£8.2B
↑ 18% since 2020
UK Pet Care Market Value
UK pet care continues strong growth
Complete Guide 2026
Dog Daycare Software
Save 15+ hours per week with automated bookings, capacity management, report cards, and billing. Stop drowning in phone calls and spreadsheets.
What is dog daycare software?
Dog daycare software is an all-in-one management platform for dog daycare facilities that handles online bookings, real-time capacity management, vaccination tracking, owner portals, report cards with photos, automated reminders, and integrated billing. Modern systems help facilities save 15+ hours per week while reducing phone calls by 60%.
UK Pet Care & Daycare Industry Statistics 2026
Key metrics showing the growth and digital transformation of the pet care industry
3,400+
↑ 32% since 2021
Dog Daycare Facilities (UK)
Rapid expansion of daycare services
£28
Average Revenue per Dog/Day
Varies by region and service level
67%
↑ 45% YoY
Facilities Using Software
Digital transformation accelerating
15+ hrs/week
Time Saved vs Spreadsheets
Average reported by facilities
60%
Reduction in Phone Calls
With online booking enabled
What Is Dog Daycare Software?
Dog daycare software is a specialized management platform designed specifically for dog daycare facilities. Unlike generic booking systems or spreadsheets, it includes industry-specific features like playgroup management, vaccination tracking, and report cards.
The best platforms handle reservations, deposits, packages, vaccination records with automatic expiry alerts, capacity management by weight class or temperament, digital report cards with photo sharing, owner messaging, automated reminders, and integrated billing—all from one unified system.
At PetCare.Software, we built tools specifically for mixed facilities—so if you also run dog boarding, a kennel, or even a cattery, you can manage everything from one login without switching between multiple systems.
Must-Have Features
Online Bookings & Deposits
24/7 reservations with optional deposits to reduce no-shows. Owners book when it's convenient for them, not just during your business hours.
Capacity & Playgroup Rules
Real-time controls to avoid overbooking—by weight class, temperament, room, or total capacity. Prevents double bookings and unsafe playgroup mixes.
Owner Portal
Clients upload vaccine proofs, sign waivers, update contact/pet info, view report cards, check balances, and pay online without calling you.
Report Cards & Media
Branded updates with notes, photos, or links to short videos. Owners love seeing their pups throughout the day. Builds loyalty and referrals.
Add-ons & Upsells
Offer enrichment, nail trims, baths, or late pickup fees during checkout. Increases average booking value by 15-25%.
Vaccination Tracking
Automatic expiry alerts sent 30-60 days before vaccines expire. Block bookings for non-compliant pets until records are updated. 100% compliance.
Plan Your Daycare Revenue
Use our free Revenue Calculator to model your daycare income, costs, and seasonal demand patterns. Get personalized insights based on your capacity and pricing.
Try the CalculatorCompare PetCare.Software against generic pet software and manual spreadsheet management
| Feature | PetCare.Software | Generic Pet Software | Spreadsheets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online Booking 24/7 | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Real-time Capacity Management | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Vaccination Tracking | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Owner Portal | Coming Soon | ✓ | ✗ |
| Activity Logs with Photos | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Automated Reminders | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Deposit Collection | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Mobile-Responsive Access | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Multi-location Support | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Monthly Cost | From £79 | From £120 | Manual/Free |
Benefits for Your Facility
Time is Money
Most daycare owners report saving 15+ hours per week after switching from spreadsheets to dedicated software. That's time you can spend with the dogs—or growing your business by opening new locations, adding services, or improving training.
✓
Reduced phone calls: Online booking cuts calls by 60%. Owners can self-serve bookings, check availability, and pay without interrupting your staff.
✓
Zero double-bookings: Real-time capacity management eliminates conflicts and prevents overbooking by playgroup, room, or total facility capacity.
✓
100% vaccine compliance: Automatic tracking and reminders keep you safe and protected from liability. No manual spreadsheet checking required.
✓
Increased revenue: Add-ons, packages, and reduced no-shows boost average booking value by 15-25%. Deposits reduce no-shows by 40-60%.
✓
Happy staff: Clear schedules, task lists, and mobile access reduce confusion and make check-in/out faster during peak hours.
✓
Happy owners: Report cards and easy booking create loyal customers who refer friends and leave 5-star reviews.
Choosing the Right Solution
What to Look For
- → Built for pet care: Generic booking tools miss industry-specific features like vaccination tracking, playgroup management, and report cards.
- → Real-time capacity: Avoid double bookings with live availability by playgroup, room, or weight class.
- → Vaccination tracking: Automatic alerts and booking blocks for expired vaccines.
- → Owner portal: Self-service bookings, payments, document uploads, and report card access.
- → Report cards: Photo sharing and activity updates that owners love.
- → Mobile friendly: Staff and owners access from any device, not just desktop.
Red Flags to Avoid
- ✗ Per-booking fees that punish growth (can cost 3-5% of revenue)
- ✗ No vaccination tracking or compliance features
- ✗ Desktop-only with no mobile access for staff
- ✗ No trial period to test with real bookings
- ✗ Limited support or training resources
Related: Kennel Software Guide | Dog Boarding Software | Pet Grooming Software
Frequently Asked Questions
Dog daycare software is an all-in-one management platform designed specifically for dog daycare facilities. It handles online bookings, capacity management by playgroup, vaccination tracking with automatic expiry alerts, owner portal access, report cards with photos, automated reminders, and integrated billing. The best systems help facilities save 15+ hours per week while reducing phone calls by 60% and eliminating double bookings.
Related: Dog Boarding SoftwareKennel Software
Dog daycare software typically costs £30-120 per month depending on features, facility size, and booking volume. PetCare.Software offers flat monthly pricing starting from £79 with no per-booking fees, unlimited users, and includes all features. Avoid platforms with per-transaction fees that punish growth—they can cost 3-5% of every booking, adding up to thousands per year.
Related: View Pricing
Essential features include: online booking with real-time availability, capacity management by playgroup or weight class, vaccination tracking with automatic expiry alerts, activity logs with photo uploads, automated email reminders, integrated payment processing, add-on/upsell capabilities, and mobile-responsive web access. Owner portal and SMS reminders are available in beta. Facilities running mixed services (daycare + boarding + grooming) should look for unified platforms.
Related: Pet Grooming Software
No. Modern dog daycare software is built for speed at the front desk. Most teams learn core functions (check-in/out, booking, report cards) in a single shift. PetCare.Software includes unlimited training, video tutorials, and live support during onboarding. The interface is designed for busy staff who need to process dogs quickly during peak hours. Most facilities are fully operational within 2-3 days.
Related: Start Free Trial
Yes (coming soon). Our owner portal is 100% complete and in beta testing. Pet parents will be able to book available slots 24/7, pay deposits, upload vaccination records, and view account history. The portal launches to all customers in Q2 2026. Email us during your trial to request beta access. PetCare.Software integrates with Stripe for secure payment processing.
Dog daycare software tracks vaccination records with expiry dates and sends automatic reminders to owners 30-60 days before vaccines expire. The system can block new bookings for non-compliant pets until records are updated. Owners upload vaccine certificates directly to their portal. This ensures 100% compliance, eliminates manual spreadsheet tracking, and protects your facility from liability.
Typically yes. Dog daycare software increases revenue in several ways: (1) Reduces no-shows by 40-60% with automated reminders and deposits, (2) Enables upselling of add-ons like nail trims, enrichment, or grooming during booking, (3) Increases utilization by filling last-minute openings with online booking, (4) Improves customer retention with report cards and better communication. Most facilities report 15-25% revenue growth within 6 months.
Related: Success Stories
Dog daycare software focuses on daily drop-off/pickup, playgroup management, and same-day services. Boarding software emphasizes multi-day stays, room assignments, and overnight care tracking. However, many facilities offer both services and need a unified platform. PetCare.Software handles daycare, boarding, kennels, catteries, and grooming from one system, so you're not juggling multiple tools.
Yes. Multi-location dog daycare software lets you manage several facilities from one dashboard. Features include centralized reporting across locations, shared customer database, location-specific pricing and capacity rules, consolidated billing, and cross-location bookings. PetCare.Software supports unlimited locations on business plans, perfect for growing daycare chains or franchise operations.
Ready to Upgrade Your Daycare?
Ditch the spreadsheets and give your team their time back. See how PetCare.Software handles bookings, capacity, and report cards.
No credit card required. Set up in 15 minutes.