Dog Boarding San Rafael
Find a loving dog sitter to watch your dog overnight at your sitter's home.
Over 425 pet parents in San Rafael have booked dog boarding
San Rafael, 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%.
“We were worried that our Mimi would be very anxious away from us - but she fit right in to Deborah’s home and we were able to enjoy our time away knowing she was truly cared for. Deborah was great at communication too and seeing Mimi’s smiles in the pictures was wonderful. Definitely will ask Deborah again if the need arises. Thank you!”
“Lori is the most compassionate and caring dog sitter I’ve ever met. My dog was injured while I was out of town, and she picked up and took care of my dog with such kindness and compassion. She communicated with me all throughout the day and night until I was able to make it back home. Ziggy & I are so grateful for her. I couldn’t recommend a sitter more!!! She’s amazing!!!”
“We were very happy with the care our dog received. Mila was communicative, attentive to our instructions, and clearly took great care of our dog while we were away. It gave us real peace of mind knowing everything was being handled so well. We’re grateful to have found someone we can trust and would gladly book with her again.”
“Thank you Bianca! Bianca took wonderful care of Kuma and we appreciate her excellent communication and flexibility. We would absolutely ask Bianca to dog sit again. Thank you!!”
“Nadya was amazing with Bowie! She sent photos and videos, her space was beautiful with a big yard and comfortable indoor area and was so flexible with drop off and pick up. We will without a doubt have Nadya watch Bowie again.”
“Lillie was wonderful, and I would highly recommend her! It was our first time leaving Bear with her- she sent lots of photos and videos which gave us peace of mind. Bear has issues with anxiety but came home a very happy boy! Thank you Lillie!”
“Emily was awesome with my slightly anxious rescue dog. Sent updates, very responsive, and flexible about drop off and pick up times. Much appreciate the care she gave my little doggo over the course of a weekend and always felt she was in safe hands.”
“Kyle and her roommate were wonderful hosts to my pup over the holiday weekend! Desi was sick and generally uneasy the first day or so and Kyle was so sweet about taking care of Desi and keeping me in the loop. Thanks for a great stay, Kyle!”
“Drake had such a wonderful time with Tula. I loved the updates throughout his stay, which gave me comfort knowing he settled in ok and was having a good time. Would definitely recommend her to anyone needing their dog watched, especially since Drake can be reactive to strangers and other dogs. She was very understanding and handled him with a ton of care.”
“Christian was great taking care of our little Fig. He was very prompt at responding to our last-minute request and was a good communicator overall. It sounds like he has a lot of experience taking care of a variety of breeds. We will definitely be using Christian again!”
About: I grew up with dogs and I’ve been a dog owner most of my adult life. I’ve also been a dog owner from the puppy age of eight weeks all the way through mature life. I can take care of other pets as well, and I can be available for dog boarding, dog sitting, dog walks, and other pet care during your weekends and travels. I am a part-time parent and establishing this as additional income since I am a single income household in Marin county. I am available for dog walking and boarding on alternating weekends, and during periods of your travels when I am in town. I am an outdoors woman, and will get pets outside and active regularly. I know several local dog parks and dog-friendly trails since I’ve been a dog owner myself for years (I no longer have a dog as of early 2025). I have a fenced front and backyard. I can house a pet with all of your personal items for the pet anywhere in my home, and I can provide highly personalized care since I live alone (part time parent with alternating weekends on my own).
“Mary is kind, compassionate, and extremely attentive to the dogs that she cares for. We were a bit nervous to leave our two rescue dogs for 10 days for the first time, but Mary handled them with grace and ease, and took extremely good care of them. The dogs had so much fun and we could tell they were thoroughly enjoying themselves from the daily photographs that she sent. She followed all of our care directions and medication instructions wonderfully and was highly communicative throughout the stay. I can’t recommend Mary enough! She really is the best of the best of dog sitters.”
“Second experience with Ellen was as good as the first. Our Betsy goes to her eagerly and comes home happy and tired. In between, fun! As demonstrated by pictures and video. Thanks Ellen!”
“Abby seemed to have a wonderful time! Carla was very communicative, worked with us on our timing, and shared lots of sweet photos. We will definitely be happy to work with her again!”
“Daisy had a great time with Jessica! We got lots of photos, and we knew she was being looked after really well. With some other stays, Daisy had been muted and sad afterwards, so we always worried about how she'd been treated. However, with Jessica, Daisy was her normal self, so we're really happy. On the way back our flight was cancelled, and Jessica was very understanding and flexible, it really made our stressful experience better. Thank you so much!!”
About: Hello! I have cared for animals of every kind since I was able to hold a leash, brush a cat, and collect chicken eggs. I'm a Mill Valley mom, educator, and current owner of two sweet Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. I have owned cats, dogs, chickens, rodents and birds. I keep bees as an active beekeeper. I am experienced with medically fragile animals and am comfortable giving all meds, including subcutaneous fluids. I have fostered for years with Marin Humane and Milo as well as professionally pet sitting through Trusted House Sitters and Home Exchange in addition to Rover. My home is warm, safe, child and animal friendly. My yard is fenced and my children (ages 8 and 14) love share in the caring of animals. We all care deeply about animals and will give yours all the love they need. We would love to have your dogs join our pack for awhile! I am an educator and off for the summer. I have plenty of time to care for your pets along with my own. My kids and I stay local and have adventures and relaxing downtime all summer long. I have a large, fenced yard that includes hill side. My house is warm, cozy, pet and kid friendly. My dogs sleep on my bed and I'm fine if yours want to also. We love neighborhood walks and throwing balls in the backyard.
“Our Bernedoodle Wilbur had a wonderful time staying the night with Marisa and her sweet family. Marisa was loving and kind with Wilbur, giving me updates on how he was doing and his eating. We will definitely ask Marisa again to care for Wilbur. We highly recommend!”
About: I'm the friend who everyone asks to take care of their dog (including senior dogs). I love our furry friends—and appreciate every families trust. I raised a Bichon puppy and later cared for her as a 12 year old senior dog. I have fostered and helped to train 4 rescue dogs through the Milo Foundation and frequently pop by to volunteer walk Milo dogs. I am an executive who works from home so I am at the dog's side non-stop and have the flexibility to take several walks a day. I'm also a 5 minute drive to Blackie's Pasture for longer walks. I have a super clean home. The dogs are allowed everywhere. I have a very clean, safe home. I also have access to popular dog parks/walks. I pay close attention to dietary restrictions, etc. And when it comes to passing another dog on leash I always ask if the dog is friendly. I'm a mom to an 11 year old—I care for dogs like they are kiddos.
The median cost per night for dog boarding in San Rafael is $75
Dog parents share their Rover experiences - San Rafael
Jennifer was an amazing sitter! She communicated with us throughout Murphy’s stay and went above and beyond. It was clear she genuinely cared about him and made sure he was well looked after. We felt completely at ease knowing he was in such good hands. We will absolutely be booking with Jennifer again in the future!
I’m so glad I found Veronica! My puppy Gilligan had a wonderful time bunking with her and her pup Bowie. Some might consider me an overprotective pet parent. I don’t trust many people with my animals. So it’s such a relief to find somebody who’s knowledgeable about dogs and who took such great care of my three month old puppy. As we know, puppies can be a handful. I also appreciated all of the photos that she sent! I highly recommend!
Nahir & Mitchell looked after our dog Lilly for three weeks while we were away. She had only met them once but from the beginning we could tell she felt comfortable with them. We received daily updates and photographs from them which was comforting, especially as she is an older dog and can be anxious. Lilly has adjusted well to being back home and we attribute this to the good care she had while we were gone. We highly recommend Nahir & Mitchell for pet care. We would happily leave her with them again.
Deborah was fantastic! She was nice enough to accommodate us same day and could not have been nicer. We could tell instantly when we arrived that she was going to take great care of our dog Otto. She took him on walks, took him to the beach, sent lots of great photos, and even bought him some pup cups! Her children were also absolutely lovely and obviously made Otto feel comfortable and welcome. Highly recommend using Deborah services! You cannot go wrong!
We were very happy with the care our dog received. Mila was communicative, attentive to our instructions, and clearly took great care of our dog while we were away. It gave us real peace of mind knowing everything was being handled so well. We’re grateful to have found someone we can trust and would gladly book with her again.
We trust Emily with kid Javier when we need to go out of town and have been so happy to know that he is in such good hands. Emily makes sure Javier gets exercise, takes him for walks, hikes and gives him plenty of snuggle time! We love getting photo updates and will definitely keep taking him to her.
Drake had such a wonderful time with Tula. I loved the updates throughout his stay, which gave me comfort knowing he settled in ok and was having a good time. Would definitely recommend her to anyone needing their dog watched, especially since Drake can be reactive to strangers and other dogs. She was very understanding and handled him with a ton of care.
Christian was great taking care of our little Fig. He was very prompt at responding to our last-minute request and was a good communicator overall. It sounds like he has a lot of experience taking care of a variety of breeds. We will definitely be using Christian again!
Jaimi was exceptional! Having just rolled into town from out of state and posting my dogsitting need on Rover on short notice, Jaimi was quick to provide a friendly response as well as to answer my rapid fire questions, offering a meet and greet with she and her cute and well-behaved dog, Ollie. My dog (whom I rarely place into a stranger’s care) has a history of seizures and is need of routine pill administration and careful oversight. Jaimi was super attentive and followed my protocol to a “t”. My dog loved her, Ollie and the family, as did I. I will use her again in an instant and refer her to my friends and family.
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!
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 Rover works
1. Search
Browse profiles of sitters near you who offer dog boarding
2. Meet & Greet
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 near you
Select a filter and find qualifying San Rafael sitters!Sitters in San Rafael average 10 repeat dog boarding clients
FAQs for Dog Boarding - San Rafael
Frequently asked questions about Rover
The average cost for Dog Boarding in San Rafael on Rover is $58.83 per night (as of July 2026). However, all sitters set their own rates based on experience, location, and availability.
Rover makes budgeting the cost of Dog Boarding easy. As long as your dates and pet profiles are correct, the price you see before you book is the same price you pay for Dog Boarding. For more information on service fees, click here .
As of July 2026, there are 4,654 sitters on Rover offering Dog Boarding across San Rafael. Enter your ZIP code to see which available sitters are closest to your home.
Every sitter on Rover has their own rhythm and routine, but most will follow the flow that keeps your dog happiest. Sitters can give meals on your dog's regular schedule, provide a comfortable place for sleep, and plenty of one-on-one attention.
93% of San Rafael sitters also include daily walks in the neighborhood during dog boarding stays. You can also request photo and message updates throughout the stay so you can see which San Rafael landmarks or neighborhoods your dog is enjoying.
If your dog is a little shy, consider booking a one-night trial stay! This practice run can boost your and your dog’s confidence before your trip.
Preparing for drop-off is easy when you have a checklist! To help your dog settle into their San Rafael 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 Rafael.
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.
You and your San Rafael 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.
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