Kennels vs home boarding: which is right for your dog?

Choosing where your dog stays while you're away is one of the most stressful parts of any trip. The two main options — traditional kennels and licensed home boarding — feel similar on paper but are very different experiences for your dog.

What home boarding actually means

Home boarding means your dog stays in a carer's own home, sleeping indoors and keeping a normal household routine. In England, anyone boarding dogs in their home for payment must hold a licence from their local council under the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) Regulations 2018. That licence covers welfare standards, numbers of dogs, and safety.

Where kennels can fall short

Kennels vary enormously. Good ones are clean, safe and well-staffed — but even the best mean your dog sleeps in a pen, often with limited one-to-one time and a lot of background noise from other dogs. For anxious, elderly or sociable dogs, that can be hard.

How to choose

Whichever you pick, check the licence, visit first, and share your dog's routine in writing. On PawStay every boarding carer's council licence number is verified and shown on their profile so you can check the register yourself.