Dog boarding · United Kingdom
Dog boarding in a sitter’s home, not a kennel
With dog boarding on Holidog, your dog stays overnight with a local pet sitter near you — one household, a routine you agree together, and updates while you’re away.
The service
What dog boarding means on Holidog
Dog boarding — often called home dog boarding — means your dog stays in a local pet sitter’s home while you’re away. One household, not a facility — and the routine is agreed with the sitter before the stay begins.
At the sitter’s home
Your dog lives with a local sitter and their household — not in a kennel run.
Overnight stays
For the nights you’re away, on the dates you choose in your request.
Personalised care routine
Meals, walks and bedtime agreed with the sitter before the stay.
What to expect
- A place in the sitter’s home — not a pen or a run
- Meals from the food you bring, following your instructions
- Walks and toilet breaks, as agreed
- Company and supervision, organised around the sitter’s day
- Medication, only if the sitter agrees to take it on
What to agree with your sitter
- Drop-off and pick-up times
- How often walks happen, how long, on or off the lead
- Time alone, if any, and when
- Where your dog sleeps
- Other animals in the home
- Messages and photos during the stay
- Special needs and behaviours to flag
Care that depends on the sitter — medication, time alone, other animals — is confirmed in messages before you book. Prices and Holidog fees are explained in Prices & fees; for other overnight options, see boarding vs kennels vs house sitting.
Where should your dog stay?
Three ways to cover the nights you’re away. Pick one to see how it works.
Holidog · this page
Dog boarding
Your dog stays in a local sitter’s home for the nights you’re away, with care arranged around a routine you agree beforehand.
- Where
- In the sitter’s home
- How it works
- Book on Holidog, meet the sitter after booking, agree the routine in messages
- Can suit
- Sociable dogs who settle well in new places
Daily life
- Dog boarding
- Depends on the sitter — resident pets are listed on the profile; ask how many dogs they host at once.
- House sitting
- Your own pets. Confirm with the sitter whether anyone else will be present.
- Kennels
- Other dogs are typically on site; arrangements vary by kennel.
- Dog boarding
- Agreed with the sitter before you book.
- House sitting
- Your dog’s own surroundings; routine agreed with the sitter.
- Kennels
- Set by the facility.
- Dog boarding
- How often and how long, agreed with the sitter.
- House sitting
- Agreed with the sitter, starting from your home.
- Kennels
- Depends on the facility — ask what’s offered.
Peace of mind
- Dog boarding
- Organised around the sitter’s day — ask how long your dog may be alone.
- House sitting
- Organised around the sitter’s day — agree the expected time at home.
- Kennels
- Staffing and hours vary by facility.
- Dog boarding
- Messages and photos through Holidog, as arranged with the sitter.
- House sitting
- Messages and photos through Holidog, as arranged with the sitter.
- Kennels
- Varies by facility.
- Dog boarding
- Meet & Greet after booking — change sitter if it isn’t the right fit.
- House sitting
- Meet & Greet after booking — change sitter if it isn’t the right fit.
- Kennels
- Ask the facility about visits.
Booking & price
- Dog boarding
- Set by the sitter and shown on their profile; Holidog fees shown before you pay.
- House sitting
- Set by the sitter and shown on their profile; Holidog fees shown before you pay.
- Kennels
- Set by the facility.
- Dog boarding
- Holivet commercial guarantee included in bookings paid on Holidog, within its terms.
- House sitting
- Holivet commercial guarantee included in bookings paid on Holidog, within its terms.
- Kennels
- Depends on the facility’s own arrangements.
- Dog boarding
- Council licence rules apply to commercial home boarding — see Licensing below.
- House sitting
- In England, care in the dog’s own home falls outside the home-boarding licence.
- Kennels
- Commercial kennels need a council licence.
Arrangements with Holidog sitters are confirmed with the sitter before you book. Kennel set-ups vary by facility — check directly with the kennel. Prices and Holidog fees are explained in Prices & fees. Still deciding? See all dog-sitting options.
Booking
How booking works on Holidog
Four moments, all on Holidog. Nothing is charged until a sitter accepts, and the sitter is paid only after the stay.
- 1
Find a boarder and send a request
Search your town or postcode, compare profiles and request your dates. No payment at this stage.
- 2
The sitter accepts, you pay
Sitters have up to 72 hours to reply. Once they accept, you see the final price and pay on Holidog.
- 3
Meet & Greet
Once the booking is confirmed and paid, meet the sitter with your dog and see the home.
Not the right fit? See below - 4
The stay, then a review
Drop off as agreed. The sitter is paid after the stay, and you can leave a review.
Meet & Greet
Meet the sitter after booking. Not the right fit? Change sitter.
Once your booking is confirmed and paid, you meet the sitter and see the home with your dog. If it doesn’t feel right, choose another sitter — what you’ve already paid moves across automatically.
- 01
Book & pay
Your booking is confirmed and paid.
- 02
Meet your sitter
Propose a date, time and place from Messages. Your dog meets the sitter and you see the home.
- 03
Keep or change sitter
Happy? Nothing else to do. Not the right fit? Choose another sitter.
- 04
Automatic payment transfer
What you’ve already paid moves to the new booking automatically.
- 05
Pay or receive the difference
Depends on the new sitter’s price — see the two cases below.
New sitter costs more · you pay only the difference.
New sitter costs less · the difference is refunded to you.
- 1
Send a request
Choose a boarder, your dates and Boarding. No payment is made at this stage.
- 2
The sitter reviews it
Sitters have up to 72 hours to respond. Meanwhile you can message about your dog’s habits and needs. No reply within a few hours? Don’t wait the full 72 — consider other sitters.
- 3
The sitter accepts
You’re notified with the final price clearly displayed: the rate and all applicable fees.
- 4
Pay on Holidog
Payment confirms the booking. It is held securely and released to the sitter only after the stay.
- 5
Meet & Greet
Recommended. Once confirmed and paid, meet the sitter with your dog. Not the right fit? Change sitter — your payment moves across.
- 6
The stay
Drop off as agreed. The sitter cares for your dog as discussed; you may receive updates and photos.
- 7
After the stay
The sitter is paid, and you can leave a review on their profile.
Track every stage from your Dashboard → My Requests (Requests on mobile). Source: Help Centre.
Boarders across the UK
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Choosing
How to choose a boarder
Three things matter most. Explore the details below when you’re ready to compare profiles.
- 01
See the home and who lives there
Profile photos, outdoor space and the sitter’s own pets tell you whether your dog will fit in.
- 02
Match your dog’s routine
Time alone, walks, meals, medication and where your dog sleeps — agree them in messages.
- 03
Ask, then meet
Ask the questions that matter, then use the Meet & Greet after booking to check the fit in person.
The home and outdoor space
Flat or house, fenced garden or nearby park, and how often your dog goes out. Profile photos and the “Meet” section show it.
Other pets, and how many dogs at once
Resident animals are listed under “Sitter’s pets”. Ask whether yours would be the only guest dog on your dates.
Experience and reviews
Years hosting, sizes and breeds they know, and what previous owners say about communication and settling in.
Daily rhythm
Many sitters describe their day — working from home, hours out, walk times. Match it against your dog’s week.
Updates and logistics
Photo updates, flexible drop-off and pick-up, medication handled or not. Confirm in messages before you book.
Prices & fees
Prices, fees and cancellations
Each boarder sets their own rate per pet, shown on their profile. Holidog adds two fees, charged to you and shown before you pay.
Loading prices…
| Holidog fees | Standard booking | Coming soonSame sitter again |
|---|---|---|
| Holidog service fee | 15% | 5% |
| Holivet guarantee fee | 2% | 2% |
| Combined (indicative) | 17% | 7% |
Charged to you on top of the sitter’s rate — separate from the commission taken from the sitter’s earnings. Each fee is calculated and itemised at checkout; the combined figure is indicative, not a single calculation base. The checkout total applies. Repeat-booking fees are not available yet.
If your plans change
Three situations, three outcomes. Tap one to see the details.
Boarding uses a 72-hour cutoff, counted back from the start of your booking.
- 72 hours or more before the start
- The service amount is refunded in full
- Less than 72 hours before the start
- 50% of the service amount for unconsumed days
Holidog fees (service fee and Holivet guarantee fee) are treated as set out in the cancellation policy in force.
Cancellation policy →If your sitter cancels, Holidog refunds 100% of the amount you paid — Holidog fees included. The refund goes back to your original payment method.
The Meet & Greet takes place after your booking is confirmed and paid. If it doesn’t go well and the sitter isn’t the right fit, you can choose another sitter. This isn’t a cancellation: what you’ve paid is transferred to the new booking automatically.
- New sitter costs more
- You pay only the difference
- New sitter costs less
- The difference is refunded to you
Before drop-off
Preparing for the stay
A good drop-off is mostly done the week before. Pack the bag, write the routine down, and share your contacts.
Food & bedding
- Your dog’s usual food, portioned, plus a little extra
- A bed or blanket that smells of home
- A favourite toy or chew
Health & medication
- Medication in its packaging, with written doses and times
- Vaccination record, if the sitter asks for it
- Your vet’s details
Habits & routine
- Meals, walks, toilet breaks and bedtime, written down
- Commands your dog knows, and how they ask to go out
- What they react to, and what “settled” looks like
Contacts & kit
- Lead, collar with ID tag, and harness
- Your contact details while away and your return time
- An emergency contact
What owners say
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Included in every booking
Protected by the Holidog × Holivet Guarantee
Bookings confirmed and paid on Holidog include the Holivet commercial guarantee for the stay dates. It is a limited commercial guarantee, not insurance, and does not cover the Meet & Greet.
- Up to €10,000
- Maximum per booking, all covered costs combined — a cap, not a guaranteed amount. Eligibility conditions and exclusions apply.
- €100
- Deductible per booking, deducted from any approved reimbursement.
- 48 hours
- Deadline to report an incident to Holidog — not a processing or payment time.
Excludes illness, pre-existing conditions and property damage, among others. Applies only within the exact booking dates. See the Holivet terms.
Dog boarding across the UK
Explore local pet sitters in cities across the UK. Check each sitter’s profile to find overnight dog boarding options near you.
Dog boarding FAQs
The questions owners ask most before booking dog boarding.
Boarders set their own rate per pet. On top of it, you pay a 15% Holidog service fee and a 2% Holivet guarantee fee, each itemised at checkout when the sitter accepts, before you pay. In London on 31 October 2026, listings started at £10 a night with an average of £28.
Yes — and it’s recommended. The Meet & Greet takes place after your booking is confirmed and paid. You propose a date, time and place from Messages, and the sitter confirms or suggests another time. Before booking, you can message the sitter while they review your request.
You can choose another sitter. What you’ve already paid is transferred automatically to the new booking. If the new sitter costs more, you pay only the difference; if they cost less, the difference is refunded to you. Note that the Holivet commercial guarantee covers the stay itself, not the Meet & Greet.
It depends on the sitter. Their own pets are listed under “Sitter’s pets” on the profile, and many describe their daily routine, including whether they work from home. Ask in messages how many dogs they host at once and how long yours might be alone.
Yes. Boarding uses a 72-hour cutoff: 72 hours or more before the start, you get a full refund; less than 72 hours before, 50% of the unconsumed days is refunded. When a full refund applies — for example if the sitter cancels — Holidog refunds 100% of the amount you paid, fees included. The cancellation policy sets out the details.
With boarding, your dog stays at the sitter’s home. With house sitting, the sitter stays at yours. Both are priced per night. Boarding suits sociable dogs who settle in new places; house sitting suits dogs who do best at home, multi-pet households, or when you want someone in the house.
Read the profile and reviews, look for the Identity verified badge where shown, ask the questions above, and use the Meet & Greet once booked. Keep messages and payment on Holidog — that is what keeps support and the Holivet commercial guarantee in place.
It depends on where the sitter lives and whether they board dogs as a business. In England, home boarding run as a commercial business needs a council licence under the 2018 Animal Welfare Licensing Regulations. In Scotland and Wales, councils license boarding under the Animal Boarding Establishments Act 1963. Northern Ireland has separate rules.
Ask the sitter for their licence number and the council that issued it, then check with that council. Licence status is not shown as a verified detail on Holidog profiles, so don’t assume a sitter is licensed unless they confirm it.
Soon. Once the programme launches, a new booking with a sitter you’ve booked before will carry a 5% Holidog service fee instead of 15%, plus the 2% Holivet fee. It isn’t available yet; your checkout always shows the fees that apply.
Every booking confirmed and paid on Holidog includes the Holivet commercial guarantee, which can cover emergency vet fees in case of accident during the stay, within the limits and exclusions in the Holivet terms. Report any incident through your Holidog account as soon as possible.
Your dog’s usual food, a bed or blanket from home, lead and collar with ID tag, any medication with written doses, and a favourite toy. Bring the vaccination record if the sitter asks. Agree anything else in messages.
From a single night to several weeks — you choose the dates when you send the request. For longer stays, agree how updates will work and what happens if plans change.
Find a boarder for your dog’s next stay
Enter your town or postcode, add dates if you have them, and compare boarders near you. Nothing is charged until a sitter accepts your request.
