Dog Boarding in Columbus

Dog boarding in and around Columbus 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.

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.

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, and how it separates a dog that starts coughing.

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 a cold snap and cool in a heat wave?
• 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 Franklin County dog license, which is renewed each year between December 1 and January 31 (Spectrum News). During extreme cold, the Franklin County Dog Shelter offers free emergency boarding for dogs whose owners are going to a county warming center.

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.