Dog Boarding San Marcos
Find a loving dog sitter to watch your dog overnight at your sitter's home.
Over 1,015 pet parents in San Marcos have booked dog boarding
San Marcos, 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%.
“It’s our first time with Erin, and won’t be our last hopefully. She took care of our little chunker like her own. She provided updates and sent photos, which we were so grateful for. There was a little mixed-up on our pick-up time but Erin was very flexible and she accommodated the last minute change. Thank you so much Erin, till the next time 🩷”
“Sana did a fantastic job taking care of my puppy. She kept me updated throughout the day with timely photos and messages, which gave me great peace of mind. My pup seemed happy, well-cared-for and very comfortable with Sana and her family . Highly recommended for reliability, communication, and genuine care.”
“Christopher was great with our dog Ollie!! He took him on multiple hikes and even to the Beach!! I think this was the first time we picked up Ollie and he was tired from all the exercise he got. Christopher sent us lots of pictures of their adventures and kept us up to date! Our flight got delayed, and Christopher was very understanding with our delayed pick up time. Overall a great experience for both Ollie and us!! Would highly recommend!!”
“Audra and Mark are amazing. They really came through for us/our pups with a last minute emergency. I am so happy to have found them on Rover and will absolutely ask Mark and Audra to watch our beagles again in the future. Not only did they help us out last minute (even prior to us meeting) but I could tell they really cared about our dogs. They sent pics and updates and when we picked Buddy and Bella up, Mark was so communicative about their visit. Our pups seemed very comfortable in their home. Highly recommend”
“Robert & Andrea were great with our ball of energy little pup! They were very easy to communicate with and even sent us an update picture during his stay. Our puppy seemed to really enjoy his time with them!”
“Do not hesitate to book with Diane! She is absolutely amazing. She consistently kept us updated with photos and status updates of our fur baby. Our dog is typically nervous around new people, but Honey Mei warmed up to her immediately. We would 100% recommend Diane!”
“Ana and Mark took great care of Cooper. From the initial communication and meet-and-greet to his overnight stay, Ana was organized, professional, and kind. She made sure she fully understood any special needs, dietary requirements, and other details about Cooper’s care. They also only accept one dog at a time which was important to us. Our little guy is almost 15 and has only stayed with a few people outside of family during that time, so we were understandably nervous. Ana and Mark quickly put us at ease with thoughtful updates and photos, reassuring us that Cooper was comfortable, happy, and in great hands. They also have a clean, peaceful home in a very safe neighborhood, which gave us even more peace of mind. Thank you both so much! We will absolutely use your services again in the future and highly recommend to other pet owners!”
“Yani and her family did a wonderful job taking care of Miso. They provided us with regular updates and pictures, as well as valuable feedback about how Miso was doing during his stay. They have a very nice front yard and backyard, which gives Spike (their dog) and Miso separate spaces in case they don’t get along, which I think is very thoughtful and smart. Miso seemed very happy and well taken care of throughout his stay. We felt very comfortable leaving him with Yani and her family and would definitely recommend them!”
“Claudia was so lovely! She was very accommodating to watch my dog last minute and was so warm and friendly! I felt she really treated my dog as her own, and from the pictures and videos she sent me I could tell that my Pookie was happy, safe, and loved. I can only recommend Claudia highly to anyone that is looking to have their dog being taken care of - she will love them as if they are her own! Thank you Claudia for taking care of Pookie and loving her everyday that she was with you ❤️”
“Evan was great! Our normal dog sitter cancelled right before our planned trip. In a frenzy, I came across the Rover app and gave it a try! Evan accepted our booking request even though we were booking at the very last minute! By last minute, I mean we dropped our dog, Jack, off at his house within 1/2 hour of booking! Evan and his family were very kind and our dog got on well with the other two dogs in the house. We received pictures and updates throughout the stay which made us feel better about leaving our pup with someone we didn’t know. I would book with Evan again!”
“Thank you Lucy for watching my two dogs over the holidays! We have two senior dogs on a raw diet and Lucy was very accommodating. Lucy showed up early for pick up and drop off, and provided daily updates/photos on how they were doing. Our two dogs had so much fun while away and we are so thankful to Lucy and her wonderful family!”
“Cherie took the best care of our dog during her 8 day stay. Cherie is very attentive and in tune to everything our dog needed. She provided updates throughout the week which we greatly appreciated. We could tell our dog was very comfortable and happy the entire time. We are so happy to have found Cherie. This is the first time we have had to use a dog sitter and the experience couldn’t have been better. We will definitely be using Cherie again in our future!”
“Brad and his wife are AMAZING. We went to 2 different places to do meet and greets before we found Brad and we saved the best for last. We are so picky about where we want to leave our dog bc we want to feel comfortable he is well taken care of and want him to be happy where he is at with someone who will love him the way we do. Brad and his wife were just that! They loved Cash like their own and they have a beautiful big property where there’s plenty of space for the dogs to run and play. They sent us photos where Cash genuinely looked happy and they were so accommodating with us picking him up at a late time. I would 10/10 leave Cash with them again in the future and would recommend the same to anyone!”
“Caleb was good with communication and actually picked up the phone and called, which I truly appreciated. My dog Jake was relaxed and happy when I got him back. Thank you for taking good care of him 🥰”
“Carol is one of the best sitters we’ve ever had! From our first message exchange, I knew I had found a reliable, trustworthy, and genuinely caring person to look after my girl. Carol’s communication throughout the entire stay was flawless. She kept me updated regularly with checkins and photos which gave me total peace of mind. It’s obvious how much she truly loves dogs; she made sure my pup was thoroughly exercised, given plenty of affection, and spoiled with treats! Knowing she was in such caring and capable hands allowed me to completely relax and enjoy my trip without a single worry. We are so thankful we found Carol! If you’re looking for a top-tier sitter who will treat your dog like family, book her immediately. We already have her booked again for two weeks from now and can’t recommend her more!”
“Karalin & her family are our go-to sitters for our dog Eevee. They keep her active during her visits and she is always so happy to see them 🤗 We had a recent week long trip out of state and always feel confident that she will be in great hands with this family ❤️”
“David was very communicative, friendly and a perfect fit for Fudge! His dog and Fudge got along very well and everything was very smooth. I will definitely be booking with David again!”
The median cost per night for dog boarding in San Marcos is $63
Dog parents share their Rover experiences - San Marcos
We’ve always been reluctant to leave our dog, Bella, without us but our wedding trip to Hawaii forced the need to find a sitter. Heather turned out to be an awesome choice. She and her husband are both dog lovers and we really appreciated the care they took of Bella. Their back yard was great and we really liked that the fact that they only sit for one dog at a time. She went on walks and we received pictures of her daily. Communication was also great. Really glad to now have a great sitter if we’re ever in need!
Annika is a fairy godmother. She cared for Pepe for a week and did above a beyond to keep him exercising. I got photo updates frequently of him at the hooman park, beach, doggy park. In addition, her pad is equipped with doggy lounging beds and beds plenty of space to roam around. Overall she provided Pepe and I great support; I deeply appreciate that. I will be booking with her again✿
Amber and Bradley took such good care of my Luna! They were attentive to her needs, dedicated to making her stay welcoming and comforting, and just genuinely nice people who obviously have a love for dogs. The whole process was super easy and they were completely reliable. They even made sure we did a meet and greet beforehand to make sure it was a good match and Luna felt comfortable. Could not recommend them enough!
We had such a great experience with Melissa. She took wonderful care of our boy and sent us updates and photos throughout the day, which was reassuring and made it easy to see that he was being well cared for and having a great time. He looked happy and comfortable in all of the photos, which really put our minds at ease. We would happily have her watch him again!
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 - San Marcos
Select a filter and find qualifying sitters offering dog boarding.Sitters in San Marcos average 10 repeat dog boarding clients
FAQs for Dog Boarding - San Marcos
Frequently asked questions about Rover
The average cost of Dog Boarding in San Marcos is $59 per night as of November 2026. Most bookings cost between $34 and $83 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 4,550 sitters on Rover offering Dog Boarding across San Marcos. 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.
96% of sitters in San Marcos 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 San Marcos 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 San Marcos.
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 San Marcos. On Rover:
- 88% of sitters can help with special care needs
- 94% can help with giving oral medications or injections
- 96% 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 San Marcos 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.
Connect anywhere with the Rover app
