HOW TO HIRE · PETS · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire a dog boarder in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
A dog boarding in Ireland costs €25–€55 per night, typically around €34. Here is how to check that in a minute, what to ask before you book, and what you must be handed when the job is done.
- Search and compare — no account needed
- Nearest to you first
- One score from Google, Trustpilot and Locufy reviews
THE 60-SECOND VERSION
Hiring a dog boarder in five steps
- Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?No register covers dog boarder work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — feeding and Medication — boarding services typically offer feeding according to your dog's specific dietary needs.
- How does facility amenities change the price?It is part of every quote for this kind of work. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does duration of the stay change the price?The hours add up faster than people expect. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does breed of your dog change the price?The quote moves with this more than with anything else listed. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- What is not included?While most boarding services cover basic needs like food and exercise, extras such as grooming, special dietary requirements, or medications may incur additional charges — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a dog boarder job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
BEFORE YOU BOOK
Check before you book
No register applies
NO LICENCE OR REGISTER APPLIES TO DOG WALKERS, PET SITTERS OR GROOMERS IN IRELAND. Anyone may trade as one. The protection is insurance and what is written down — and the insurance that matters is not the obvious one.
Look for the trader badge and the ID-checked badge on the Locufy profile — both are checked by us, not claimed by the provider.
What to check instead
CARE, CUSTODY AND CONTROL cover, not just public liability — public liability pays if your dog bites a stranger; care, custody and control is what pays if your dog is injured, lost or killed while in their charge, and plenty of walkers carry only the first; How many dogs are walked at once, and whether yours is walked with strangers' dogs; Whether they are insured to drive your dog in their vehicle, and how it is secured; What happens if your dog is hurt or runs — the plan, and which vet; Keys: who holds one, how it is returned, what happens if it is lost, in writing; Two references from current clients, called not read.
Ask for each of these before you agree a price, and get the answers in the same message as the quote.
Insurance
Expect care, custody and control cover as well as public liability. From a company, ask for the insurer, the limit and the VAT number, and ask who actually attends: the team that turns up may be employed, subcontracted or both, and only one of those is supervised by the firm you are paying.
Ask to see the current certificate of insurance — the insurer's name, the limit and the date it runs to.
Trader or private seller
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 a trader must tell you they are a trader, and your consumer rights — work carried out with reasonable skill and care, and a cooling-off period on a contract agreed in your home or online — apply to traders and not to private sellers. On Locufy the trader status is shown on the profile.
Look for the trader badge on the Locufy profile, and ask anyone else for it in writing before you agree a price.
VAT
VAT at 23%, the standard rate Revenue publishes for this service. Ask whether the price you were given includes it. A trader under the €42,500 registration threshold does not charge it; one over it must, and must show it separately.
Ask whether the figure you were given includes it, and for the VAT number if they are registered — Revenue publishes the rate for this service. revenue.ie →
A good answer: No register covers dog boarder work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — feeding and Medication — boarding services typically offer feeding according to your dog's specific dietary needs.
A good answer: It is part of every quote for this kind of work. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: The hours add up faster than people expect. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: The quote moves with this more than with anything else listed. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: While most boarding services cover basic needs like food and exercise, extras such as grooming, special dietary requirements, or medications may incur additional charges — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a dog boarder job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
A good answer: Expect care, custody and control cover as well as public liability — comfortable Accommodation — dog boarding facilities provide a safe and comfortable environment for your pet.
A good answer: A written scope and a price before the dog boarder starts, and an itemised invoice after — home Boarding — A service where your dog stays in a sitter's home, providing a more personal and familiar environment.
Getting the quote right
- Facility amenities — it is part of every quote for this kind of work.
- Duration of the stay — the hours add up faster than people expect.
- Breed of your dog — the quote moves with this more than with anything else listed.
- Any special care requirements — special requirements add steps the standard job does not have.
- In writing before anyone starts — a message on Locufy counts
- What is NOT included, named
- Who actually attends, and whether they are employed or subcontracted
- The VAT number, and whether it checks out on the Revenue register
Walk away if
- They will not talk about it: facility amenities — it is part of every quote for this kind of work
- They will not talk about it: duration of the stay — the hours add up faster than people expect
- They will not talk about it: breed of your dog — the quote moves with this more than with anything else listed
- A price for the dog boarder before anyone has asked the size, the access or the condition of what they are working on
- Cash only, or a large deposit before anything at all has started
- No written quote, or one that moves once the dog boarder has begun
What a dog boarder costs: €25–€55 per night
The figures are for the job, per night, and a quote for your own is the only number that binds anyone. Overnight dog boarding and Daycare services each carry their own band. Dog Boarding price guide →
Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.
KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE
Dog boarders near you, with the badges that matter shown
ID checked, trader status and one score from every review — on the card, before you message anyone. Nearest first. No account needed to look.
Or post the job free and let them come to you.
- Look firstFacility amenities — it is part of every quote for this kind of work — that is what the dog boarder is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneDuration of the stay — the hours add up faster than people expect — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfBreed of your dog — the quote moves with this more than with anything else listed — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherAny special care requirements — special requirements add steps the standard job does not have — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the dog boarder is still there.
- What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, check that the staff are trained in animal care and first aid.
- Comfortable Accommodation
- Dog boarding facilities provide a safe and comfortable environment for your pet.
- Feeding and Medication
- Boarding services typically offer feeding according to your dog's specific dietary needs.
- Daycare Services
- Short-term care during the day, allowing your dog to socialise and play while you are at work.
- Home Boarding
- A service where your dog stays in a sitter's home, providing a more personal and familiar environment.
- Call-out
- A fixed charge for turning up, separate from the work itself. On a short dog boarder job it is often most of the bill, so ask whether the first hour is inside it.
- Scope
- Exactly what is and is not being done, written down before anyone starts. Two quotes for a dog boarder are only comparable when they are quoting the same scope.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring a dog boarder: questions people ask
The cost of dog boarding can vary based on location, facility amenities, and the duration of the stay. Additional services such as grooming or special dietary needs may also affect the overall price.
Most dog boarding facilities can accommodate stays ranging from a few hours to several weeks. It's advisable to check with the facility for their maximum stay policies.
Generally, dog boarding does not require a licensed specialist, but it is essential to choose a facility with trained staff who understand animal behavior and care. Look for facilities with good reviews and certifications.
Many dog boarding facilities offer same-day availability, but this can depend on occupancy levels. It's best to contact the facility directly to confirm if they can accommodate last-minute bookings.
Yes, many dog boarding facilities offer package deals that include grooming, training, or daycare services. Booking multiple services at once can often lead to discounts.
While most boarding services cover basic needs like food and exercise, extras such as grooming, special dietary requirements, or medications may incur additional charges. Always clarify with the facility what is included.
MORE GUIDES