Illustrative stock photograph, not a DPR test or a record of the service or provider priced here.
Dog Boarding Cost UK: Compare the Whole Stay
Two published 2026 kennel tariffs, their different charging rules, and a whole-stay quote checklist for boarding, home care and day care.
Published price snapshot
| Service / tier | Published price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Newgate Kennels, Wilmslow: single small dog | £33 | Published overnight rate; arrival, collection and holiday rules apply |
| Newgate: single medium / large / XL dog | £34.50 / £36 / £37 | Provider's size categories, not owner-selected weight bands |
| Newgate: single-dog day crèche | £29–£33 | By size; 8am–6pm published service |
| Dukes Barn Farm: first dog | £18 per day | Daily, not explicitly per-night, tariff |
| Dukes Barn Farm: additional dog | £13 per dog per day | Confirm sharing, inclusions and billing dates directly |
Compare the total for your actual arrival and collection times, not just a number labelled 'per night'. We checked two provider-owned 2026 tariffs on 21 September 2026. They illustrate different charging units and conditions; two kennels cannot establish a UK average or the price of home boarding.
Two published tariff examples
Newgate Kennels in Wilmslow lists single-dog overnight rates of £33 small, £34.50 medium, £36 large and £37 XL. Its tariff says food, exercise, heating, insurance and VAT are included. Arrival is charged as a full day, collection after 2pm adds a surcharge, and public holidays add a day's overnight board. Complex medication and some veterinary transport can cost extra. These conditions matter more to a short stay than a small difference in the headline rate.
Dukes Barn Farm's 2026 tariff lists £18 per day for the first dog and £13 per additional dog. It is closed on Sundays and publishes separate arrival/departure windows. Ask how both boundary days are charged; this page does not silently convert its daily price into a nightly one.
Request one whole-stay quote
Give each provider the same dates and collection time, number of dogs, diet, medicines, separation needs and handling requirements. Ask for the complete charge including VAT, food, medication administration, holiday supplements, transport and any trial session. Confirm deposit, cancellation, early-return and late-collection rules in writing.
For an illustrative seven charged days at £18, the base arithmetic is £126. That is not a seven-night booking quote: the provider must confirm how many days your itinerary incurs and which extras apply.
Choose a care arrangement, not a price tier
Kennels, boarding in a host's home, care in your own home and day care are different services. Ask where the dog sleeps, how much unsupervised time occurs, whether unfamiliar dogs mix, how exercise is arranged, and what happens if the dog is distressed or becomes ill. Neither a domestic setting nor a higher price proves suitability.
A short trial and a clear care plan are more useful than declaring all long kennel stays unsuitable or all home boarding calming. Discuss special health or behavioural needs with the relevant professional and provider before committing.
Check the correct licensing authority
GOV.UK's England guidance requires licensing for businesses providing kennels, dog day care or home boarding and says the licence number must appear in advertising. Check the actual premises and current licence with its council. Rules and responsible authorities differ across the UK; do not treat England's system or star ratings as a UK-wide certificate.
This page has not checked either sampled provider's current licence, service quality or availability. The price table is not a vetted-provider directory. A pet sitter in your own home is also not automatically the same licensed activity as boarding in somebody else's home.
Avoid gaps in the care plan
Confirm emergency contact and veterinary consent arrangements, vaccination requirements, food storage and the backup plan if the provider cannot continue. Use the walker cost comparison for daytime support and compare it with the actual amount of supervision your dog needs, not an assumed national day-care saving.