Dog Boarding Software Buyer's Guide

Managing a dog boarding facility involves coordinating overnight stays, tracking feeding schedules, handling check-ins across multiple days, and keeping anxious pet parents informed while their dogs are away. The right software makes this manageable—the wrong choice (or no software at all) leads to chaos.

This guide covers everything about dog boarding software: what features you actually need, how platforms compare, realistic pricing expectations, and how to evaluate options for your specific situation.

What Is Dog Boarding Software?

Dog boarding software is a management platform designed for facilities that offer overnight pet stays. While it shares features with daycare software, boarding-specific functionality includes:

• Multi-day reservation management with arrival and departure tracking
• Kennel/run assignment optimising space utilisation
• Feeding schedule management for multiple meals across stays
• Medication administration tracking with alerts and logging
• Extended care documentation for longer stays
• Boarding-specific reporting (occupancy by night, average stay length)

The platform handles everything from initial booking through checkout, reducing manual tracking and ensuring nothing falls through the cracks during busy periods.

Why Boarding Facilities Need Specialised Software

The Boarding-Specific Challenge

Boarding differs from daycare in important ways:

• Longer stays mean more variables to track (feeding, medications, exercise schedules)
• 24/7 responsibility for animals in your care
• Higher anxiety from pet parents who are often travelling
• Peak demand concentrated around holidays and school breaks
• Run/kennel management requires space optimisation

Generic booking tools don’t account for these realities. Spreadsheets work until they don’t—usually during your busiest period when a booking error or missed medication creates a crisis.

What Changes With Proper Software

Essential Features for Boarding Software

Reservation Management

The core of any boarding system:

• Multi-day booking with check-in and check-out times
• Run/kennel assignment with visual availability display
• Capacity management preventing overbooking
• Waitlist functionality for peak periods
• Recurring reservations for regular boarders
• Holiday and blackout date management

Feeding and Care Tracking

Critical for animal welfare and liability protection:

• Feeding schedules with specific food and portion instructions
• Medication management with dosage, timing, and completion tracking
• Exercise and activity logging
• Behavioural observations throughout the stay
• Elimination tracking (important for identifying health issues)

Pet Parent Communication

Reducing anxiety for clients away from their pets:

• Automated arrival confirmations
• Daily update messages (ideally with photos)
• Issue notification protocols
• Pre-departure reminders
• Post-stay follow-up for reviews and rebooking

Kennel/Run Management

Optimising your physical space:

• Visual calendar showing run availability
• Size and type matching (indoor/outdoor, shared/private)
• Cleaning status tracking
• Maintenance scheduling
• Multi-pet accommodation for families

Financial Management

Getting paid efficiently:

• Deposit collection at booking
• Automatic calculation of stay length and add-ons
• Package rates for extended stays
• Add-on services (grooming, training, extra walks)
• Automatic payment processing at checkout

Dog Boarding Software Compared (2026)

Pricing verified January 2026. Confirm current rates with vendors.

Platform Strengths

Gingr handles boarding well with strong reservation management and multi-location support. The visual calendar makes run management intuitive. Better suited for medium to large facilities due to pricing and complexity.

PetExec offers comprehensive boarding features with good feeding and medication tracking. POS integration useful for facilities with retail. Interface is functional if not modern.

PetLinx provides solid boarding basics at the lowest price point of any platform. Good for smaller facilities and those on tight budgets. Feeding and medication tracking is more basic than competitors, and the mobile experience is web-only.

ProPet balances features and pricing well. Strong in Canadian market but works internationally. Handles combined boarding and daycare operations effectively.

Kennel Booker offers good value for UK facilities. Clean interface, straightforward boarding management. Customisation options are limited compared to larger platforms.

Kennel Connection is a long-established player with deep boarding functionality. Desktop-focused with more limited mobile experience. Strong with larger traditional kennels.

Pricing for Boarding Software

Cost Expectations

Boarding software typically costs slightly more than daycare-only solutions due to additional complexity:

Small Facilities (Under 20 runs)

• Budget: $35-70/month
• Focus: Core booking, basic care tracking
• Platforms: PetLinx, Kennel Booker

Medium Facilities (20-50 runs)

• Budget: $70-150/month
• Focus: Full features, reporting, staff tools
• Platforms: ProPet, PetExec, Gingr

Large Facilities (50+ runs or multi-location)

• Budget: $150-300+/month
• Focus: Enterprise features, integrations, dedicated support
• Platforms: Gingr, PetExec enterprise, PetCare.Software

ROI Considerations

For a facility with 30 runs averaging $50/night:

Operational Savings

• 8 hours/week admin reduction = $640/month (at $20/hour)

Reduced Errors

• 2 fewer booking mistakes/month = $100 saved (makeup discounts, refunds)

Improved Occupancy

• 5% better utilisation = $2,250/month additional revenue

Total Monthly Benefit: ~$3,000 vs. ~$100 software cost

Boarding Software vs. Manual Systems

When Manual Works

Honestly, manual systems can work for:

• Very small operations (under 10 runs)
• Stable, predictable booking patterns
• Owner-operated with no staff handovers
• Simple service offerings

When You Need Software

Switch to software when:

• Booking errors start occurring
• Staff struggle with handovers
• Pet parents complain about communication
• You can’t answer “how full are we next month?”
• Medication or feeding mistakes happen
• You’re turning away bookings you could accommodate

The transition point usually comes around 15-20 runs or when you hire your first non-family staff member.

Features by Facility Type

Traditional Boarding Kennels

Priorities: Run management, feeding schedules, health tracking Key features: Visual kennel calendar, medication alerts, basic reporting Recommended: Kennel Connection, PetExec, Kennel Booker

Boarding + Daycare Combined

Priorities: Unified client records, flexible scheduling, package management Key features: Same-day and overnight in one system, combined billing Recommended: Gingr, ProPet, PetCare.Software

Luxury/Boutique Boarding

Priorities: Premium communication, detailed care documentation, upselling Key features: Photo sharing, activity logging, add-on management Recommended: Gingr, PawLoyalty, PetCare.Software

High-Volume Facilities

Priorities: Efficiency, automation, multi-staff coordination Key features: Quick check-in, batch operations, staff scheduling Recommended: PetExec, Gingr, Kennel Connection

Implementation Considerations

Data to Prepare

Before implementation, gather:

• Client contact information
• Pet records (breeds, weights, ages, temperaments)
• Vaccination records with expiry dates
• Feeding and medication requirements
• Historical booking data (if available)
• Pricing structure and packages

Staff Training Focus

Boarding staff need training on:

• Reservation creation and modification
• Check-in and check-out procedures
• Feeding and medication logging
• Daily update creation
• Problem escalation

Allow extra training time for medication tracking—errors here have serious consequences.

Go-Live Strategy

For boarding facilities, consider timing carefully:

Good times to switch:

• Slow season (January-February, September-October)
• After a holiday rush, before the next one

Bad times to switch:

• Week before Thanksgiving/Christmas
• Summer holiday peak
• Any time you’re already at capacity

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between boarding software and kennel software?

The terms overlap significantly. “Boarding software” emphasises overnight stays, while “kennel software” is a broader term that may include boarding, daycare, and other services. Most platforms marketed as either handle both. Focus on features rather than labels.

Do I need separate software for boarding and daycare?

No. Modern platforms handle both services in one system, with unified client records, combined billing, and coordinated scheduling. Separate systems create data silos and extra work.

How do I handle feeding instructions in software?

Good boarding software includes detailed feeding fields: food type/brand, portion size, meal times, and special instructions. Staff see this information when checking dogs in and during feeding times. Completion logging provides accountability.

Can boarding software track medications?

Yes. Look for medication modules that include drug name, dosage, administration time, and completion tracking. Better platforms send alerts when medications are due and flag missed doses for management review.

What about webcams for boarding clients?

Some platforms integrate with webcam systems, allowing pet parents to view their dogs remotely. This is increasingly expected for premium boarding. Check integration options with your preferred webcam provider.

How do I manage holiday pricing in software?

Most platforms support date-based pricing rules. Set higher rates for holiday periods (Christmas, Thanksgiving, summer weeks) and the software applies correct pricing automatically during booking.

What reports should boarding software provide?

Essential reports: occupancy rate (by night and by week), revenue by time period, average length of stay, cancellation rates, and client retention. Advanced: forecasting, staff utilisation, revenue per run.

Can clients book boarding online themselves?

Yes, and they should. Online booking is available on all modern platforms. Clients see real-time availability, select their run type, enter pet information, and pay deposits—all without staff involvement.

Choosing Your Platform

Evaluation Process

1. List your must-haves: Features you cannot operate without
2. Identify nice-to-haves: Features that would improve operations
3. Set your budget: Monthly and setup costs you can afford
4. Shortlist 3 platforms: Based on size, features, and price fit
5. Trial each seriously: Real data, real workflows
6. Check references: Talk to similar facilities using the platform
7. Negotiate: Multi-year commitments often come with discounts

Red Flags

Avoid platforms that:

• Don’t offer free trials
• Can’t provide references for your facility size
• Have limited or no data export options
• Require long contracts without cancellation terms
• Haven’t updated significantly in years

Making the Decision

The “best” boarding software is the one that:

• Fits your budget sustainably
• Handles your specific services
• Your team will actually use
• Grows with your facility

There’s no universally perfect platform. Focus on fit for your situation, trial thoroughly, and make a confident decision.

Ready to get started? Visit our dog boarding software page to learn more about PetCare.Software’s boarding features.

Related guides: Dog Daycare Software, Kennel Software, Cattery Software