Dog Boarding in Melbourne

Dog boarding in Melbourne ranges from small kennels and in-home hosts to larger boarding centres and day care venues with overnight stays. This page lists businesses from across the Greater Melbourne area, and many addresses include the suburb. Visit before you book: a good facility will happily show you where dogs sleep, play and eat, and how it keeps them cool in a heatwave.

Boarding businesses must be registered

Agriculture Victoria says that all boarding establishments must register as a Domestic Animal Business with the council in the municipality where they operate, and that the Code of Practice for the Operation of Boarding Establishments is mandatory for registered boarding businesses. Registration is handled by each council, so ask the business which council it is registered with, and check that council's page if you want to confirm.

Registering your dog

In Victoria, dogs are registered with the council where they live, so the rules and fees depend on your council. The state's Agriculture Victoria says that all cats and dogs aged 3 months and over must be registered with the local council, and that they must be microchipped before their first registration. The City of Melbourne says its registration period runs from 11 April to 10 April each year, so you must renew by 10 April, and that a microchip does not mean your pet is registered. If you live in another council area, check its own page for dates. Boarding businesses will often ask to see your dog's registration and vaccination records.

Leptospirosis

In July 2026, the Mountain Views Star Mail reported a confirmed case of leptospirosis in a dog treated by a Wandin vet clinic in late June. RSPCA Victoria's director of veterinary services said owners in and around the area should stay away from stagnant muddy water and strongly consider vaccination. Ask your vet whether your dog needs any extra vaccines before a stay.

Summer heat and bushfire season

Melbourne summers can turn dangerous quickly. In January 2026, RSPCA Victoria said that heat stroke can develop rapidly, that warning signs include excessive panting, vomiting or diarrhoea, and unusually bright or very pale gums, and that you should check footpaths with the back of your hand because hot surfaces can burn paw pads. In October 2026, RSPCA Victoria and the CFA urged Victorians to include pets in their bushfire survival plans, with bedding, food and water ready to go and identification details kept current.

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 warm in winter?
• 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 the summer holidays, Christmas and New Year, Easter and the 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.