Dog Boarding Santa Cruz
Find a loving dog sitter to watch your dog overnight at your sitter's home.
Over 691 pet parents in Santa Cruz have booked dog boarding
Santa Cruz, 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%.
“Yajaira did a great job watching my 11mo old Pomeranian! She kept me updated and sent pics and a video of her playing with her dog! So cute! I will definitely use her again when I’m in town for a visit!”
“We arrived for a trip to Santa Cruz and found out our Roz was not allowed at the hotel due to her size. We started searching local pet hospitals, dog walkers, boarding facilities and the only place that could take her was all the way back in Santa Clara. As a last resort we checked Rover and Meghan came through for us. In the end Roz probably had as much fun as we did with her new friends during our weekend in Santa Cruz. Thanks Meghan!”
“Susie was very informative, responsive and kind. She sent lots of pictures and updates which helped feeling comfortable with a new sitter for my grandpup. Milo was very well taken care of and we already have her booked for upcoming dates. I strongly recommend her to sit, walk or care for your pet.”
About: I've had dogs for over 10 years and have taken care of dogs and cats with all sorts of needs/medical care such as diabetic, arthritic and eye-sight impaired animals. I trained both of my dogs in agility and behavior classes so I have experience with training and extended behaviors. I volunteer at the Santa Cruz Animal Shelter and have taken multiple classes on dog behavior and dog walking safety. I am currently a UC Santa Cruz student but my schedule is fairly flexible since I commute/live off campus. Currently I only have one class per day, Monday through Friday so I can be present to provide majority of the care with minimal outings. I always ask clients about their yard and preferences for their animals safety in the yard especially at night. Depending on their circumstances, I will scan the yard for any unusual activity and safety concerns. As well as always being in close proximity when the dog wants to go in the front/backyard.
“Hannah was amazing. She was able to accommodate us last minute for a holiday weekend. She sent us updates along with videos of Archer doing all his favorite activities. We know he was in great hands and will definitely call her for any future needs”
“Bianca was super flexible and patience with my dogs. We had two dogs that don’t get along well with one another and she graciously was willing to host both dogs. The dogs came back happy and slept as soon as they came home! My dogs have never been officially dog sat before so she made us feel comfortable and at ease while she was dog sitting. Highly recommend booking with her!”
“Blueberry had a fantastic time with Valentina and her family. Valentina understood the personality of Blueberry and customized the care during the stay to accommodate him. Very happy with the stay.”
About: I’ve taken care of many dogs, including my own. I am looking forward to bonding with my neighborhood animals. I love to go on long walks I work from home part-time and have plenty of time to give your animal the love and attention they need. I frequently go for a long walk and would love to be accompanied by a pet. I have a very animal, friendly home and happy to crate them if needed as well. I would love to spend most of the time outdoors with the pet going on long walks.
“Consistently awesome 👏 wonderful and caring with my birdie, giving her all the special attention and love 🦜 😍 giving her play and cuddle time, feeding her veggies and sending cute videos. I feel that my Ruby is in safe and good hands. I can go out of town in peace ✌🏼”
“My Dog has a great time with Ariel and I have peace of mind when she stays with her. It was great that Ariel also was able to pick her up this time when I wasn’t home. Nice flexibility!”
“My 6 year old pug, Liam had a blast staying with Ashley for a long weekend! He was very well taken care of, and Ashley was super available while I was gone to answer text messages about how he was doing. Her experience working in a veterinary setting eased my mind about potential emergencies. I will definitely rebook with her in the future!”
“Marta took wonderful care of our dog while we were out of the country for one week. He experienced a health issue when we were away, and Marta handled it with careful attention. She worked hard to make sure our boy was comfortable and at ease. She administered medication with confidence and communicated clearly with us as to how he was doing each day. I am thankful that we found Marta and recommend her to anyone looking for a capable, kind, dog-loving caretaker.”
“Lauren was great! She was flexible, communicative, and went out of her way to help us out by picking Bodhi up from our house. Will definitely reach out again next time we go out of town!”
“Bhumi was graciously willing to accommodate a last-minute booking which made our trip possible! She was easy to work with, responsive, and took good care of my senior pup :)”
About: I've owned dogs since childhood, often multiples at a time, and I've done dog sitting for friends and a few clients, so I'm comfortable with everything from mellow seniors to a livelier small pack. I know how to read dog body language and moods, which comes from decades of hands-on experience. I'm a former teacher with 20+ years working with kids and teens, and I now run my own coaching practice. That background makes me patient, attentive, and calm even when things get chaotic. I work from home, so pet care fits naturally into my day rather than being squeezed in around it. On weekday mornings I usually head out for a short hike, so dogs get that outdoor time built right into the start of the day. Beyond that, they're checked on frequently and spend time with me throughout the day; whether I'm at my desk or tending the garden. Evenings and weekends tend to be even more hands-on, with more outside time and trail walks nearby if it's a good fit for the dog. Dogs in my care stay on our fully fenced 1+ acre property in the Santa Cruz Mountains (Bonny Doon), so there's plenty of secure space to roam and play without being near roads. We have our own friendly dog, plus two indoor/outdoor cats, so dogs need to be comfortable around other animals. Crating is available if that's part of your dog's routine or preferred by you. Just let me know and I'll set it up accordingly. I keep a close eye on food, water, and any specific routines or instructions owners share with me, and I'm comfortable handling medications or special needs if discussed in advance.
“It was SO wonderful to finally enjoy our first vacation in a long time without having to worry about our babies! ❤️ We came home to happy, well-loved dogs, and they even got the fun new experience of socializing with Liseth’s dogs—which they absolutely loved! Liseth was incredibly loving, caring, attentive, and wonderful with them. It was such a relief knowing they were in such good hands while we were away. We couldn’t have asked for a better experience! I will absolutely bring my babies back to Liseth again—and again—if she’ll have us! 🐾❤️ We feel so lucky to have found her!”
“Our pup jeeva had a wonderful time. He spent 4 days with Juliana and she sent us regular updates with pictures and videos. He got lot of walks and plays. He enjoyed his stay. Thank you Juliana”
The median cost per night for dog boarding in Santa Cruz is $71
Dog parents share their Rover experiences - Santa Cruz
Teresa took care of my dog at her home for 10 days. Before booking, we had an excellent meet and greet. Teresa knows how to train and manage dogs, and also knows how to keep a dog entertained! She sent photos of my dog having a great time! My dog was well cared for while I was on vacation. Thank you for taking care of her.
Susie did a great job welcoming my dog Suki at her home and making her feel at ease. She kept me posted about how things were going while I was away including photos. Suki enjoyed walks several times a day, meeting the neighbors and even rides on the SC Harbor water taxi! I recommend Susie to others looking for a pet-sitter for their dog.
Alice & Thiago were incredible with our dog Akela. This was our first time with them and they made us feel so comfortable leaving Akela and throughout the weekend. Alice sent photos/updates daily and I’m so grateful for how much they seemed to care about our babe. We will 100% be working with them again!!
Nancy and Lance are the kindest sweetest people. My little dog Clover looks foward to her stay and always has so much fun playing with their dogs Lucy and Phoebe. Nancy is always quick to respond, sends pics/video, and treats Clover as her own. I'm lucky to have them as our dog sitters. Thank you Nancy and Lance!
Evelyn was phenomenal! This is the first time I left my puppy with someone outside our family and I was very nervous. From the beginning Evelyn made me feel so secure that our pup would be in good, caring hands. Throughout our trip we received regular updates and it allowed us to relax and enjoy our vacation knowing that everything was okay. I cannot recommend Evelyn enough! Thank you for everything!!!
Britt took such great care of Bailey during his stay! He made sure Bailey got plenty of playtime, took him on some great walks, and, most importantly, gave him lots of love and cuddles while we were away. It gave us so much peace of mind knowing he was in such good hands. We would absolutely book with Britt again and highly recommend him to anyone looking for boarding!
This was our first time booking with Arielle, and we would do so again! She made sure to exercise our dog every day whether through beach runs or going to the park, and sent us daily pictures and updates which we really appreciated! Kola clearly loves her and we are so thankful.
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 - Santa Cruz
Select a filter and find qualifying sitters offering dog boarding.Sitters in Santa Cruz average 10 repeat dog boarding clients
FAQs for Dog Boarding - Santa Cruz
Frequently asked questions about Rover
The average cost of Dog Boarding in Santa Cruz is $59 per night as of October 2026. Most bookings cost between $35 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 October 2026, there are 2,261 sitters on Rover offering Dog Boarding across Santa Cruz. Enter your ZIP code to see which available sitters are closest to your home.
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.
92% of sitters in Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz.
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 Santa Cruz 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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