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%.
“Wonderful sitter! Took great care of Scout and kept me updated with photos/videos. Scout went on fun hikes and looked so happy and well cared for the entire time. Highly recommend!”
“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!”
“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!”
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).
“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.”
“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!!”
“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.”
“Sylvia and her family took great care of our golden retriever Riley. Drop off and pick up was easy and accommodating around our schedule. They provided many pictures of their daily walks with other dogs, trips to the mill valley dog park, Riley swimming, and relaxing. Our dog is a girly girl and is also our shadow and I know Sylvia took great care of her and made her feel welcome.”
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.
“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!”
“This was our 7 month old puppy's first week away and she had the best time. Nadya was attentive and helped Winnie adjust to the other pups in the house. Nadya even walked Winnie and made sure she was enjoying her time. Nadya sent photos daily.”
“Sara was just wonderful with our little Chihuahua mix Toaster. She provided lots of pictures and updates, took him on many walks, and appreciated his affectionate Velcro-dog tendencies. I look forward to booking her again in the near future!”
“This was our first experience with Kevin and Rosa and we were nervous about our newly adopted puppy who had separation anxiety. It turns out that she had a wonderful time with Kevin and Rosa, who showered her with individual attention and she bonded with their big friendly other dog. Kevin and Rosa were responsible, kept in close touch, and we hope to work with them again.”
“Jaimi took amazing care of our dog, Maizie. She and her loved ones treated Maizie as a member of their family and the frequent photo updates were a delight. Knowing that Maizie was so well cared for made our travel worry-free. We highly recommend Jaimi and have already made arrangements to have Maizie stay with her again.”
About: I have a broad range of experience caring for various kinds of animals. I grew up with our own dogs and cats, horses, and sheep, but also raised pigs in 4-H. Additionally, I’ve taken care of others horses, cats, and cows! I have cared for both young and senior animals, and can give injections or medications if needed. I’m a young professional, new to the area and wanted to start on Rover while I am searching for a local full-time job. Currently I am available during daytime and evening hours to care for your pets. I am currently unable to care for dogs in my own home, but I am able to come to your house and ensure a safe and fun environment, or take your dog out for a walk and make sure they have a great and safe experience!
About: Warm dog mom to a 13-year-old dachshund! I provide a structured, fun, and cozy environment with potty breaks every two hours and plenty of walks I'm home full time as I transition to my next job in the Bay Area. I can help with overnight stays, walks and general dog care! In my home, I provide a structured, cozy, and safe environment for pets. I have a small patio with no escape route, ensuring a secure outdoor space. When walking dogs, I’m highly aware of my surroundings to keep them protected at all times. I do not crate my own dog, but I’m happy to do so if that’s your preference. Every pup in my care receives the same love and attention my dog gets, regular potty breaks, and plenty of blankets to make them feel at home!
“First time experience with this sweet family dog-sitting for me. They went above & beyond to ensure a good experience for both my dog and me. We had our dogs pre-meet at a park a week before, they made drop-off-pick-up easy, and gave my pup lots of love & walks. They were great communicators throughout. Highly recommended!”
“Matt was patient and gentle with my senior dog, which was greatly appreciated. He kept in touch, was responsive and carried out my sleepy dog when I came to pick him up. I would definitely book Matt again!”
The median cost per night for dog boarding in San Rafael is $75
Dog parents share their Rover experiences - San Rafael
Mila took care of George with a tremendous amount of care and attention!! Our little guy almost didnt want to leave her behind when she dropped him off, which shows how comfortable he was with her. He came back in a great mood and very healthy, so we will work with her again, when needed.
Stephanie did an amazing job taking care of our little guy, George. She made sure he was eating on time and walked him as needed. He came home with a few more pounds, which is excellent, since is a picky little eater, so that was magical and excellent! We highly recommend her services, and we will be back for more!
Andrew took incredible care of Luna! Throughout my multi day trip he made sure I felt reassured, sending photos, videos of Luna (active GSP) on tons of hikes and walks. He even went out of his way on July 4th to make sure she wasn’t frightened by any fireworks, gave her medicine, and I really couldn’t have asked for more. She came back so tired and happy I’m very grateful.
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!
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 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!
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?
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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.
Meet local sitters who will treat your dogs like family
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Popular requests for dog boarding - San Rafael
Select a filter and find qualifying sitters offering dog boarding.Sitters in San Rafael average 10 repeat dog boarding clients
FAQs for 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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