HOW TO HIRE · PETS · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire a pet boarder in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
A pet boarding in Ireland costs €25–€55 per night, typically around €35. 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 pet boarder in five steps
- Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?No register covers pet boarder work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — health Monitoring — professional boarding services typically monitor the health and well-being of pets during their stay.
- How does size of the pet change the price?A bigger job is harder to fit into a gap in the diary. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does duration of the stay change the price?The duration you choose is the main thing you control. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does level of care required change the price?An upgraded package costs more because it includes more. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- What is not included?Pet boarding services typically do not cover veterinary care, specialized diets, or additional activities like training sessions — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a pet 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 pet boarder work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — health Monitoring — professional boarding services typically monitor the health and well-being of pets during their stay.
A good answer: A bigger job is harder to fit into a gap in the diary. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: The duration you choose is the main thing you control. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: An upgraded package costs more because it includes more. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Pet boarding services typically do not cover veterinary care, specialized diets, or additional activities like training sessions — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a pet 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 — supervised Playtime — pets are often given supervised playtime, promoting social interaction and physical activity.
A good answer: A written scope and a price before the pet boarder starts, and an itemised invoice after — feeding and Nutrition — most pet boarding services include regular feeding and access to fresh water.
Getting the quote right
- Size of the pet — a bigger job is harder to fit into a gap in the diary.
- Duration of the stay — the duration you choose is the main thing you control.
- Level of care required — an upgraded package costs more because it includes more.
- Type of accommodation selected — what you pick at the start sets most of the price.
- 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: size of the pet — a bigger job is harder to fit into a gap in the diary
- They will not talk about it: duration of the stay — the duration you choose is the main thing you control
- They will not talk about it: level of care required — an upgraded package costs more because it includes more
- A price for the pet 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 pet boarder has begun
What a pet 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. Dog boarding and Cat boarding each carry their own band. Pet 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
Pet 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 firstSize of the pet — a bigger job is harder to fit into a gap in the diary — that is what the pet 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 duration you choose is the main thing you control — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfLevel of care required — an upgraded package costs more because it includes more — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherType of accommodation selected — what you pick at the start sets most of the price — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the pet boarder is still there.
- What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, additional services like grooming or special dietary needs — it is the main thing that separates a simple job from a hard one.
- Comfortable Accommodation
- Pet boarding facilities provide a safe and comfortable environment for your pets.
- Feeding and Nutrition
- Most pet boarding services include regular feeding and access to fresh water.
- Supervised Playtime
- Pets are often given supervised playtime, promoting social interaction and physical activity.
- Health Monitoring
- Professional boarding services typically monitor the health and well-being of pets during their stay.
- Dog Boarding
- Accommodation for dogs in a safe environment, including exercise and socialisation.
- Cat Boarding
- Secure facilities for cats, focusing on comfort and minimised stress.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring a pet boarder: questions people ask
The cost of pet boarding can vary based on several factors, including the size of the pet, the duration of the stay, and the level of care required. Additional services like grooming or special diets may also influence pricing.
Most boarding facilities accommodate pets for varying durations, from overnight stays to several weeks. It's advisable to check with the facility regarding their policies on long-term boarding.
Typically, general pet boarding services do not require a qualified specialist. However, if your pet has specific medical needs, it may be beneficial to consult a veterinarian or a boarding facility that specialises in such care.
Many boarding facilities offer emergency or same-day services, but availability can vary. It’s best to contact the facility directly to confirm if they can accommodate an urgent request.
Yes, many pet boarding facilities allow you to book additional services such as grooming or training alongside boarding. This can be convenient and may sometimes lead to package discounts.
Pet boarding services typically do not cover veterinary care, specialised diets, or additional activities like training sessions. It's important to clarify what is included in the boarding fee with the facility.
MORE GUIDES