Dog Boarding in Cincinnati

Dog boarding in and around Cincinnati 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 cool in summer and warm in winter.

Visiting is your best check

Ohio has no state license for boarding kennels: the state's commercial dog law licenses high-volume breeders, dog brokers and pet stores, and the Department of Agriculture inspects a boarding kennel only if it is reported to be breeding dogs. So the visit is your inspection. Look for clean, dry runs, fresh water, secure fencing, staff who know the dogs by name, and a clear plan for a dog that gets sick.

Keep core vaccines up to date

In spring 2023, canine distemper spread through Cincinnati Animal CARE, the county shelter: 33 of 75 dogs tested were positive, and the shelter restricted intake and adoptions (FOX19). Distemper is covered by the DHPP vaccine, so make sure your dog's shots are current before any stay. Most facilities also ask for rabies and Bordetella (kennel cough), and many ask for canine influenza, whose first course is two doses a few weeks apart.

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 cool in a heat wave and warm in a cold snap?
• Which vet do they use in an emergency, and how do they separate a dog that starts coughing?
• 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 license from the Hamilton County Auditor.

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.