Dog Boarding in Toronto

Dog boarding in Toronto ranges from small kennels and in-home hosts to pet resorts and day care centres 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 a cold snap and cool in a heat wave.

Business licences, now and from 2027

Right now, the City of Toronto licenses only pet shops among animal-related businesses. From February 1, 2027, boarding kennels and pet daycares will need a Pet Establishment licence and must meet standards for housing, ventilation, temperature, cleanliness, noise control and record keeping, with insurance coverage. Until then there is no City boarding licence to check, so visit, ask what standards the facility follows and look at where the dogs stay.

Your dog's licence

All dogs owned in Toronto must be licensed and wear a tag, and the City of Toronto says the licence must be renewed every year. Groomers and boarding businesses will often ask for proof of your dog's rabies vaccination, so keep it handy with the licence tag number.

Respiratory illness and vaccines

In December 2023, when a respiratory illness in dogs was making headlines across North America, Global News reported that pet insurance claims for respiratory disease in Ontario were up about 25 per cent from the year before, while an Ontario Veterinary College infection specialist said he believed the cause was the usual suspects. Kennel cough is the common name for several of these illnesses, and it spreads wherever dogs mix. Ask your vet whether your dog needs a vaccine such as Bordetella before a stay, and ask the facility 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 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

Facilities fill up for summer, Canada Day, Thanksgiving in October and the winter holidays, so book early, and bring your dog's vaccination records and municipal licence number.

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.