What each costs
Kennels set their own prices. On the pages we checked, a standard kennel for one dog cost $36 a day at a bayside Brisbane kennel, $38 a night in Canning Vale in Perth, and $92 to $100 per calendar day at a western Sydney resort. A Petme home boarder typically charges $55 to $90 a night in capital cities and $40 to $65 in regional ones, and owners pay a 0% booking fee on top.
The headline rate is not the whole bill. Watch for three things on a kennel's price page:
- Calendar-day billing. Many kennels charge for the drop-off day and the pick-up day, so seven nights cost eight days.
- Peak surcharges. The western Sydney resort adds $26 per dog per day from 20 December to 28 January, and a Mudgeeraba kennel on the Gold Coast adds $10 a day in its Christmas peak.
- Minimum stays. A Melbourne kennel requires 14 nights for any booking that includes 25 December to 4 January, and an Adelaide kennel has a $150 minimum charge.
The dog boarding cost guide lists kennel prices for eight cities.
What your dog's day looks like
In a kennel your dog has its own run or room, set feeding times and time in an exercise yard, with staff on site. One Melbourne kennel we checked lists large dogs with access to an exercise yard of an acre and a half. Your dog meets a new set of smells, sounds and dogs, which energetic and social dogs often enjoy.
With home boarding your dog lives in the sitter's house. Walks, meals and bedtime can follow your routine. Ask how many dogs the sitter takes at once, and ask for photos during the stay. The trade-off is that one person is in charge, so ask what happens if the sitter has to go out.
Which dogs suit which
Home boarding tends to suit:
- Dogs that get anxious in new places or with lots of other dogs.
- Older dogs and dogs on medication, who do better with one carer who knows their schedule.
- Puppies that still need frequent toilet breaks and company.
- Small dogs that are unsettled by bigger ones.
A kennel tends to suit confident, social dogs, dogs that have stayed there happily before, and owners who want staff on site around the clock. Some kennels limit who they take: an inner west Sydney dog hotel accepts small and medium dogs only, and a western Sydney resort prices by weight.
Questions to ask either one
- What is the total for my dates, including surcharges and the first and last day?
- Is there a minimum stay over Christmas, Easter or long weekends?
- Which vaccinations do you require, and when must I show the certificate?
- How many dogs will be there at the same time as mine, and are they mixed by size?
- Which vet do you use in an emergency, and how do you contact me?
- Can I visit, or do a trial day or night first?
A trial is worth it for a first stay. One Sydney dog hotel we checked makes a half-day trial mandatory before the first booking. With a Petme sitter you can arrange a meet-and-greet in the chat before you pay, and the Petme Protection Plan can contribute up to $32,000 toward eligible vet costs during a booked stay.
To compare home boarders near you, see dog boarding in Australia. If you would rather your dog stayed at home, house sitting brings the sitter to you.
Kennels or home boarding: FAQ
Is home boarding better than kennels?
It depends on the dog. Home boarding keeps an anxious, older or medicated dog on its own routine with one carer, while a kennel suits a confident dog that enjoys other dogs and space to run. Most owners decide by how their dog copes with new places.
Are boarding kennels cheaper than home boarding?
Usually, per night. Kennels we checked charged $36 to $60 a day in Brisbane and $38 to $49 in Perth, against $55 to $90 a night for a Petme home boarder in a capital city. In Sydney the two overlap, because kennels there charged up to $100 a day before Christmas surcharges.
Why do kennels charge for the pick-up day?
Many Australian kennels bill per calendar day, so every date your dog is there counts, including the arrival and departure days. A seven-night stay then costs eight days. One Brisbane kennel waives the last day if you collect before 8am.
How far ahead should I book a kennel for Christmas?
As soon as your dates are fixed. Kennels fill over the summer school holidays, and many set minimum stays: one Melbourne kennel requires 14 nights over New Year and a Gold Coast kennel 10 days at Christmas. Home boarders fill early too, so message several at once.
Can I visit a kennel or a home boarder before I book?
Yes, and you should. Ask to see where your dog will sleep and exercise, and book a trial day or night if your dog has not boarded before. On Petme you can arrange a meet-and-greet with a sitter in the app before you pay.
