In short: Book Christmas pet care in Canada as soon as your dates are set. Kennels publish holiday prices, minimum stays and closed days that cover roughly mid-December to early January: one Ontario camp charges CAD 120 a night with a 10-night minimum from December 15 to January 10, and several kennels take no drop-offs or pick-ups on Christmas Day or New Year's Day. If the kennels near you are full, a house sitter or daily drop-in visits can cover the same days at home.
Christmas is the one stretch of the year when the usual way of booking pet care stops working. Prices change, minimum stays appear, and the days you can hand your dog over shrink to a handful. Instead of guessing, this guide uses what Canadian kennels publish on their own pages.
Two patterns stand out. Holiday pricing can be a few dollars a night or a different price list altogether, so ask for the total for your exact dates before you compare. And minimum stays are the hidden cost: a 10-night minimum turns a five-night trip into a ten-night bill.
When to book
Earlier than feels necessary. Furry Friends Pet Resort in Durham Region cites industry standards that the period from December 15 to January 4 is when most facilities are "pretty well packed", and says some places ask for six months' notice for the holidays. Springfield Kennels in Cochrane, Alberta, says reservations are "necessary and recommended well in advance of civic holidays". Three things take time, so start them now:- Vaccination records. Happy Tails Pet Resort in Winnipeg, for example, asks new hotel guests to bring or upload proof of vaccinations. Check your pet's records and your kennel's requirements now, not the week before you leave.
- A meet or a trial. A first visit or a trial night shows how your pet copes while there is still time to change plans. Our pet sitter trial run guide covers what to watch for.
- Your travel dates. Check them against the kennel's closed days below before you book flights.
What Canadian kennels charge over Christmas
There is no national "Christmas rate". Each business sets its own, and the gap between them is large. These are the holiday terms five kennels publish on their own pages, checked on October 14, 2026. They are examples, not an average.| Kennel | Where | Holiday terms, as published |
|---|---|---|
| Dogs at Camp | Uxbridge, ON | CAD 63 to 80 a night normally for a short stay. From December 15 to January 10, CAD 120 a night with a 10-night minimum, no multi-dog discount, and no drop-offs or pick-ups on December 25 or January 1. Rates are subject to HST. |
| Doggo Den | Thorndale, ON | CAD 72 a regular night, CAD 85 on statutory holidays, CAD 99 on Christmas, Boxing Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, and CAD 90 for December 27 to 30. |
| Happy Tails Pet Resort | Winnipeg, MB | CAD 60 a night for the first dog on a one- to seven-night stay, plus CAD 5 per night per pet on holidays including Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. |
| Beinnein Kennels | Foothills County, AB, near Calgary | CAD 34 to 40 a day by dog size. The office is closed on Christmas Day and New Year's Day, though pet care staff stay on duty. |
| Springfield Kennels | Cochrane, AB | Lists holiday closures on December 24, 25 and 31 and January 1. |
Closed days can decide your travel dates
A kennel can be caring for dogs on Christmas Day and still be closed to owners. Countryside Kennel in Thorndale, Ontario, lists December 24, 25 and 26 and New Year's Eve and New Year's Day as closed for pick-up and drop-off, and asks owners to check their confirmation email for hours "especially between Christmas and New Years". Dogs at Camp takes no drop-offs or pick-ups on December 25 or January 1, and Springfield Kennels lists its own holiday closures in the table above. If you are leaving on Christmas Eve or coming home on Boxing Day, line up the kennel's hours with your flight before you pay for either. The days you can hand your dog over often set the length of the stay more than the days you are away.Alternatives to a kennel at Christmas
If the kennels near you are full, or your pet does not settle in one, care at home covers the same dates:- House sitting. A sitter stays in your home, so your dog keeps its own bed and routine and the house is not empty over the holidays. On Petme in Canada it typically runs CAD 50 to 90 a night in the largest cities, CAD 45 to 75 in mid-sized ones and CAD 40 to 65 in smaller ones. Browse house sitters in Canada.
- Drop-in visits. Usually the better fit for a cat, at about CAD 22 to 38 a visit in large cities. See drop-in visits, and drop-in vs overnight cat care if you are unsure which your cat needs.
- A sitter's home. Some sitters board dogs in their own home, which suits dogs that do better with one carer than in a kennel run. Our comparison of in-home pet sitting vs boarding goes through the trade-offs.
Getting your pet ready for a holiday stay
- Bring vaccination records and your vet's name and number.
- Pack your pet's usual food so their diet does not change along with everything else.
- Send a familiar bed, blanket or toy.
- Write down routines, and how your dog reacts to fireworks if you will be away on New Year's Eve.
- Keep holiday food out of reach and tell the sitter which treats are off limits.
- Leave a contact who can make decisions if you cannot be reached.
Frequently asked questions
When should I book dog boarding for Christmas in Canada?
Book as soon as your dates are fixed. Furry Friends Pet Resort in Durham Region cites industry standards that most facilities are well packed from December 15 to January 4, and some want six months' notice, and Springfield Kennels near Calgary recommends booking well in advance of civic holidays.
Are dog kennels open on Christmas Day?
Dogs already staying are looked after, but many kennels close to owners. Countryside Kennel in Ontario takes no drop-offs or pick-ups on December 24, 25 and 26, and Springfield Kennels in Alberta lists holiday closures on December 24, 25 and 31 and January 1, so check hours before you book travel.
Do kennels charge more at Christmas?
Many do, by very different amounts. Happy Tails Pet Resort in Winnipeg adds CAD 5 per night on holidays, Doggo Den in Ontario charges CAD 99 instead of CAD 72 on the main holiday days, and Dogs at Camp charges CAD 120 a night with a 10-night minimum from December 15 to January 10.
How much is a dog sitter over Christmas in Canada?
On Petme, house sitting in Canada typically costs CAD 50 to 90 a night in the largest cities and CAD 40 to 65 in smaller ones. Each sitter sets their own rate for the holidays, so ask for the total for your exact dates before you book.
Is a sitter better than a kennel at Christmas?
It depends on your pet. A house sitter keeps a dog or cat in its own home with one carer, which suits older, anxious or multi-pet households, while a good kennel suits dogs that are used to it. Either way, arrange a visit or a trial before the holidays.
