HOW TO HIRE · PETS · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire doggy day care in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
A doggy day care in Ireland costs €20–€45 per day, typically around €30. 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 doggy day care in five steps
- Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?No register covers doggy day care work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — feeding and Care — most doggy day care centres offer feeding services, where you can provide your dog's regular food or choose from their options.
- How does facility's amenities change the price?It decides how much of the job can be done at once. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does level of care provided change the price?A simple finish is quick; a refined one is not. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does dog's size change the price?A compact job can be done in one visit; a large one rarely can. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- What is not included?Doggy day care usually does not cover overnight boarding, extensive medical care, or specialized training — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a doggy day care 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 doggy day care work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — feeding and Care — most doggy day care centres offer feeding services, where you can provide your dog's regular food or choose from their options.
A good answer: It decides how much of the job can be done at once. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: A simple finish is quick; a refined one is not. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: A compact job can be done in one visit; a large one rarely can. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Doggy day care usually does not cover overnight boarding, extensive medical care, or specialized training — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a doggy day care 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 — social Interaction — doggy day care provides an opportunity for dogs to socialize with other pets, enhancing their social skills and reducing anxiety.
A good answer: A written scope and a price before the doggy day care starts, and an itemised invoice after — training and Day Care Combo — A service that combines day care with training sessions to reinforce good behaviour.
Getting the quote right
- Facility's amenities — it decides how much of the job can be done at once.
- Level of care provided — a simple finish is quick; a refined one is not.
- Dog's size — a compact job can be done in one visit; a large one rarely can.
- Specific services offered — the option you choose is the part of the quote you control.
- 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's amenities — it decides how much of the job can be done at once
- They will not talk about it: level of care provided — a simple finish is quick; a refined one is not
- They will not talk about it: dog's size — a compact job can be done in one visit; a large one rarely can
- A price for the doggy day care 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 doggy day care has begun
What doggy day care costs: €20–€45 per day
The figures are for the job, per day, and a quote for your own is the only number that binds anyone. Full-day care and Half-day care each carry their own band. Doggy Day Care 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
Doggy day cares 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's amenities — it decides how much of the job can be done at once — that is what the doggy day care is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneLevel of care provided — a simple finish is quick; a refined one is not — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfDog's size — a compact job can be done in one visit; a large one rarely can — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherSpecific services offered — the option you choose is the part of the quote you control — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the doggy day care is still there.
- What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, look for facilities with qualified staff trained in canine behaviour and first aid.
- Social Interaction
- Doggy day care provides an opportunity for dogs to socialize with other pets, enhancing their social skills and reducing anxiety.
- Feeding and Care
- Most doggy day care centres offer feeding services, where you can provide your dog's regular food or choose from their options.
- Full-Day Care
- Comprehensive care for your dog throughout the entire day, including playtime, meals, and rest.
- Half-Day Care
- A shorter option for dogs, typically lasting around four hours, ideal for quick visits.
- Puppy Day Care
- Specialised care for puppies, focusing on socialisation and basic training in a safe environment.
- Training and Day Care Combo
- A service that combines day care with training sessions to reinforce good behaviour.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring doggy day care: questions people ask
The cost can vary based on location, the facility's amenities, and the level of care provided. Additional services like grooming or training may also increase the overall price.
Most doggy day care services operate during standard business hours, typically 8-12 hours per day. You can choose the duration based on your needs, with options for half-day or full-day care.
Many facilities offer same-day booking, but availability can be limited, especially during peak times. It's advisable to call ahead to secure a spot for your pet.
Yes, many doggy day care centres offer package deals that include grooming or training sessions along with day care. This can often be more economical and convenient for pet owners.
Doggy day care usually does not cover overnight boarding, extensive medical care, or specialised training. It's important to check with the facility for specific services they offer.
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.
MORE GUIDES