Planning a vacation is awesome, right up until the minute you realize you have to find someone to watch your pup. Having a good boarding facility—where you know your dog is safe and happy—makes all the difference in feeling good about going away on a trip.

How Much Does Dog Boarding Cost?

Dog boarding costs vary based on location and services offered, ranging from $22 to over $60 per night. Facilities may provide add-ons like training, grooming, treats, and walks, according to Carmen Rustenbeck, CEO of IBPSA.

What’s Included in the Dog Boarding Fee?

Staff should at a minimum provide basic care that includes keeping enclosures clean, dog bowls filled with fresh water, and letting dogs outside several times a day to go potty. If your pup is on medication, the staff should give that to your dog as well. You can also expect the boarding facility to monitor your pet’s eating, peeing, and pooping. They should give you a report card of what occurred while you were away too.

If a concern comes up—say your pooch is feeling blue and refusing to eat—the staff should contact you. If they can’t reach you, they should attempt to get in touch with a secondary emergency contact or the dog’s veterinarian, Rustenbeck says.

Average Cost to Board a Dog Overnight

According to Rustenbeck, the average dog boarding fee is $35 a night and typically includes playtime with other pups during the day and a person onsite to watch over them at night.

Besides more services, other factors that can drive the price up include how big of a space your dog needs, how many dogs you have, and the type of boarding facility you choose. Options range from no-frills kennels to luxurious hotel-like rooms with elevated beds and TVs, to in-home boarding, where pets have free run of the sitter’s house.

How to Find a Good Dog Boarding Facility

To find a reliable boarding facility, get recommendations from friends, family, or your vet. Use the IBPSA member directory as a starting point. Always visit facilities to ensure quality and check for red flags like refusal of site visits or inadequate cleanliness. Look for staff training certificates and ask about their credentials, recommends the AKC.

Once you’ve found a place you’re comfortable with, schedule another time to bring your dog by. See how your dog responds to the environment and people. “You’ll notice if your pup is acting weird,” Rustenback notes.

Do your best to decipher whether the wary behavior is because your dog dislikes the boarding facility or simply because it’s an unfamiliar place. If it’s the latter, taking your pooch to a few days of doggy daycare at the facility—if they offer it—may help him get used to the new environment, Rustenbeck says.

Ideally, you want to find a boarding facility that’s within your budget and is a safe and happy place for your pup to stay.