5 Best Dog Boarding Facilities in Canberra Every Pet Parent Should Know About
Last winter, I had to leave my energetic dog for a weekend getaway—that was his first time at a boarding facility.
Let’s just say I was more nervous than when I took my driver’s test! But Canberra boasts some truly fantastic dog boarding spots, and the place I picked had my dog wagging his tail happily in no time.
Whether you’re planning a holiday, caught up with work, or just in need of short-term doggy daycare, this list will introduce you to the best dog boarding facilities in Canberra.
Don’t worry, we’ve sniffed out the most tail-waggingly wonderful options to ensure your pup will have a barking good time while you’re away. Who knows—they might just have more fun than you!
How much do dog boarding services cost in Canberra?
The cost of dog boarding services in Canberra ranges from $30 to $60 per day.
Final prices may vary due to factors such as your dog’s size, the duration of their stay, and the type of services included.
Facilities might offer various pricing structures, including daily rates or comprehensive packages that cover additional services like grooming, extra playtime, or special dietary requirements.
1. Best Friend Pet Centre
Address: 140 Parkwood Rd, Holt ACT 2618
Phone: +61 2 6254 6399
Business hours:
- Monday to Friday – 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM & 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM
- Saturday – 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM
- Sunday – 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Best Friend Pet Centre offers premium boarding services not only for dogs but also for cats, birds, and even small animals.
Beyond boarding, your pet can enjoy a range of additional services like extra play sessions, group activities, and even the option for baths.
The staff also has the capability to handle special dietary needs or medications, ensuring that they meet your pet’s unique requirements with professionalism.
You can book a tour to check out the place from 3 pm to 5 pm on weekdays. We find this option particularly helpful for verifying if it meets your expectations.
The facility comes highly recommended by pet owners. One owner shared how the staff went above and beyond for her German Shepherd, who needed medical care before her stay.
However, it’s essential to note that their drop-off and pick-up times are specific, and they do not offer a transport service, which might be inconvenient for some pet owners.
Customer Reviews
Best care for doggy daycare
“Best care anywhere. We found doggy daycare when our puppy just had far too much energy during the day for me to deal with when I was working from home. It is now his happy place and even though I would happily have him home with me all the time, he has so much fun with his friends and is taking care of so well by the amazing team we take him there three days a week just because it makes him so happy. Highly recommend for doggy daycare and longer stays during holidays.”
– Janine G, Google Review
Welcoming and friendly cat boarding
“My cat is an indoor cat and very shy. I started using Best Friend Pet Centre this year when I moved to Canberra. The staff have been extremely welcoming and friendly. They offer a range of services to ensure your loved pet is looked after. The boarding spaces are very roomy, and I like how it’s away from all the noise. My cat is very happy to be there. Thank you team.”
– Veronika Koroleva, Google Review
2. Snuggles Pet Resort
Address: 6015 Monaro Hwy, Michelago NSW 2620
Phone: +61 2 6235 9523
Business hours:
- Monday to Friday – 8:30 AM to 11:00 AM & 3:00 PM to 5:30 PM
- Saturday to Sunday – 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM & 3:00 PM to 5:30 PM
Snuggles Pet Resort ensures a safe and comfortable haven for dogs by offering self-contained luxury suites. These suites provide a cozy, personal space just for your pet.
Not only are they designed for comfort, but health and safety are key priorities here. All dogs must be C5 vaccinated at least two weeks before their stay, with proof of vaccination required upon arrival.
This commitment extends further with strict flea control protocols and breed-specific policies, ensuring a clean and secure environment for all pets.
The facility also boasts four separate yards for small, medium, large, and non-social dogs. We love how this thoughtful setup ensures even less social dogs get their outdoor time.
To keep you informed and reassured, they even provide photos and updates about your dog’s activities and well-being.
One thing to consider is the resort’s location; it is situated 20 minutes south of the nearest city, requiring a bit of a drive into the countryside.
Customer Reviews
Consistent excellent care for border collies
“Noel and the team at Snuggles Michelago keep providing consistent excellent care and facilities for our two border collies. We’ve regularly been accommodating our 2 active dogs with Snuggles since pre-Covid for periods of 2 to 4 weeks. Just picked them up on Sunday after 2 weeks away and they were in great shape, happy and mixing well with the other dogs through extended open play in the 3 yard areas provided. Noel and the team know their habits and behaviour and make sure they are comfortable with the other dogs. We keep coming back because the dogs obviously enjoy their time.”
– Bernard Trevanion, Google Review
Fantastic care
“If you care about your dog, Snuggles Pet Resort is the place to go. They took fantastic care of Breizh, and it’s the perfect spot for my border collie who needs lots of attention and activity. The place is really clean, and the individual kennels are very cozy. When I came to pick up Breizh, he kept running back to the staff, showing just how happy he was there. If you want a stress-free trip and a happy dog, this is the place to choose.
No other kennel offers this kind of service. I’d drive any distance to bring my dog here.
I loved getting the detailed email updates about how Breizh was doing, which made my vacation much more relaxing. Thanks to all the staff and to Noel for everything.“
– Anna Houssais, Google Review
3. Monaro Park Dog Boarding
Address: J5RC+X3 Symonston, Australian Capital Territory
Phone: +61 4 0800 4158
Business hours:
- Monday to Friday – 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- Saturday to Sunday – 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM
Monaro Park Dog Boarding recently upgraded its facilities, adding 18 fully insulated indoor kennels with spacious outdoor running areas.
The thoughtful design of these kennels ensures a comfortable temperature day and night without the need for heating or cooling systems.
In addition to the new buildings, Monaro Park boasts outdoor kennels, which come in three sizes: small, medium, and large.
These offer great seasonal comfort, staying cool in the summer and warm in the winter, with the added benefit of sheltered enclosures.
A feature we love is the discounts they offer for extended stays and for families boarding multiple dogs. This makes it easier on your wallet if you’re planning a long trip or have more than one furry friend.
But keep in mind that they don’t offer a 24-hour supervision service. If your dog needs constant monitoring or special nighttime care, this might not be the right fit.
Customer Reviews
Fantastic first-time kennel experience
“I was nervous about leaving our beloved red setter x golden retriever in a kennel for the first time but Monaro Park did a fantastic job of looking after him. He came home happy and it was obvious he had been well cared for. Josh also deserves a big shout out, as our flight home was unexpectedly delayed affecting our pick up time and he was exceptionally understanding and accomodating of the circumstance.”
– W B, Google Review
Happy and well-cared-for
“Our sooky, stand-offish, couch-loving whippet is not a fan of being boarded full stop, but despite this he’s always happy to see Josh. After repeat stays he’s become less and less reluctant to leave the car when we arrive which tells me they’re definitely doing right while he’s there! Josh obviously loves dogs and our boy always comes back in great condition. Very happy return clients.”
– Jodie Petrov, Google Review
4. Camp Bow Wow Canberra
Address: 429 Wallaroo Rd, Wallaroo NSW 2618
Phone: +61 4 3828 0035
Business hours:
- Monday to Friday – 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM & 1:00 PM to 5:30 PM
- Saturday to Sunday – 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM & 2:00 PM to 5:30 PM
At Camp Bow Wow, your dog can enjoy cozy nights in fully insulated, air-conditioned indoor kennels.
With only 15 kennels on their peaceful 40-acre property, the facility maintains a quiet and serene environment, allowing them to provide remarkable, personalized attention to every dog.
Included in the boarding fee is daily basic grooming and cuddle time, along with medication administration at no extra cost. A premium diet is also provided to keep every dog well-fed and happy.
During the day, your dog will relish in the outdoors with multiple exercise sessions, enjoying the tranquility of the farm’s rural views.
They even send regular photo updates to owners, so you can see just how much fun your dog is having—a feature we find truly delightful.
However, the intimate setting with only 15 kennels means that booking can be limited, especially during holidays.
Customer Reviews
Lovely first kennel experience
“Dash and Dotti had a lovely time at Camp BowWow, their first kennel experience. We really saw how happy and well they were when we picked them up, and the updates and photos during their stay really helped their anxious mums too! Thank you so much to the whole Camp BW team, and especially Kay who took such care of the kids. Thoroughly recommend and we will be back!”
– Ruth Macpi, Google Review
Amazing care and updates
“Our little boy was so well looked after, during his week long stay. Nothing was too much trouble, and Kristine and her staff are just amazing. We were kept regularly informed of Sox’s stay, and how he was coping, and receiving the beautiful photos of him was just a beautiful highlight. I would highly recommend Camp Bow Wow, and we are already looking into booking our next holiday, safe in the knowledge that our little dog will be very well looked after… :)”
– Jacqui Fitzgibbins, Google Review
5. Kiaora Park Pet Care – Boarding and Grooming
Address: 690 Tallagandra Ln, Sutton NSW 2620
Phone: +61 4 8848 8232
Business hours: Monday to Sunday – 8:30 AM to 10:00 AM
Kiaora Park Pet Care offers 24 modern dog suites, each equipped with indoor rooms, heated floors, air conditioning, and a covered outdoor area with an individual 6m run.
Each suite can accommodate up to four dogs from the same family, with sizes perfect for play—a 3m x 3m suite that backs onto a 9m x 3m yard, 3m of which is undercover for bad weather.
Understanding that your pet’s comfort is key, they offer two daily playtime sessions tailor-made for your dog.
A pet owner we chatted with shared that these playtimes are packed with ball games, cuddles, and plenty of fun, ensuring your pet feels right at home.
Another appealing aspect is the flexibility in their rate options, including peak and off-peak seasons. The rates cover premium food, treats, bedding, and playtime with no hidden extras.
One caveat though is the facility’s relatively higher daily rates, which could be a consideration if you’re on a budget.
Customer Reviews
Peace of mind with professional pet care
“Kiaora Park Pet Care has been looking after our boy Louis since his puppyhood 4 years ago back in 2021. Words can’t express how much we love their service and help. Professional, love and care, they always give us a peace of mind when we are away. They send us daily updates via message or email which is a guarantee. Waking up to the photo updates every morning has been a biggest pleasure while we travel overseas and gives us a real peace of mind. We would like to say a big THANK YOU to Lisa, Rory, Monika, Tabea, Heidi, Loren and the rest of the team who has been taking care Louis. Photos in this post are from them during Louis’ stays in 2024 and 2023. See you next time ❤️❤️❤️”
– Ruilin Gao, Google Review
Highly recommend for pet boarding
“I cannot recommend Kiaora highly enough. They took such amazing care of our dogs multiple times over the past 3 months and the dogs returned home very happy and content. We loved receiving mulitple photos from the team each day and which really put our minds at ease (especially in the beginning) as we could see the dogs were in their element and not fretful. Kiaora accommodated all of our requests for the dogs and we so lovely even when it came to a last minute booking. If you are looking to board your pets, you can’t go wrong at Kiaora 🐕❤️“
– Sarah McIntosh, Google Review