The Top 5 Best Boarding Options for Your Pet

Janelle Leeson

Updated Jun. 24, 2024

A dog walks with a boarding kennel employee.

M_a_y_a/E+ via Getty Images

What Is Pet Boarding?

The idea behind pet boarding is that your pet has a safe and comfortable place to stay when you’re away.

Boarding services for pets have long been available to traveling pet parents, but there are more options today than there were previously.

Kennels, in-home pet boarding, and even cat-only boarding facilities offer tailored around-the-clock care.

While there are many perks to boarding, only 16% of dog parents who travel two nights or more opt to board their dogs and 6% of cat parents do the same for their cats, according to the 2018–2024 pet stats compiled by the American Pet Products Association (APPA).

That’s because for both cats and dogs, many pet parents say family and friends are their go-to sitters.

Top 5 Best Boarding Options for Your Pet

1. Pet Kennels

Pet kennels keep pets in individual runs or enclosures, grouped by size and personality.

These enclosures are usually chain-link fencing with a solid floor, often concrete. Beyond basic care like mealtimes and cleaning, kennels can include daily walks and playtime in their services.

Many kennels offer grooming for an extra fee. Kennels may require a temperament test before your pet’s first stay.

Benefits of pet kennels include:

Budget-friendly: With less emphasis on the facility’s appearance and extra services, kennels can be an affordable boarding choice.
A consistent schedule: Many kennels have a schedule for feeding, playtime, and walks. While it might not be customized to your schedule at home, it provides a routine that can reduce anxiety.
Convenient services: For an added fee, pet parents can often add grooming before their pet comes home.
Trained staff: Kennels are staffed with people experienced in caring for pets. They can provide basic care like feeding, cleaning, and giving medication.
Animal facility licenses: States have specific licenses for businesses that house and care for animals, including kennels. Many of these licenses require an annual inspection to ensure the space is safe for pets and humans.
Suitable for many pet types: While dogs and cats are the most common pets to board at kennels, some facilities take horses, birds, and even exotic pets like reptiles.

Considerations:

Limited socialization: While your dog may interact with many caretakers and perhaps other dogs, activities and socialization are typically more limited than other boarding options, such as at a pet resort or hotel.
Lacks personalized care: There are usually multiple staff members caring for pets rather than one specific caretaker. Pets with separation anxiety may prefer a familiar face.
Limited space: This can be a stressful change for pets who enjoy free roam of the house or yard.
Risk of illness: Close quarters means more risk of contagious illnesses. Vaccinations against kennel cough and canine flu can help stop the spread and reduce the severity of illness, says David Israel, veterinarian and medical director of Veterinary Emergency Group in Denver.
Communication: Daily updates are not always included.

2. Pet Daycare

Pet daycares offer daytime care and supervision. They may have fixed drop-off and pickup times and may require a temperament test before your pet’s first visit.

Benefits of pet daycare include:

Lots of socialization: Daycare allows pets to interact with a variety of caregivers and fellow furry friends throughout the day. For those who enjoy social settings, this environment helps them get their fill of playtime and companionship—you’ll get a worn-out pup at pickup time.
Flexibility for shorter stays: Daycare is typically used for shorter times, like long workdays. Pet parents can build a recurring schedule or drop in as needed.
Animal facility licenses: They must meet specific standards for cleanliness and animal welfare.

Considerations:

May not offer overnight stays: They may be daytime facilities only.
Overstimulating: Some dogs may find that the social setting is too overwhelming.
Risk of illness: Having many pets in close quarters increases the risk for contagious illnesses.
Not suitable for cats: Pet daycares are typically only available for dogs.

3. In-Home Pet Boarding

In-home pet boarding offers a cozy alternative to boarding facilities. While it may lack the structured schedule of a facility, your pet gets personalized attention and care in a home.

Benefits of in-home pet boarding include:

Personalized care: Your pet will have a specific caregiver who can tailor their routine and attention to the pet’s needs. This may be ideal for pets with anxiety or special needs.
Comfortable environment: The familiar setting of a home can lower stress in pets who are easily overwhelmed by new places.
Solo stays or small groups: In most cases, your pet will be the only guest at the boarder's home, unless otherwise discussed and agreed upon. This minimizes exposure to illnesses and unfamiliar animals, which can be especially helpful for cats or timid pets.
Flexibility and last-minute scheduling: In-home boarding may offer more flexibility in scheduling, and some may even be booked via online applications. Typically, in-home boarding options don’t require pre-boarding temperament tests.
Communication: You can often ask to get daily updates and photos of your pet.
Affordability: It may be more affordable than boarding your pet at a facility.

Considerations:

Lack of regulations: Many in-home boarding options are exempt from state licensing requirements for animal facilities. This means they’re typically not inspected for cleanliness and safety.

May lack qualifications: While in-home boarders might be compassionate animal lovers, they may not have the same level of formal training as boarding facility staff.

4. Pet Hotels and Resorts

Boarding your pet at a hotel or resort is often the most expensive boarding option because of all the amenities offered.

Pet hotels and resorts, as the name implies, may have spacious enclosures that feel more like suites than kennels.

They offer plenty of activities to keep your pet busy, like outdoor turfs and swimming areas. Pet resorts and hotels may require a temperament test before your pet’s first stay.

Benefits of pet hotels and resorts include:

A consistent schedule with upgrades: Pet resorts and hotels keep a schedule for feeding, playtime, and walks. You may also have the option of adding extra pampering and playtime to your pet’s boarding package, including upgrading their bedding and treat options. Other facilities offer special care packages for seniors and young animals.
Lots of socialization and/or engaging solo play areas: Whether your pet is a social butterfly or prefers solo play, pet resorts and hotels have several amenities. This could include swimming pools, agility courses, and group play sessions with compatible companions. Some resorts and hotels may even offer personalized obedience training for an extra fee.
Communication: Pet parents often get daily reports on their pet's activities, appetite, and overall well-being. Optional in-room webcams may be available for a fee.
Animal facility licenses: They must meet specific standards for cleanliness and animal welfare.
Trained staff: Pet resorts and hotels are staffed with experienced caregivers who can give basic care and do specialized tasks, such as giving medication, grooming, and training.

Boarding your pet at a hotel or resort is often the most expensive boarding option because of all the amenities offered. Pet hotels and resorts, as the name implies, may have spacious enclosures that feel more like suites than kennels.

Considerations:

Expensive: The luxury of a pet hotel or resort comes at a premium. Pet resorts are generally the most expensive option for boarding.
Risk of illness: Pets in close quarters have more risk for contagious illnesses.

5. Veterinary Facilities

Choosing to board your pet at a veterinarian’s office can be your best bet when your pet needs specialized care.

Benefits of veterinary facility boarding include:

Specialized medicine administration: Trained veterinary staff can give any medications your pet needs, including injections such as insulin.
Immediate veterinary care: If your pet has an unexpected illness or emergency during their stay, a veterinarian is readily available to give immediate medical attention. This may be especially important for pets with ongoing health conditions.
Familiar caregivers and environment: For some pets, the familiar sights and smells of their vet's office can be less stressful than a new place.

Considerations:

Limited space and amenities: Veterinary clinics often offer a more basic kennel environment with limited space.
Limited socialization: Activities and socialization are typically more limited than other boarding options.
Potential cost: Boarding at a vet's office can be more expensive, depending on your pet's needs.

How Do I Find the Best Boarding Option for My Pet?

Weigh the pros and cons of each option and consider your pet’s personality and needs as well as your budget.

Then, ask the questions that are most important to you, such as:

Can I tour the facility before boarding my pet?
What experience in caring for pets does the staff have? If my pet has special needs, have staff cared for similar pets before?
Will staff be available 24/7, and what emergency veterinary procedures does the facility follow?

What’s the schedule for feeding, playtime, and potty breaks?
Verify the facility has the necessary licenses and insurance for running a pet boarding business.

Should I Bring My Pet Along Instead of Boarding Them?

Traveling with your pet can be a fun adventure, and according to the APPA, nearly half of dog parents choose to hit the road with their pups. But you’ll want to consider your pet's personality, travel logistics, and whether your destination is pet-friendly before deciding.

Leaving your pet behind isn’t easy, but knowing they’re well taken care of can quickly ease any worries.