Dog Boarding in Tacoma

Dog boarding in and around Tacoma 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 wet weather and in heat.

Visiting is your best check

A 2024 Washington House of Representatives bill analysis said state law has no specific professional license for boarders, though local governments may require one, and that a general state business license is required. 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 and coughs

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. In December 2023 the Washington State Department of Agriculture said veterinarians had sent it 16 reports of an atypical canine respiratory illness across the state, with reports from King, Pierce, Clark and Spokane counties among others. Its advice for owners: keep your dog fully vaccinated, avoid crowds of dogs and keep yours away from sick dogs, and it said kennels should be strict about not admitting sick dogs. Ask any facility how it handles a dog that starts coughing. Details are in the state's December 1, 2023 update.

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 comfortable in wet weather, cold snaps and heat?
• 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 Tacoma license, which the City of Tacoma requires for dogs over eight weeks old and renews each year.

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.