Kendall recently booked dog boarding with Caitlin in Raleigh
I cannot rave about Caitlin enough!! She kept my pup over Memorial weekend and treated him just as her own. He’s been sleeping since we got home. She sent me so many photos and videos. She also gave him a bath!!
Every sitter on Rover has passed a background check
Preview local sitters providing dog boarding in Raleigh
We make it simple to find the perfect dog sitter for you
See what owners are saying about dog boarding in Raleigh
Raleigh dog sitters were rated 5 out of 5 stars from 539+ reviews
Bryan's review on Jul 11, 2019
My little guy had a great time with Josh. Josh provided a great, safe, loving home for Columbo while we were out of town. Recommended.
Emily's review on Jul 11, 2019
Amanda is amazing! So sweet and makes me feel better about leaving my dog behind. She is responsive and keeps me updated! So so wonderful.
Suzanne's review on Jul 07, 2019
Liz was great! Very knowledgeable and patient. She sent pictures and video throughout the week. Would highly recommend her for your furry friend!
Bill's review on Jun 24, 2019
Amazing service and was helpful whenever my plans changed. Rooney loved him and we'll definately use him again
Adam's review on Jun 24, 2019
Em was fantastic with Lana. She was incredible with keeping Lana active by taking her on walks and to the dog park. Her dog Goose is a sweetheart as well!
Tracy's review on Jun 23, 2019
Responsible, professional, engaging.. Sydney is awesome! I knew from the moment I met her that my 15 yr old Yorkie was in good hands. She checked in with me and sent pictures throughout my dog's stay. I highly recommend her!
Benjamin's review on Jun 04, 2019
Gabrielle went above and beyond what was required. Perfect boarding experience.
Tony's review on May 30, 2019
This was an amazing experience! My puppy was well taken care of. I received updates on my puppy and when I reached out I received quick response time. If you’re looking for a sitter who loves pets and ensures that your pet is well taken care of, chose Indirha!
Top Dog Parks in Raleigh
William B. Umstead State Park—located at 8801 Glenwood Avenue—covers 5,599 acres starting near Northwest Raleigh, with a second entrance in nearby Cary, North Carolina. It has extensive trails for bikers, horseback riders, and hikers. Inside the park are three man-made lakes, the largest of which is Big Lake, where you can canoe, fish, or boat. There are many campsites available. If you want to stay overnight, you can book a room at the Historic Maple Hill Lodge. Umstead Park has many ranger-led programs, or you can visit the exhibit hall with photographs and information about the park’s transformation from farmland to the current forest. You can easily find dog-friendly hikes at Umstead, and dogs are allowed to be in the campsites, as long as they stay on leash.
Lake Johnson Park is a beautiful park with 5.4 miles of trails centered around the lake. You can rent boats, kayaks, and stand up paddleboards. If you need to brush up on your skills, you can even take lessons at the Waterfront Program Center. As Raleigh dog walkers and sitters will tell you, the trails are a great place to bring your dog on a hike, with a mix of hilly forest trails and flat lakeside trails. Lake Johnson Park has a technology-friendly workout trail, with six stations that have exercises led by directions you access by using your smart phone’s QR reader. If you want to learn more about the park, stop by the Thomas G. Crowder Woodland Center. On a hot summer day, you can bring your kids to splash and swim in the seasonal pool.
Pullen Park is a 66.3-acre popular public park immediately west of downtown Raleigh, North Carolina. It is about a mile and a half from the main campus of North Carolina State University. The park, founded in 1887, is the oldest public park in North Carolina. It also has the designation of being the fifth oldest amusement park in the United States. Pullen Park has many activities, including a carousel built in 1911, a miniature train, and pedal boats to go around Lake Howell. There is also an arts center, Theatre in the Park, and a small snack stand. Take your dog on some walks and try to find the “Andy & Opie” statue from the TV show.
Mordecai Historic Park boasts Mordecai House—built it 1785 and named for Moses Mordecai. It’s also home to Andrew Johnson’s birthplace, a small, one-story home that was moved to the park. In addition to trolley tours, you can attend guided tours through Mordecai House, which is the oldest house in Raleigh in its original location. There are also various outbuildings, like the Overseer’s Office, Cure barn, and Allen Kitchen. Ellen Mordecai’s kitchen garden was painstakingly recreated based on her memoirs and letters. The park itself was once the site of the largest plantation in Wake County. The park offers school tours on the trolleys, about Andrew Johnson, Mordecai House and artifacts, and plantation slavery.
Raleigh's Bark Score
How Raleigh got their Bark Score
We love crunching numbers almost as much as we love caring for dogs, which is why we came up with the Bark Score. It's all about how dog-friendly a city is, and is determined using census statistics, local business information, and our own data. Raleigh received a 50 out of 100 in vet availability, which includes the number of emergency veterinarians, regular vets, specialists, and the average premium for pet insurance in the area. For pet services—like groomers available, number of dog trainers, and count of Rover sitters—this city earned a 68. For the parks and fun category, Raleigh received a 68 for its number of dog parks, sunny days, and dog-friendly restaurants and hotels. And last but not least, for quality of dog life which includes overall dog population, average yard size, and number of dog-friendly property rentals, this city earned a 62.
Top Dog Neighborhoods in Raleigh
Downtown
Downtown Raleigh, centered around Capitol Square, is where you’ll find the most government buildings in this capital city. Downtown is the location for the State Capitol (at Union Square at One East Edenton Street), Pullen Park, the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences—North Carolina’s oldest established museum—the North Carolina History Museum, and the North Carolina Museum of Art. In addition to the many museums, Downtown offers excellent shopping, entertainment, and nightlife. For unique, fun treasures, try out Deco Raleigh at 207 S Salisbury Street or The Art of Style at 21 W Hargett Street. And don’t miss out on North Carolina’s famous pork BBQ. Pit Authentic BBQ, at 328 W Davie St, and Clyde Cooper’s Barbecue, at 327 S Wilmington Street, are two local favorites. With so much to explore, why not leave your pup with a trusted local dog boarder and head out for a day in downtown Raleigh?
Historic Oakwood
Home to the Historic Oakwood Cemetery, Historic Oakwood is a 19th century neighborhood close to downtown and best known for its Victorian homes and proximity to Mordecai Park. Because of its location close to the Governor’s Mansion and State Capitol, many early Raleigh residents of social note lived in the upscale neighborhood. It is now on the National Register of Historic Places. Every year, people can attend the Christmas Candlelight Tour, when the private historic residences are opened to the public, and the Garden Tour and Tea, when people can see the amazing gardens run by the Oakwood Gardening Club. Oakwood is a wonderful place to stroll with your pooch and check out the amazing historic houses on the tree-lined streets.
Cameron Park
Cameron Park is another beautiful historic neighborhood, one of three early 20th century suburbs developed around the same time. There are many families in the area who love to visit Edna Metz Wells Park, and it’s a wonderful place to stroll with your dog to see all of the architecture, which is made up of Colonial Revivals, Queen Anne, bungalows, and others. Another draw to this area is its proximity to downtown, North Carolina State University, and Cameron Village Shopping Center. Cameron Village was the first shopping center between Washington DC and Atlanta, opening its doors in 1949. Today, it continues to be a draw because of its shops and restaurants. In Cameron Park, you can eat at Southern food restaurant, Tupelo Honey, or dine out at the popular David’s Dumpling & Noodle Bar or Tazza Kitchen Cameron VIllage.
Warehouse District
The Warehouse District is a popular downtown arts, restaurant, and business district. The six blocks encompass red brick warehouses reinvented as lofts, bars and restaurants, and art galleries. Ranked as one of the country’s top up and coming neighborhoods, It’s a dog-friendly area, easy to walk around and enjoy the energetic, trendy neighborhood. It’s especially popular with artists and young professionals. Make sure to go to the Contemporary Art Museum, Saturday Market, and eat at Pit BBQ Restaurant. You can also find some craft breweries, including Crank Arm Brewing and Tasty Beverage Company. The Warehouse District is known as an up-and-coming business area, because of big companies like Citrix moving in, and well-known co-working spaces for entrepreneurs. Ranked the No. 3 “Best New Food Hall” from USA Today is Morgan Street Food Hall, with all kinds of culinary options from local chefs.
Why do dog owners love Raleigh?
Known as the “City of Oaks,” Raleigh was named after the famous explorer Sir Walter Raleigh in 1792. Today, you can visit an 11-foot-tall bronze statue of Sir Walter in front of the Raleigh Convention Center. This Southern metropolis is the capital city of North Carolina, and its city was designed around what is now called Capitol Square. The streets in that area are named for the eight state districts, commissioners who decided to make Raleigh the capital city, and other prominent citizens. The State Capitol is built from gneiss, a form of granite that comes from southeastern Raleigh. There are many places to learn more about Raleigh, including Mordecai Historic Park, the City Cemetery, and Historic Yates Mill County Park, with a water-powered gristmill. The North Carolina Museum of History or City of Raleigh Museum are two more great resources for learning more about the state’s history. (The North Carolina Museum of Natural History is another cultural favorite.) The city is also part of the “Triangle,” as it is home to the North Carolina State University, and forms a “research triangle” between Raleigh’s university, Duke University, and UNC Chapel Hill. If you decide to get a Raleigh dog boarder, you can explore more of indoors Raleigh. The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences is the largest museum of its kind in the Southeastern United States. You can see exhibits on North Carolina’s geology, wildlife, and dinosaurs. Another fun museum for kids is the Marble Kids Museum, a nonprofit museum with hands-on exhibits for toddlers and kids. Frankie’s Fun Park has go-karts, laser tag, batting cages, and bumper boats. The North Carolina Museum of Art has an extensive sculpture garden in the Museum, as well as art from around the world. Raleigh has many performing arts options as well, including the North Carolina Symphony, North Carolina Opera, Carolina Ballet, and North Carolina Theatre. This rich, historic capital city has plenty for dog owners, including over 200 pet-friendly restaurant choices. From dessert at Bruster’s Real Ice Cream, to burgers at Plates Neighborhood Kitchen, you have so many great options. Unique to the city is Woofinwaggle, a store where you can get your dog washed, host a dog party, or paint dog portraits. They even offer a human-canine fitness class for the more active dog owners. Since Raleigh has great hiking options, you can get all your gear at the dog-friendly Great Outdoor Provision Co., which sells sporting goods, hiking gear, and camping equipment. Raleigh also has six off-leash parks local favorites include Oakwood Dog Park, at 910 Brookside Drive, and Carolina Pines Dog Park, at 2305 Lake Wheeler Road.
