You don't have to pay $75/night at a kennel. Here are the real alternatives — and how to make them work safely.
Traditional dog boarding at a kennel can cost $35–$85 per night in most markets — and significantly more in cities or at premium facilities. For a week-long vacation, that's $245–$595 just to house your dog. For two weeks, you might spend more on boarding than on your actual trip.
The good news: there are several legitimate, safe alternatives that cost significantly less — or nothing at all. Here's an honest breakdown of each option, including what it's actually like to use them.
| Option | Avg. Cost/Night | Best For | Main Downside |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional kennel | $35–$85 | Dogs who do well with other dogs, owners who want professional oversight | Most expensive; can be stressful for anxious dogs |
| Rover (in-home sitter) | $25–$55 | Dogs who prefer home environments | Quality varies by sitter; requires research |
| Wag (in-home sitter) | $28–$60 | Last-minute booking; urban areas | Less personal than Rover relationships |
| Trusted friend or family | $0–$50 | Dogs who know the person; best overall option | Not always available; requires reciprocity |
| Dog-friendly hotel / bring your dog | $0 extra | Easy travelers with calm dogs | Not all destinations allow dogs |
| Neighbor pet-sitting network | $0–$25 | Community-minded owners; regular travelers | Takes time to build; requires trust |
| Dog stays home alone (with dog walker) | $15–$25/visit | Well-trained, independent dogs; short trips | Requires dog to handle alone time |
Both Rover and Wag are apps that connect dog owners with independent pet sitters and dog walkers. The model is similar to Airbnb — real people offering dog care services in their own homes or yours.
How it works: You browse sitter profiles with reviews, photos, and their home setup. You can meet the sitter in advance (highly recommended), and book directly through the app. Rover handles payment and provides a guarantee for certain situations.
Strengths: Large sitter network, detailed profiles and reviews, ability to book "meet and greets" before committing, better customer support than Wag. Many Rover sitters are experienced dog people who genuinely love animals.
Weaknesses: Rover's service fee is 5–7% on top of the sitter's rate. Quality varies — you need to read reviews carefully and do a meet and greet. Not all sitters are equally experienced, and their homes aren't inspected by Rover.
Best tip: Filter by "Only 1 dog at a time" for dogs who don't do well in chaotic environments. Read recent reviews specifically about communication and whether the sitter sent updates.
How it works: Similar to Rover but skews toward on-demand booking. Better for last-minute care. Also offers drop-in visits and dog walking.
Strengths: GPS tracking on walks (useful for peace of mind), generally faster to match with available sitters, operates in more urban markets.
Weaknesses: Less emphasis on the relationship-building that makes Rover successful. Sitter consistency is lower — you might get a different sitter each time. Customer service has had mixed reviews historically.
Best tip: Wag is better for drop-in visits and dog walking than overnight stays. For overnight care, Rover's more established sitter relationship model is generally the better experience.
The best — and cheapest — dog boarding solution is people who already love your dog. This sounds obvious, but many owners never invest in building these relationships systematically.
For short trips of 1–3 days, a well-trained dog with a reliable dog walker may not need boarding at all. A dog who's comfortable being home alone for 8–10 hours (with a midday dog walk visit) can handle overnight absences if someone comes in the morning and evening to feed them, walk them, and give them attention.
The math: two drop-in visits per day from a dog walker at $20/visit = $40/day versus $60–$80/night at a kennel. For a 3-day trip: $120 versus $180–$240.
What makes this work:
Dog-friendly travel is more accessible than ever. If your dog travels reasonably well and you're driving (not flying), many hotels, Airbnbs, and vacation rentals now welcome dogs — often for free or a modest pet fee of $15–$35/night.
Resources for dog-friendly travel:
Bringing your dog does require some planning and may limit certain activities, but it eliminates boarding costs entirely and gives your dog the best possible outcome: being with you.
Whether you're using a kennel, Rover, or a friend, certain red flags signal a situation that may not be safe for your dog:
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