In short: Book Christmas dog boarding as soon as your dates are fixed. PDSA warns that good boarding places "often get fully-booked during busy holiday times, like summer and Christmas". Many UK kennels also charge more over the bank holidays, anywhere from an extra £2 a night to double the normal rate on Christmas Day, and some close for drop-off and collection on the main holiday days. If the kennel you want is full, a home boarder or a house sitter can cover the same nights.
Christmas is the one week of the year when the usual rules of booking dog care stop working. Kennels that have space in March are full by November, prices change for a fortnight, and the days you can hand your dog over shrink. This guide uses what UK kennels actually publish on their own price pages, so you can plan with real numbers rather than guesses.
Two patterns stand out. Surcharges cluster on a handful of days, usually Christmas Eve to New Year's Day, so moving your travel by a day can change the bill. And discounts that apply the rest of the year, such as sharing a kennel with a second dog, may be switched off. Ask every boarder for the total for your exact dates before you compare.
When to book dog boarding for Christmas
Earlier than you think. PDSA's advice on boarding kennels and holiday care is to book early for summer and Christmas, because good places fill up first. The "Christmas period" at a kennel is also longer than the three bank holidays. Oakwood Park Kennels in Wokingham, for example, runs its Christmas prices from Friday 18 December 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027. Three things take time and are worth starting now:- Vaccinations. PDSA says unvaccinated pets will not be allowed to stay at boarding places, and that you should not leave vaccinations until the last minute, especially kennel cough. Check your dog's vaccination record before you book, not the week before you travel.
- A visit. The RSPCA's advice is to always visit a boarder before choosing one. December diaries fill up for kennels too, so arrange the visit early.
- A trial stay. A night or two before Christmas tells you how your dog copes. Our guide to a pet sitter trial run covers what to watch for.
What kennels charge over Christmas: real examples
Holiday pricing is set by each business, so there is no single "Christmas rate". These are the holiday terms six UK boarders publish on their own pages, checked on 12 October 2026. They are examples, not an average.| Boarder | Where | Christmas pricing, as published |
|---|---|---|
| Oakwood Park Kennels | Wokingham | Christmas rates of £28, £30 and £32 for small, medium and large dogs, and no sharing discount over the Christmas period |
| Old Station Kennels | Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire | £30 per dog per night, £2 a night extra in the winter months, and another £2 a night at Christmas, New Year and other bank holidays |
| Castle Croft Kennels | Bredbury, Stockport | A £14 surcharge per dog on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day and other public and bank holidays |
| Oak Ride Farm | Woking, Surrey | 50% extra on bank holidays and 100% extra on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day |
| Kit Hill Kennels & Cattery | Cornwall | Double daily charges on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day |
| The Crazy Dog Hotel (home boarding) | Not listed on the page | £40 a night, rising to £45 on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year's Eve |
Drop-off and collection days matter as much as price
A kennel can be open for the dogs staying with it and still closed to owners. Oakwood Park Kennels lists 25, 26, 27 and 28 December and 1 January 2027 as closed in its Christmas opening hours. Kit Hill Kennels does not take drop-offs or collections on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Eve or New Year's Day. If you are leaving on Christmas Eve or coming home on Boxing Day, check those hours before you book trains or flights. Over Christmas, the days you can hand your dog over can decide the length of the stay as much as the days you are away.Alternatives to a kennel at Christmas
The RSPCA's own order of preference is a friend or family member first, then a pet sitter or a boarding establishment. If family is away too, these are the main options, with typical UK prices from our UK pet sitter cost guide:- Home boarding. Your dog stays in a sitter's home with one carer; ask how many other dogs will be there. It typically costs £25 to £55 a night across the UK and £40 to £70 in London. Browse dog boarding in the UK on Petme.
- House sitting. A sitter stays in your home, so your dog keeps its own bed, walks and routine. It suits dogs that do not settle away from home and households with more than one pet, at around £30 to £65 a night. See holiday pet sitting.
- Drop-in visits. Fine for a cat, but not a substitute for overnight care for a dog. Dogs Trust's guidance is that dogs should not be left alone for more than four hours.
How to check a kennel or home boarder is licensed
In England, boarding dogs in kennels and providing home boarding for dogs as a business are both licensable activities under The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018. The licence comes from the local council. PDSA recommends checking that the business is licensed by the council and, in England, looking at the star rating on the licence, where five stars is the highest. The RSPCA's checklist asks the same question: does the boarder have an up-to-date licence? Asking to see it is normal and a good boarder will not mind. If you live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, check your own council's rules, because the regulations above apply to England.Getting your dog ready for a Christmas stay
- Bring the vaccination record, including kennel cough, and your vet's name and number.
- Pack your dog's usual food so their diet does not change on top of their surroundings.
- Send a familiar bed, blanket or toy.
- Write down routines: feeding times, walk length, anything your dog is scared of, and how they react to fireworks if you will be away over New Year's Eve.
- Leave a contact who can make decisions if you cannot be reached.
Frequently asked questions about Christmas dog boarding
When should I book dog boarding for Christmas?
Book as soon as your dates are fixed. PDSA advises booking early because good boarding places fill up over summer and Christmas, and some kennels run Christmas prices for about two weeks, such as Oakwood Park Kennels from 18 December 2026 to 3 January 2027.
Do kennels charge more at Christmas?
Many do, and the extra varies widely. Old Station Kennels adds £2 a night, Castle Croft Kennels adds £14 per dog on the bank holidays, and Oak Ride Farm charges double on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day. Ask for the total for your exact dates.
Are dog kennels open on Christmas Day?
Dogs already staying are cared for, but many kennels close to owners. Oakwood Park Kennels lists 25 to 28 December and 1 January as closed in its Christmas hours, and Kit Hill Kennels takes no drop-offs or collections on the five main holiday days, so check hours before you book travel.
How much is dog boarding per night in the UK?
Home boarding with a sitter typically costs £25 to £55 a night across the UK and £40 to £70 in London. Kennel rates vary by business: Old Station Kennels in Leicestershire publishes £30 per dog per night, before its winter and holiday extras.
Is a dog sitter better than kennels at Christmas?
It depends on your dog. A home boarder or house sitter gives one-to-one care in a home, which suits nervous or older dogs, while a good kennel suits dogs that are used to it. The RSPCA puts a friend or family member first, then a sitter or boarding, and either way you should visit first.
