Dog Boarding in Philadelphia

Dog boarding in Philadelphia 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 comfortable in hot and cold weather.

State kennel licenses and inspections

In Pennsylvania, any business that houses dogs for pay, including day care, needs a boarding kennel license from the Department of Agriculture's Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement, and state dog wardens inspect licensed kennels at least twice a year under the Dog Law. You can look up a kennel's license and inspection results in the state's Kennel Inspections Search before you book. Philadelphia also asks every kennel to register with the city.

Vaccines and canine flu

In early 2023, vets across the Philadelphia region reported a surge in canine influenza. Most facilities ask for rabies (required in Philadelphia from four months old), 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, 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 cool in a heat wave and warm in a cold snap?
• 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. Philadelphia's boarding kennels are expected to check that a dog is licensed before boarding it, so bring the license from ACCT Philly along with your dog's vaccination records.

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.