Dog Boarding Santa Cruz
Find a loving dog sitter to watch your dog overnight at your sitter's home.
Santa Cruz, Find top rated dog boarding
“Dawn once again took great care of our dog, Sevi, while we were visiting Santa Fe a second time. Sevi is a sensitive shepherd mix, and she gave Dawn a thumbs up! Dawn was communicative and responsible.”
“I left my pup Akasha for 2 nights of boarding and she was in the best hands with Elthea, Joshua and their pack! They had great communication and sent lots of updates. Genuine dog people/lovers. Highly recommend!!”
“Jess did such a great job watching our little Megan. She made me feel comfortable right away and my dog seemed just like herself when we went and picked her up. I got pictures and videos throughout the weekend, and communication was always fast. Would definitely book again!”
“Christopher was a very reliable sitter who communicated clearly and definitely has a lot of experience! Our pup loved boarding with Christopher and we loved knowing that she was safe and happy!”
“Stephanie has a wonderfully large space for dogs to play outdoors and get plenty of exercise. One of our pets was recovering from an unexpected illness and needed medications and some very specific feeding instructions which was managed very diligently. We are very happy with the care our dogs received here.”
“Angel was an amazing dog sitter she always kept me informed of how she was doing and made the process so easy for me to be away from my baby. She has a such a comforting home that welcomed my little Pita, as soon as I dropped her off she was excited to be there. I will definitely be coming back with Angel!”
“Jessica has been an absolute lifesaver for our family! We've trusted her multiple times with our four dogs, two of whom have specific medical needs, and she handles everything flawlessly. She’s incredibly attentive, reliable, and caring—our dogs adore her! Administering meds is never a problem for Jessica, and we feel completely at ease knowing they're in her capable hands. We couldn’t recommend her more for anyone needing a responsible and compassionate sitter!”
“Violeta was perfect. Can tell she really loves dogs and really cares about them. She watched my dog for nearly 3 weeks. Sent pix and notes. I can’t say enough good things. She’s a great person that really cares about animals. ?”
“David is a true dog lover. Our two pups quickly bonded with him and his mellow dog, Sprex, who provided great companionship both at home sleeping on David’s bed and walking on leash with the “pack” in nearby parks. We definitely will use David (and Sprex) again.”
“Christina did a great job with our pup. She was extremely communicative and allowed my girlfriend and I to enjoy a day trip to the caverns/Guadalupe mountains with ease of mind.”
“Ari had probably his best stay ever with a sitter at Cressendra's. He was welcomed and understood and photographed (*great* photos!) and - although often skittish with other dogs - was exuberantly engaged with Amigo from the beginning. Cress is communicative, flexible, truly cares about the dogs, 'gets' them. A great photographer. A stellar person. Will definitely leave Ari with her again if she will have him!”
“Good communication, smooth drop off and pick up, reasonable rate. Was very welcoming to Nala and made her comfortable with other dogs Will see her in our future trips through Sante Fe”
“Mel was amazing with my dog and I’m so grateful. I will be a returning client for sure! So happy with my first time getting a dog sitter. I felt at ease and my dog was so loved. Thank you!!”
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.FAQs for Dog Boarding - Santa Cruz
Frequently asked questions about Rover
Rover is the largest marketplace for local pet care. Whether you're looking for pet sitters, dog walkers, or house sitters who specialize in pet sitting, you can narrow your search by entering your ZIP code to find sitters within walking distance in your neighborhood.
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.
Depending on the sitter, their home environment, and your dog’s needs, daily exercise 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, 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 , 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 .
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 NM 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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