Dog Boarding in Atlanta

Dog boarding in and around Atlanta ranges from small kennels to pet resorts and day care centers with overnight stays. Visit before you book: a good facility will happily show you where dogs sleep, play and eat, and how it keeps them warm in winter and cool in summer.

State kennel licenses

In Georgia, boarding kennels are licensed by the Department of Agriculture. The department's license search lists groomers, trainers and boarders as kennel operators, and the state's rules define a kennel as an establishment where dogs or cats are kept for boarding, holding, training or similar purposes for a fee. Ask a facility whether it holds a license and look it up yourself.

What a licensed kennel must follow

A kennel with a state license must comply with the Georgia Animal Protection Act and keep records of when each animal arrives and leaves and of any vet visits. The state's rules also say indoor housing should be heated or cooled so that animals that are not acclimated are not exposed to temperatures below 45°F or above 85°F. Look for those basics when you visit.

Coughs and canine illness

In November 2023, 11Alive reported that veterinarians across the country were warning of a respiratory illness spreading among dogs, and quoted a VCA Animal Hospitals medical director who advised owners to keep respiratory vaccines current and to limit exposure to other dogs when there is a known outbreak in your area. Ask your vet which vaccines make sense for your dog, and ask the facility how it separates a dog that starts coughing.

Vaccines

Most facilities ask for rabies, DHPP and Bordetella (kennel cough), and many ask for canine influenza, whose first course is two doses a few weeks apart. Ask which vaccines a facility requires well before your trip.

What to ask

• Where do dogs sleep, and is someone on site overnight?
• Is play time in groups or one dog at a time, and how are groups matched?
• How do they keep dogs warm in winter and cool in summer?
• Which vet do they use in an emergency?
• Can you bring your dog's own food, bedding or medication?

Busy dates and your dog's license

Facilities fill up for summer, the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving and the winter holidays, so book early. Bring your dog's vaccination records and its Fulton County dog license; the county requires pet owners to license their dogs. On hot days, remember that Fulton County Police warn a parked car can pass 120°F when it is 80°F outside, so do not leave your dog in the car at drop-off.

About these listings

Many listings here were added from public business data and have not been claimed by the business yet. Check hours, prices and availability with the business directly. If you run one of these businesses, you can claim or correct your listing from its page.