Dog Boarding in Minneapolis

Dog boarding in and around Minneapolis 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.

Minnesota law and your own visit

Minnesota's kennel license law says that no one may operate a kennel or dealer business without a license from the state Board of Animal Health. But the statute defines a kennel as a place where dogs or cats are kept if they were obtained from municipalities, pounds, auctions or ads for unwanted pets, and the definition does not mention boarding or grooming. The City of Minneapolis lists its animal-related business licenses as horse and carriage, pet shop and traveling animal show licenses, and none for boarding kennels or groomers. 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 subzero 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 city license: all dogs over four months old need a Minneapolis license, which requires current rabies vaccinations.

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.