Dog Boarding Price: What to Expect and How to Find the Best Deals!

Okay, so picture this: I had this big trip coming up, right? Super excited, but here’s the thing – I have this adorable little furball named Max, and I couldn’t exactly stuff him in my suitcase. So, I had to figure out this whole dog boarding thing. Honestly, I didn’t even know where to start, so I just started Googling “dog boarding price” like crazy.

First off, let me tell you, those prices were all over the place! Some places were like, “Yeah, bring your dog over, it’ll just be around 50 bucks a night.” But then, some other places were quoting me like $150 a night! I mean, I love Max, but that’s almost as much as my own hotel! I was starting to get a little worried. Why so different?

I started digging deeper, reading all these articles and guides. Turns out, there’s a bunch of stuff that changes how much you end up paying. Like, where the place is, what kind of place it is, and even how fancy they are.

Different Facilities

I called a few of them up to get the lowdown. I found out the reason why dog hotels are so pricey. Think about it – they have people there 24/7 taking care of the dogs, making sure they’re fed, walked, and happy. Plus, it seems like there aren’t a ton of these dog hotels around, and a lot of people need them, so they can charge more. Just like regular hotels, I guess.

• Basic Kennels:These were the cheapest, just the basics. A place for Max to sleep, some food, and maybe a couple of walks.
• Luxury Dog Hotels: Okay, these were insane! They had things like private rooms, TVs, and even special menus for the dogs!
• In-Home Boarding:This is where your dog stays at someone’s house. It seemed more personal, but I wasn’t sure how I felt about Max staying with a stranger.

I looked around and kept asking. Turns out, if you plan to let your dog stay over 30 days, they may not be happy. They’re social animals, you know. So the staff told me that longer stays are not recommended. But if I must do that, I can talk to them and they will try their best to satisfy my needs.

After all that research and phone calls, I finally found a place that seemed like a good fit for Max. It wasn’t the cheapest, but it wasn’t crazy expensive either. It had good reviews, the staff seemed to really care about the dogs, and they had a big area for them to run around and play. I booked it, dropped Max off, and you know what? He had a blast! He made some new doggy friends, got tons of attention, and I didn’t have to worry about him while I was gone.

It was a process, but hey, I learned a lot. And most importantly, I found out that my little buddy can have a great time even when I’m not around. Turns out, running one of these places can be super lucrative. No wonder they charge that much. But honestly, for the peace of mind, it was totally worth it!