There are three types of boarding styles for dogs:
Kennels
Camps
Home Boarding
Each Boarding Style Explained
Kennels
At a traditional ‘kennel’, dogs are kept separately, in crates, or in runs. A run is a small caged area. Some kennels offer indoor/outdoor runs, so that dogs can move from the indoor area to the outdoor – on their own, or when opened by the kennel attendant.
Some kennels offer a play area in which dogs are allowed to play alone or with a kennel attendant for a specified amount of time (usually 20 minutes). This play time might be included in the boarding rate, or there might be a separate charge for each play session.
For dogs who have shown some aggression, or who are not ‘fixed’, kennels can be the right option.
Kennels should be licensed by the Town or City in which they operate.
Camps
Dog Camps (sometimes called ‘open concept boarding’, ‘no-crate boarding’, or ‘social boarding’) offer an alternative to a kennel environment. At a camp, dogs are together with other dogs during the day, in a play field.
Because the dogs are together with others, a dog camp must have staff members with the dogs in order to supervise, and avoid conflicts between dogs.
At some dog camps, dogs sleep together in groups, with other dogs. At other dog camps, dogs may also have the option to sleep separately, in a room or a crate.
Some camps will offer other activities for dogs, such as walks, or swimming.
Dog camps are ideal for dogs who enjoy playing with other dogs, and might be stressed in a ‘kennel’ environment.
Home Boarding
Home boarding, just as it sounds has dogs staying in the owner’s home. The owner may have the dogs staying in their bedrooms and on their beds, and may give the dogs free run of the house. Some homeowners will have a separate area for the dogs (a separate room, or a basement), where the dogs are kept. Home boarders often have a backyard where the dogs can play, either separately or together.
Home boarding can be suitable for nervous dogs, or for a short term stay.
Note: Home boarding is usually not licensed by the Town or City. Please see the Licensing page to learn about why that may matter to dog owners.