Kandice VincentGoing away for a vacation where you can’t bring your dog with you? Thank your luck because you hit the right page for your needs!
This review covers the best dog boarding services in Toronto as well as their key offerings that you can look into. Further in the article, you’ll also find the cost of these services plus the metrics we used to find the best in the city.
The Cost of Dog Boarding in Toronto
Overnight dog boarding starts at $29 and can go up to $80. But in general, pet owners often spend $40 on average for overnight dog boarding services.
For long-term packages, companies often offer discounted pricing. They may also add an average of $10 over the regular price if the booking was made during busy holidays.
The table below shows the estimated costs of dog boarding in Toronto:
Top Dog Boarding Services in Toronto
Our research consisted of an online survey of past clients, Google Reviews assessment, scheduled personal visits, and surprise observations.
The information we collected was used to establish our rating system for each metric. The criteria are as follows.
1. Paws Playgrounds
| Boarding policies and process | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Health and safety requirements | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Special or additional services | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| On-call veterinarian | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Facility | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Amenities | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Safety and sanitation | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Size and staffing ratio | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Rates | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Reputation and experience | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Right away, Paws Playgrounds’ key selling point is its high-end dog boarding experience that you can’t just find anywhere else. In fact, the level of care is almost up-to-par with five-star hotels – only for dogs.
Their full service dog boarding packages include a standard 24-hour stay, long-weekend plans, and 20-night boarding package. As presented, there are enough options for various needs whether short-term or long-term.
What gives them an edge over others is the fact they have these spacious sleeping suites, not just kennels. Each private room provides dogs with orthopedic beds which are available in various sizes.
To take the luxe experience up a notch, every dog also gets their own personalized meal service both for breakfast and dinner. Once they get enough time to eat, they’re allowed to play in their 10,000 square feet playing facility.
Naturally, dogs in this place also get supervised care (cuddles and belly rubs included) 7 days a week. As the cherry on top, they provide dog bathing as well which other facilities don’t really offer with boarding.
The rates are reasonably higher though but clients do get to enjoy a free assessment as well as a free trial day. There’s just a minor hiccup with customer service but the rest is a wonderful experience for both pet and owner.
Pros
- Various dog boarding packages available
- Spacious private sleeping suits
- Personalized meal services
- 7 days a week of supervised care
- Rooms come with orthopedic beds
- Large facility for exercise and play
- Offers dog bathing services
- Free assessment and free trial day
- Private rooms for breakfast and dinner
Cons
- Minor issue with customer service
- Relatively higher rates
Customer Reviews
Makes dogs super happy
Our dog gets so excited when we drop him off at paws playground. When we leave him overnight we get updates and photos with who he’s playing with and how he’s doing. He always comes home tired and happy. The staff are wonderful with him too. – Caitlin
Dogs have a great time
Can’t speak highly enough of this place. We’ve been with them since the beginning. They have always provided great service. They are always accommodating. Great pictures and video – the dogs are obviously having a great time. – Brent Fraser
2. Dogtopia
| Boarding policies and process | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Health and safety requirements | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Special or additional services | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| On-call veterinarian | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Facility | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Amenities | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Safety and sanitation | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Size and staffing ratio | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Rates | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Reputation and experience | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Top-class care and safety are among our top considerations and Dogtopia met our expectations. Among all the places we’ve reviewed, we consider them among the best when it comes to pet welfare.
One of the things that allow them to deliver great services is close supervision within a play setting. Every playroom has a dedicated canine coach watching over the dogs, managing their play to ensure safety.
In line with this, the dogs are also separated according to size, temperament, and play style. We like this approach because it enables your pet to interact with other dogs of the same wavelength and personality.
Their dog boarding packages are pretty standard which includes your typical overnight stay as well as extended boarding services. Sleeping areas are personalized using home-style crates to help reduce stress and anxiety.
For a more luxurious experience, there are also larger and spacious suites available, for a higher fee, of course. Regardless of what you choose, your dog gets to enjoy breakfast and dinner services that can accommodate any dietary restrictions.
Our favorite among their offerings has to be their live webcams that clients can access via their mobile app. This makes the service much more transparent and owners can see their pets even when they’re miles away.
Pros
- Spacious, multi-level facility for play
- Canine coaches on-site in playrooms
- Larger and spacious suits available
- Home-style crates for overnight stay
- Personalized breakfast and dinner service
- Boarding supervision 24 hours a day
- Live webcam access through mobile app
- Competitive boarding rates
Cons
- Minor issues on overboarding
- Can be difficult to book at times
Customer Reviews
A great experience for everyone
Taking my dog to Dogtopia Bloor West is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. He loves it there! All the staff really care about the dogs and strive to make it a great experience for everyone. 10/10 recommend Dogtopia Bloor West – Robin Young
Safe and welcoming environment
Welcoming and very detailed on explaining the protocols for safe dog play. Playroom very well controlled by the experienced coach who is always there to break up unwanted interactions. I feel confident that my dog can enjoy himself there while being safe and cared for. – Monica E
3. Park9
| Boarding policies and process | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Health and safety requirements | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Special or additional services | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| On-call veterinarian | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Facility | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Amenities | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Safety and sanitation | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Size and staffing ratio | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Rates | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Reputation and experience | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Park9 has two locations in GTA but we’re featuring this one for special reasons that you might enjoy. In our opinion, this is an exciting place if you want various room options and play facilities for your pet.
The company has been in business for more than 17 years so they’ve already had many long-term clients. Apart from experience, their rates are also competitively reasonable, which is why we think they have many return clients.
As for their dog boarding services, they have a slumber room as well as personal overnight suites. We always like a bit of choice in this matter since we know pets respond to various environments differently.
Speaking of options, they provide various room types which vary in size and additional features for enjoyment. For instance, their executive room comes with a soft-cushion bed and even its own private TV.
Another thing we loved is that they have a room specifically designed for elderly dogs (with special bedding and in-floor heating). The boarding is available for 24-hour stays but they also offer 7 up to 21-night boarding packages.
Finally, the resort-style amenities is one for the books with their indoor swimming pool fit for play. And if safety and attention is a concern for you, they also have live webcams in their major play areas accessible to all clients.
Pros
- More than 17 years of experience
- Competitive boarding rates
- Various room types available
- Special features included per room
- Dedicated boarding suite for elderly dogs
- Available for short-term and long-term stays
- Resort-style amenities on site
- Live webcams on major playrooms
Cons
- Issues with online booking
- Minor concerns with customer service
Customer Reviews
Wonderful and fun experience
I love taking my puppy here. The staff are all so lovely and are so excited to see Charlie. I love checking in on him during the day on their webcams. When he comes home he is sooo tired which is wonderful! He recently had a wash and nail trim there and he came home looking so handsome and fresh! Thank you for all you do! – Justin Michael
Exciting services
The only one who likes this place more than me is my dog. He’s always so excited to go in and happy when he comes out. The staff is professional and friendly and my dog seems to love every one of them. If you bring your dog here, you know. If you don’t, you should. – Trent Thompson
4. Soulmutts Toronto Ltd.
| Boarding policies and process | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Health and safety requirements | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Special or additional services | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| On-call veterinarian | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Facility | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Amenities | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Safety and sanitation | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Size and staffing ratio | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Rates | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Reputation and experience | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
Having been in the business for over a decade, Soulmutts Toronto Ltd. has a solid reputation in downtown Toronto. With them, owners can be assured that their pets are free to be themselves in a fun and exciting place.
One of our favorite things about them are the features and amenities available for play. Dogs can enjoy the top-of-the-line features including their convertible building from one massive playing area to five personalized zones.
For their boarding service, we find them worth the shot because they supply everything else that they need for your dog’s stay (all you need to pack is food). Although to be fair, other places already include meal services in the package.
When it comes to pricing, their rates are quite reasonable given the comfortable space and the kind of boarding system they deliver. This rate includes the drop-off and pick-up fees so you don’t have to worry about that.
Moreover, pet owners can also choose the kind of sleeping accommodation they want for their dog/s. It could be a private one, a semi-private room, or group sleepovers depending on the dog’s comfort level.
Lastly, fur parents can expect to receive pictures of their pets throughout the day as a means of communication. We think it is a great factor for great customer service, plus it keeps owners in the loop of how things are going with their pet.
Pros
- A decade of service
- Spacious facility with personalized zones
- Offers different kinds of sleeping accommodation
- Reasonable boarding rates
- Top-of-the-line amenities and features
- Rates include drop-off and pick-up fees
- Daily monitoring through photos
Cons
- Meal services aren’t included
Customer Reviews
Very responsive and accommodating
We left our dog at Soulmutts for his first night away from home. We had to leave town urgently and they were very responsive and able to accommodate our schedule. They provided us with lots of updates while we were away and even included photos which were much appreciated. Our dog came out looking happy and healthy and I am sure he will be eager to return! – Gabi
Reliable dog sitter
Ollie (my dog) has been going to SOULMUTTS since we moved to Toronto in 2018. They have been the best thing for him and for an anxious dog mom! I was so worried about finding a reliable dog sitter/walker/boarding location/groomer, and SOULMUTTS provides all that! They are so accommodating when they can be also! I never have to spend my time worrying when I am away from Ollie as I know he’s in the best hands. I trust SOULMUTTS the way I would a family member to care for my dog! They’re highly responsive, budget friendly service! Can’t recommend and praise enough! – Kris
5. Woof!
| Boarding policies and process | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Health and safety requirements | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Special or additional services | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| On-call veterinarian | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Facility | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Amenities | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Safety and sanitation | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Size and staffing ratio | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Rates | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Reputation and experience | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
A stress-free vacation away from their humans is what North of Woof Dog Boarding service promised to their clients. True enough, dogs get a comfortable, kennel-free home boarding facility on their 50-acre farm.
Through its settings, one of the highlight boarding day activities they have is hiking. Woof surely finds this one as an excellent way to stimulate the dogs, and we agree that it can also help them bond with the staff.
Speaking of their boarding day activities, dogs will have the same normal routine they do at their home. This includes feeding, indoor and outdoor playtime, and also other services like a regular burr and coat checks (although this one isn’t full-time work).
Additionally, we found their feeding assistance excellent and reliable. This is because dogs are fed one at a time, separated from the group (this is naturally done to avoid fighting over food, thus reducing fighting risks).
One of their edge over their competitors is the fact that they operate with lower numbers of boarding dogs (9 to 12). In this case, the staff can focus on delivering high-quality care for the dogs which surely will be a good way to satisfy their fur parents.
Crating at night is also optional for puppies and dogs who are on a crate routine at home. This is just another way of making sure every dog in their place is being catered to in the best possible way that fits their needs.
Pros
- Kennel-free home boarding facility
- Known for its hiking activity
- Intense yet fun play activities
- Large area for indoor and outdoor play
- Hands-on interaction with dogs
- Top-notch feeding assistance
- Night crating available for puppies
- Low staff to dog ratio
Cons
- Higher rates
Customer Reviews
Very friendly
Literally couldn’t ask for a better Doggy Day Care. They are VERY friendly, accommodating, and genuinely love dogs. I feel 110% safe, and at ease whenever my dog is there, and he loves it to! – Robert Karbaum
Convenient service
I leave my pupper here when I have longer work days and it’s great. Really convenient, friendly service. They also offer some discounts to grooming when your dog is in daycare, which is one less thing to have to worry about. My dog loves the social time (she always sprints in the door) and it tires her out for the day. They also post photos on their Instagram account so you can see what your dog is getting up to. Can’t wait to see how their expansion goes! – Katherine Connolly
FAQs About Dog Boarding in Toronto
Leaving your dog for a little while can definitely be lonely for both you and your companion. Once you return, treat them to the best dog grooming services in Toronto so you can bond more and enjoy time together.
