter should follow. You can also ask the sitter to send photo and message updates during the stay so you can see how your dog is spending their time.
Preparing for drop-off is easy when you have a checklist! To help your dog settle into their Novato home-away-from-home, we recommend packing:
- Health and safety essentials such as their ID tags, vaccination records, medication, and emergency vet or secondary caregiver contacts.
- Food and gear such as harnesses, collars, food (portioned by day), and an item that smells like you.
- Special instructions such as a list of training cues, medical administration needs, or favorite hang-out spots in your Novato.
Tip: You can upload your dog’s routine and medical info directly onto their profile so your sitter always has the details at their fingertips.
Yes, you can find sitters who have experience with handling special pet needs in Novato. On Rover:
- 86% of sitters can help with special care needs
- 91% can help with giving oral medications or injections
- 94% can help with daily exercise
You can also find pet sitters on Rover who accept only one pet at a time, which is ideal for anxious puppies, kittens, or senior pets who move at a gentler pace. Some sitters will also list availability for 24/7 care, also known as constant care, in their profiles.
Use the search filters to narrow down sitters whose specific experience or environment meets your pet's needs. When reaching out to your sitter, outline your pet's care routine and use the Meet & Greet to walk your sitter through your expectations.
You and your Novato sitter can schedule drop-off and pick-up in a way that works best for the both of you—and your dog. Most sitters offer flexible times for drop-off and pick-up but the easiest way to confirm those times will be through in-app messaging. Confirm your arrival time the day of pick-up and drop-off can also help keep the process smooth and organized.
The Rover Guarantee is Rover’s commitment to your peace of mind every time you book. It includes 24/7 customer support, sitter access to advice from qualified veterinary professionals for diagnostic issues, and a reimbursement program for eligible veterinary care in the rare event something goes wrong.
All bookings are backed by the Rover Guarantee, which provides up to $25,000 in eligible veterinary care reimbursement.
Every sitter on Rover is required to pass a background check before listing their services. This process confirms their identity and indicates they are not on the Department of Justice’s National Sex Offender Public Website or have any disqualifying offenses.
Beyond ID checks, you can review each sitter's star rating, read verified reviews from other pet parents, and see how many repeat clients they have. Every booking is backed by the Rover Guarantee, which includes up to $25,000 in eligible veterinary care. For more details, visit Rover's Trust & Safety page.
While each sitter sets their own vaccine requirements, staying up-to-date on your dog’s vaccines is the best way to be "boarding ready". Vaccinations help create a safe environment for all pets under a sitter’s care.
Many sitters in CA ask that dogs be up to date on core vaccines like the Canine Parvovirus, Canine Distemper, Canine Adenovirus, Bordetella, and Rabies.
By discussing your pet's health history early, you’re adding a layer of confidence for you and your sitter before the booking begins.
If a health concern arises during a stay, your sitter is instructed to contact you and our Trust & Safety team immediately and, if needed, take your dog to the closest veterinarian. Through our Trust & Safety support team, sitters can ask for diagnostic advice from a qualified veterinary professional if your dog is showing signs of possible illness.
For extra peace of mind, you can also prepare an authorization form for your regular vet. An authorization form outlines your preferred method of care and allows your sitter to bring your pet into their regular clinic.
Every qualified booking made on Rover is backed by the Rover Guarantee, which includes reimbursement for eligible emergency vet care.
Adding another pup to the pack? Most sitters and walkers offer a reduced rate for additional dogs. You’ll find these exact rates listed under the "Services" tab on any sitter's profile. Since every dog is unique, final pricing may vary depending on the level of care required.
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