Dog Boarding in Houston

Dog boarding in Houston ranges from small kennels to pet resorts with indoor play areas, private suites and day care. Visit before you book: a good facility will happily show you where dogs sleep, play and eat, and how it keeps them cool.

Licensing

The City of Houston issues a commercial pet service facility license under Chapter 6 of the city code for businesses that keep other people's dogs and cats. It is fair to ask a boarding facility whether it holds a current one.

Vaccines

Texas law requires rabies vaccination by four months of age, and in the City of Houston dogs must also be registered with BARC and microchipped. Most facilities ask for DHPP (which covers distemper and parvovirus) and Bordetella (kennel cough), and some ask for canine influenza. Distemper still turns up in Houston: in February 2023 the city shelter paused dog intake for several weeks after a confirmed case. Ask which vaccines a facility requires, and how it handles a dog that starts coughing.

Hurricane season

If you may need to leave during a storm, plan where your dog will go before hurricane season. BARC advises keeping vaccinations current, because shelters and boarding facilities may ask for proof, finding pet-friendly places to stay ahead of time, and calling before you go. Keep copies of your dog's records in your emergency kit, and ask a facility what it does if it loses power or floods.

What to ask

• Where do dogs sleep, and is someone on site overnight?
• How do they keep dogs cool, and what happens if the power goes out?
• Is play time in groups or one dog at a time, and how are groups matched?
• Which vet do they use in an emergency?
• Can you bring your dog's own food, bedding or medication?

Busy dates and fireworks

Facilities fill up for summer, the Fourth of July and the winter holidays, so book early. BARC advises keeping pets indoors with up-to-date ID around the Fourth of July; tell the facility if your dog is scared of fireworks.

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.