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The doghouse

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Original poster

How much would you pay for home boarding?

54 replies

Deargentlereader12 · 15/02/2025 10:57

Hello 👋🏻

Wondering how much you would expect to pay for this service

Cage free / kennel free home boarding
Council licensed
Insured
Large secure garden
24/7 cctv
2 acres private woodland suitable for dogs that can go off lead
2 walks a day 20 minutes each
first aid trained
CPD course in canine communication
8 years experience
USP - We only board one families dog at a time!

I just got my license yesterday now I’m trying to figure out a price per day. What are people’s thoughts?

OP posts:
KeenOtter · 15/02/2025 19:09

No way would I board my dog if they only had 2 x 20min walk. The acres of private land is irrelevant if they are only getting 2 20 min walks.

Around here you would pay about £30.00 but would be offered way more than the DEFRA minimum.

KeenOtter · 15/02/2025 19:10

Why will longer walks affect your pricing? You have to have someone around in the daytime whilst you have boarding dogs.

Delatron · 15/02/2025 21:51

Il concerned that you think 2 x 20 minute walks are ok for any dog!

With my dog boarder my lab gets a minimum of 1 hour 45, often more,
split over 2 walks. The walks are an essential part of the boarding and are what you are paying for.

SpanielsSunflowersSand · 15/02/2025 22:00

I pay £45 a night but my dog is the only dog in their care in addition to their own dog and he gets 3 walks a day through forestry and miles of land, it’s around 3-4 hours walking a day plus free access to their enclosed garden. They do loads of mental stimulation and games. He’s an intelligent breed so thrives off this interaction.

The other boarder I use when they are not available is £17.50 a night and she takes up to 4 dogs including her own and there are only 2 walks a day for 2 hours plus garden play time and pee/poo breaks.

I wouldn’t allow mine to be boarded somewhere he only got 2x 20 minute walks. Fine if you have a senior dog that just needs a pee/ poo walk but not for an active healthy dog.

Undrugged · 15/02/2025 22:27

SpanielsSunflowersSand · 15/02/2025 22:00

I pay £45 a night but my dog is the only dog in their care in addition to their own dog and he gets 3 walks a day through forestry and miles of land, it’s around 3-4 hours walking a day plus free access to their enclosed garden. They do loads of mental stimulation and games. He’s an intelligent breed so thrives off this interaction.

The other boarder I use when they are not available is £17.50 a night and she takes up to 4 dogs including her own and there are only 2 walks a day for 2 hours plus garden play time and pee/poo breaks.

I wouldn’t allow mine to be boarded somewhere he only got 2x 20 minute walks. Fine if you have a senior dog that just needs a pee/ poo walk but not for an active healthy dog.

Your dog must be absolutely knackered when he or she gets home!

as a balance mine couldn’t cope with that much exercercise:

I suppose the key is finding someone who is the right fit. Our boarder has an 8yo resident Aussie Sheepdog which is the perfect match for our 4yo show golden retriever. An hour a day plus some games, everyone is happy!

Original poster
Deargentlereader12 · 15/02/2025 23:45

Thank you everyone!

OP posts:
TartanMammy · 16/02/2025 00:06

My friend has dog walking/boarding business. She charges £45 for boarding which includes at least 2 hours of walks, but it's often more if she is able to walk the boarders with her day dogs.

2x 20 minutes would just not be enough for most dog, elderly and tiny dogs aside.

She doesn't have the outdoor space you describe, just a very standard garden, but she does usually have the dogs out walking with her most of the day.

Appleblum · 16/02/2025 00:23

My boarder charges £60 per night.

Original poster
Deargentlereader12 · 16/02/2025 00:38

TartanMammy · 16/02/2025 00:06

My friend has dog walking/boarding business. She charges £45 for boarding which includes at least 2 hours of walks, but it's often more if she is able to walk the boarders with her day dogs.

2x 20 minutes would just not be enough for most dog, elderly and tiny dogs aside.

She doesn't have the outdoor space you describe, just a very standard garden, but she does usually have the dogs out walking with her most of the day.

If she can’t walk with the boarders with the day care dogs what does she do with the day care dogs when she’s walking the boarders?

OP posts:
XiCi · 16/02/2025 00:58

Appleblum · 16/02/2025 00:23

My boarder charges £60 per night.

Wow, that's crazy money

Appleblum · 16/02/2025 01:22

XiCi · 16/02/2025 00:58

Wow, that's crazy money

Show quote history

Yes it is. The going rate around here is about £40 to £50 and the £60 boarder was always on my shortlist but I hesitated because of the price. In the end we tried 2 different cheaper boarders but were not satisfied with them for various reasons, finally booked the one at £60 and she was way better. It really adds to the cost of our holidays though.

WhoInvitedHer · 16/02/2025 03:43

The home boarder I use is rural Midlands and charges £35 a night but £30 a night if more than 3 weeks (I think). Our dog loves it. Plenty of exercise and company of other dogs

familyissues12345 · 16/02/2025 08:01

It's been a while since we've used a home boarder, but I think we used to pay £30 per night (Home Counties). She had two dogs of her own, and would also board others.

More recently we have used our dog Walker to care for our dog in our own home. SHe charges an eye watering £60 per day, but we happily pay a bit more as our dog is much much happier in her own home (hence why we stopped using a boarder). She gets plenty of walks, and lots of fuss. Her dog Walker leaves her own dogs at home so she's a lone dog

TheBeautifulSausage · 16/02/2025 08:09

I think price is really location specific.

I'd pay £40 per night here for an exclusive boarder in the East Midlands but I'd expect decent walks to be part of that cost. I also personally would be looking for a boarder that only took one family's dogs at a time and would be disappointed to find they had two of their own - because to me that's the same as taking two family's dogs at the same time.

ClassicBBQ · 16/02/2025 08:16

£27 for 24 hours in the SW. Ours has up to 4 dogs at a time, which is great for my dog because he loves to make friends. I definitely wouldn't be happy with 2 20 min walks. My BC needs at least 4-5 hours of good exercise a day, and when he's at the boarders they keep him outside all time, except for an hour before/after food. It's the only place he's actually been properly tired out!

Original poster
Deargentlereader12 · 16/02/2025 10:02

ClassicBBQ · 16/02/2025 08:16

£27 for 24 hours in the SW. Ours has up to 4 dogs at a time, which is great for my dog because he loves to make friends. I definitely wouldn't be happy with 2 20 min walks. My BC needs at least 4-5 hours of good exercise a day, and when he's at the boarders they keep him outside all time, except for an hour before/after food. It's the only place he's actually been properly tired out!

Wow 4-5 hours a day is a lot! How do you fit this in with work and kids etc? That’s like half a working day just walking your dog?!

OP posts:
TartanMammy · 16/02/2025 10:39

Deargentlereader12 · 16/02/2025 00:38

If she can’t walk with the boarders with the day care dogs what does she do with the day care dogs when she’s walking the boarders?

Show quote history

Usually she will walk them all together. But if she can't, i.e. van full of a day dog wont get on with a boarder, she leaves them at home with husband and walks in shifts. Obviously all customers are aware of this when she books.

MaturingCheeseball · 16/02/2025 12:38

I’d be carrying my dog home on my shoulders on a four-hour walk! Don’t forget if you walk 10 miles they run 100.

Honestly, if the boarder is kind and trustworthy, and they fall a bit short on the walks, well, it’s not permanent. For a 2-week holiday I’d make sure that Dog was getting a good deal of exercise, but for an overnight stay it’s not essential.

I’d rather a boarder was not also a professional dog walker. I want him to be in a home, not dragged around in a van all day or left home alone for hours.

Iwishiwasapolarbear · 16/02/2025 12:45

My county borders Cheshire. I pay £25 for 24 hours. I have 2 regular home boarders that I use, both charge the same. Both have just one dog of their own and only take dogs from the same household. I have just the one dog so it’s only the 2 dogs max. They walk the dog twice a day for an hour at a time- I would say 2 20 min walks is no where near enough. You should do 2 45 min walks at least.

shockthemonkey · 16/02/2025 12:55

XiCi · 15/02/2025 11:12

If you have 2 dogs of your own is it really a usp that you only board 1 families dog at a time? To me that's the same as taking my dog to a boarder that is already boarding 2 other dogs. It would make no difference to me whether they were yours or another families

Not quite the same though as I’d expect the service provider to have very well adjusted dogs that are trustworthy around others.

Re the value-added of taking only one dog at a time (or max two from the same family…), that would not have worked for my DD when she was younger (as pps have said, she loved the company and opportunity to play), but now she’s arthritic it would be a resounding yes. So you’re possibly shrinking your TM with that USP, yet to those for whom it’s a plus, it will make a big difference I think.

I pay 50 euros a day for my dog sitter, very similar setup to you but she will take up to four at a time. Usually all the dogs already know each other if only because they’ve crossed each other in the forest.

shockthemonkey · 16/02/2025 12:57

Of course the two shorter walks really suit arthritic dogs too!

Original poster
Deargentlereader12 · 16/02/2025 13:03

shockthemonkey · 16/02/2025 12:55

Not quite the same though as I’d expect the service provider to have very well adjusted dogs that are trustworthy around others.

Re the value-added of taking only one dog at a time (or max two from the same family…), that would not have worked for my DD when she was younger (as pps have said, she loved the company and opportunity to play), but now she’s arthritic it would be a resounding yes. So you’re possibly shrinking your TM with that USP, yet to those for whom it’s a plus, it will make a big difference I think.

I pay 50 euros a day for my dog sitter, very similar setup to you but she will take up to four at a time. Usually all the dogs already know each other if only because they’ve crossed each other in the forest.

Show quote history

Yes exactly I think a lot of people have totally missed the point having resident dogs it’s VERY different to have strange boarding dogs mixing with each other

OP posts:
shockthemonkey · 16/02/2025 13:03

Great Danes too, or so I’m told. I knew a GD enthusiast who said he didn’t do long walks and didn’t allow them to go faster than trot, lest they literally break in front of his eyes!

CorduroySituation · 16/02/2025 18:34

Mine does at least 1.5 to 2 hours walking per day, often more, and I would think it flipping cheeky if you charge for more walking time, especially when you have your own dogs to exercise anyway.

Brownie258 · 16/02/2025 20:31

The two twenty minute walks would put me odd and you saying it’s the minimum requirement would put me off too. To be doing this you should want to go above and beyond for the dogs.