Dog Boarding in Gosford and the Central Coast

Dog boarding on the Central Coast ranges from small kennels and in-home hosts to pet resorts and day care centres with overnight stays. This page holds listings across the Central Coast Council area, so check that a kennel suits your drive. 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.

The state boarding code

NSW has an Animal Welfare Code of Practice for dogs and cats in boarding establishments. The NSW Department of Primary Industries publishes it and says that commercial boarding businesses must comply with its standards. Among other things, it says a current vaccination certificate (within the last 12 months) must be produced for each dog before admission, covering distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus and canine cough, that puppies under 4 months old should not be admitted except in exceptional circumstances, and that dogs must be given a chance to exercise for at least 10 minutes twice daily. Councils may have their own rules too, so ask a kennel what it follows.

Your dog's registration

Under NSW law, councils register dogs for life. Service NSW says that every pet dog must be microchipped and then registered on the NSW Pet Registry by 12 weeks of age, or on the day its ownership is transferred if that comes first, and that registration covers the dog for its lifetime, even if its owner changes. Registration is handled by your council, which on the Central Coast is Central Coast Council. Groomers and boarding kennels often ask for vaccination records, so keep them handy with your dog's microchip details.

Paralysis ticks

In September 2024, NBN News reported the Central Coast pinpointed as a hot spot for paralysis ticks. If you walk your dog in bushland before or after a stay, check it over, and ask the kennel how it checks dogs for ticks.

Summer heat

RSPCA NSW advises giving pets shade and plenty of fresh water, avoiding exercise in the middle of the day and taking extra care with flat-faced breeds such as Pugs and Bulldogs. Ask a kennel how it keeps dogs cool on a hot day and whether dogs have shade and fresh water all day.

New Year's Eve fireworks

RSPCA NSW says dogs hear about ten times better than humans, so fireworks can be terrifying, and suggests a microchip and ID tag, keeping pets secured indoors and leaving the TV or radio on to mask the noise. If your dog panics at loud noises, ask the kennel how it handles fireworks nights, and talk to your vet well beforehand.

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 summer and calm on storm or fireworks nights?
• Which vet do they use in an emergency?
• Can you bring your dog's own food, bedding or medication?

Busy dates

Facilities fill up for Christmas and New Year, Easter and school holidays, so book early, and bring your dog's vaccination records and registration details.

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.