How much does doggie day care cost?
Doggy day care services provide a playful and safe environment for dogs to socialize with other pups, be fed, receive human affection and get exercise. Most professional dog day care businesses will take care of any dog, regardless of age, size or breed. Dog day care can be a one-time deal for when a pet owner’s house is full of guests, a weekly event to keep the dog socialized or an every weekday routine during work hours. Many dog day care professionals offer grooming services, medication administration and dog training as added services. Several factors affect the cost of doggy day care.
Length of stay
Most doggy day care centers charge by the half- or full-day session. Generally, rates don’t double from a half day to a full day but rather increase incrementally. Most dog day care services are not priced by the hour. Here are some examples of half-day versus full-day prices:
Dee’s Doggie Den in Cleburne, Texas
- Full day: $18
- Half day: $13
Barks 5th Avenue in Houston, Texas
- Full day: $24
- Half day: $15
The Balanced Dog of Delray Beach in Delray Beach, Florida
- Half day: $30
- Service includes a combination of structured exercise and pack training.
Packages
For dog owners who know they need ongoing care, packages provide the most cost savings. The upfront price of the package is more than an individual session, but the cost per session drops when more days are purchased at one time. Here are some examples of how this works:
- Seven full days: $159
- Represents a $9 savings over purchasing individually; expires after three weeks
- 14 full days: $302
- Represents a $34 savings; expires after 30 days
Dee’s Doggie Den
- Five full days: $85 for one dog; $150 for two dogs
- Represents a $5 savings
- Five half days: $60 for one dog; $110 for two dogs
- 15 full days: $245 for one dog; $440 for two dogs
- Represents a $25 savings
- 15 half days: $175 for one dog; $315 for two dogs
- 30 full days: $450 for one dog; $795 for two dogs
- Represents a $90 savings
- 30 half days: $330 for one dog; $595 for two dogs
With all packages from Dee’s Doggie Den, additional dogs from the same family receive a 20 percent discount. Packages are valid for six months from the date of purchase.
Temperament test
The majority of dog day care centers require a temperament test before dogs can be admitted for free play with the other dogs. Some centers have a fee for this testing, while others do not. Barks 5th Avenue requires a temperament test for all new dogs and charges $30.
Grooming
Many professional doggy day care centers offer grooming services. Barks 5th Avenue offers a $4 discount on its full-day rate if grooming services are also purchased. Here is a price list for grooming services from Barks 5th Avenue:
- Nail trim: $10
- Nail grinding: $15
- Nail grinding with bath or full groom: $12
- Nail painting: $5
- Anal gland servicing: $15
- Furminator, or deshedding: $25 per hour
- Baths: $28 to start
- Full groom: $45 to start
- Includes PH-balanced shampoo, conditioner, nail trim, ear cleaning, coat polish, hand-dry service, brush out, anal gland service, bandana and full-body haircut
- Full groom pricing may increase based on size, coat condition and temperament of the dog.
Extra services
Many day care centers provide additional services for dogs that need extra attention or require medical help. These services cost extra. For example, Barks 5th Avenue charges $2 per medicine dose. Be sure to inquire about add-on services before buying a package—especially if your pooch requires shots because not all providers are able to do injections.
Overnight
Many doggy day care businesses also board dogs overnight for a separate fee. When pet owners are unable to pick dogs up before the end of dog care day hours, an overnight fee is usually applied automatically. Dee’s Doggie Den charges $28–$38 depending on the doggy suite size.
