Dog boarding vs kennels

If you’re a loving pet parent and about to go on a holiday on which you can’t bring your four-legged buddy, chances are you’re a little worried about who’s gonna take care of them while you’re away, especially if you don’t want to ask friends or family to take them in for a few days. And of course you’ll not only want them to be safe while you’re off having fun but to have a good time, too. So, what to do?

Two of the most common options of where to house your fur baby during your trip are dog boarding and boarding kennels, or simply kennels. But what’s the difference? And what’s better? Are there any dog boarding alternatives? Read on and find out!

Dog boarding vs kennels, what is the difference?

The main difference between dog boarding and dog kennels lies in the scope of the service you and your precious pooch can expect.

Dog kennels (or dog boarding kennels) are the most basic version of a dog holiday shelter. Although the people working at dog kennels will usually treat your dog with care and there are also luxury dog boarding kennels that offer nicer dog beds, better food options and more, the only things usually included in the service are food, water, medical care (giving your dog its regular meds, etc.) and a safe, warm place to sleep. Dog kennels usually do not include long walks with your four-legged friend, playtime or any other extra entertainment.

Dog boarding, on the other hand, is like a fun hotel for your doggo. Besides everything a dog kennel offers, dog boarding usually also includes various cool activities for your dog, from playtime to walks in the park, socializing with other dogs and more. Some dog boarding companies also offer luxury add-ons, like special food choices or grooming sessions.

An even more comfortable dog boarding option for your puppy is home boarding. Home boarding means that instead of you bringing your dog to the dog boarding shelter, a professional pet-loving sitter will come to your place and take care of your fur baby right in their own home. Home boarding also includes a lot of fun cuddle and playtime, regular walks and everything else your pooch could wish for. It also means your pet’s routine won’t be disrupted while you’re away.

Pros and cons of boarding kennels

Now that you know what’s out there, let’s take a look at the respective pros and cons.

Your first option, as mentioned above, are boarding kennels. Housing your dog at a boarding kennel means you can start your trip knowing that your pupper will have all the basics it needs: food, water, a warm place to sleep and people ready to help in any kind of emergency. What dog kennels don’t do, however, is employ designated staff who will keep your dog busy and entertained while you’re gone – there usually isn’t much (if any) playtime and walks are mostly kept to the necessary minimum.

All that means that, even though your dog will have a nice, warm place to stay and won’t go hungry or thirsty, it won’t have much fun there and will spend most of its stay missing you a lot. The upside is that dog kennels usually don’t cost too much, so they could be an affordable option for short stays of only one or two nights at the most. Dog boarding options or luxury dog boarding kennels near you could also be an option, particularly for longer trips.

Pros and cons of home-boarding a dog

At the other end of the dog housing spectrum are home-boarding options. Home-boarding is the crème de la crème of dog boarding, not only making sure your four-legged buddy has everything it needs but also that your holiday is as fun and relaxing for your fur baby as it is for you – or even more so!

Home-boarding sitters, such as the pet-loving sitters you’ll find among our TrustedHousesitters’ members, will come to your home, stay with your pooch, and lovingly take care of them just like you would. There’ll be long walks outdoors, a lot of playtime, cuddles – if your pupper is so inclined –, yummy food and not a single minute of loneliness or boredom. Since the sitter and your dog will be staying at your house or flat, your pup will also spend your entire trip in familiar surroundings, where it feels safest. In other words: If you choose home-boarding for your dog, they might even wish you’d stay a couple days longer for all the fun they’ll have.

What's better: boarding kennels or home staying?

So, what’s better: boarding kennels or home-boarding? Summarizing what we’ve said so far, both options come with specific advantages, but the overall winner has to be home-boarding.

Dog kennels may be cheaper than traditional dog boarding options, but your dog might get lonely and scared, spending its stay in an unfamiliar cage with hardly anything to keep its mind off you being gone.

Dog boarding does away with the boredom but can still stress out your pooch because they will have to spend your trip with strangers in unfamiliar surroundings, which can be very frightening for some dogs.

Home-boarding, on the other hand, lets your fur baby stay at home, surrounded by its favourite spot to nap, its own blankets and toys, place to munch, route to walk and more (which is why we'd always recommend it over flying with a dog). And thanks to options like TrustedHousesitters’ in-home pet sitting opportunities, there are also very affordable ways to arrange home-boarding for your four-legged friend.

Made up your mind about which dog housing option you’d like to go for? If comfort, care and company for your pooch is key, we recommend you head over to our How it works page and find out more about how TrustedHousesitters can help you find a loving, caring, verified and reviewed sitter who’ll take care of your pupper right at your home for maximum fun and comfort. Safe travels!

Ready to find a dog sitter?

TrustedHousesitters connects pet-loving sitters with caring pet owners for happy pets, happy travelling owners and happy sitters who get to explore new, exciting cities in return for taking care of your fur baby! Have a look at our How it works page to learn more about how our pet-loving community connects or go right here to find a verified, reviewed dog sitter.