How Much Does Dog Boarding Cost in the UK? What Premium Care Really Includes

Ellen Marzell
May 12
5 min read

If you've ever started searching for dog daycare or boarding, you'll know one of the first things you want to check is the price. It's a sensible question — and a fair one. The challenge is that prices in the UK can vary widely, from around £15 a night at a traditional kennel to £70 or more a night for premium home-from-home care. Without knowing what sits behind those numbers, it's easy to feel a little lost.

Four small companion dogs relaxing together on a sofa at Lap of Luxury home dog boarding in Amersham

At Lap of Luxury, I offer small, owner-operated dog daycare and home boarding in Amersham — exclusively for small companion breeds. Many of the wonderful owners I work with first found me while searching for dog boarding prices Amersham or how much does dog boarding cost UK. So I wanted to share a transparent guide to what my pricing looks like — and, just as importantly, what every stay actually includes.

Dog Boarding Prices in the UK — A General Picture

Across the UK, dog boarding tends to fall into a few broad price brackets. According to 2026 industry data, the national average sits at around £35–£60 per night, with traditional licensed kennels typically charging £15–£25 per night and home-based boarding (where dogs stay in a carer's home rather than a kennel block) ranging from around £20 up to £60 per night, depending on the level of care provided. Specialist or luxury home-from-home services often sit at the upper end of that range.

Daycare follows a similar pattern. A larger facility taking many dogs at once may charge £25–£30 per day, while a small, owner-operated home-based daycare specialising in specific breeds will sit toward the higher end of the market — reflecting the calmer environment, lower numbers, and one-to-one attention.

Why such a wide range? Because dog boarding isn't a single service — it's a spectrum. A licensed kennel with shared runs is a very different experience to a small home where your dog is one of only a few, with quiet rooms, a private garden, one person looking after them throughout their stay and very importantly creating a close relationship with your dog, learning their specific needs and routines. Lower-priced options exist, of course, but the service your dog receives isn't the same. The price reflects the difference.

Two small dogs relaxing on the well-kept lawn of the private garden at Lap of Luxury home dog boarding in Amersham

Our Pricing at Lap of Luxury — Clear, Considered, and the Same Online as on the Phone

I believe pricing should be straightforward. There are no hidden fees, no surprise add-ons, and no tiered packages designed to nudge you upward. Here's exactly what a stay at Lap of Luxury costs:

Service	Price
One weekday (up to 8 hours)	£40
One weekend day (up to 8 hours)	£50
One day/night (8+ to 24 hours)	£50
Bank holidays / bank holiday weekends	50% surcharge

For full details on operating hours, drop-off and collection arrangements, and cancellation policy, please see our Hours & Fees page.

What Goes Into Every Stay — The Real Cost of Premium Care

When owners ask why home boarding costs more than a kennel, the answer is that there's a lot of work going on behind the scenes — most of which you'll never see, but all of which matters. Here's what every Lap of Luxury stay actually includes.

A Maltese and a Cockapoo settled calmly in the living room beside a piano at Lap of Luxury home dog boarding in Amersham

A Home That's Genuinely Ready for Dogs

Looking after small dogs in your own home means treating it as a professional care environment, not just a house with a guest. Every month, the entire home receives an intensive deep clean — far beyond ordinary housekeeping. Dog-friendly, non-toxic cleaning products are used throughout, so that nothing your dog walks on, sleeps near, or licks is going to cause harm. Bedding, toys, blankets, and furniture and floor coverings are washed regularly to keep everything hygienic. The garden and lawn are kept healthy and well-maintained so dogs have a safe, clean space to play in, every day of the year.

Safety, Security, and Wellbeing

Small companion breeds are gentle and delicate, and they deserve a setting that's been designed with their safety in mind. Fencing is fortified and checked daily to prevent any chance of escape. There's a fully stocked first aid station on site, ready for anything from a minor scrape to something more serious. Harnesses, leads, seat belts, and ID tags are all provided, so dogs are secure in the car and identifiable on every walk. Beds, hypo-allergenic treats, probiotics, brushes, and cleaning wipes are kept in stock so each dog feels comfortable and well cared-for from the moment they arrive.

Time, Training, and Limited Numbers

Perhaps the most important — and most invisible — part of premium care is time. I only ever look after a small number of dogs at once – a maximum of six. That's a deliberate choice. It means each dog gets real attention, real cuddles, real one-to-one time, and a routine tailored to them. It also means my income is capped: there's a limit to how many bookings I can take, and I wouldn't want it any other way.

Behind that personal time sits ongoing investment in training and professional standards. The required dog boarding licence is renewed when required, first aid training is kept current, and I commit to continuing education so that the care I offer reflects the latest best practice.

Why Our Pricing Works for Small Companion Breeds

Small dogs — Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Bichon Frises, Shih Tzus, Maltese, Pomeranians, Pugs, Yorkshire Terriers, and the like — have different needs to bigger, more boisterous breeds. They thrive in quieter spaces, with calmer routines, and around carers who understand how sensitive they can be to noise, busy environments, and unfamiliar and larger dogs.

That's exactly why Lap of Luxury exists as a specialist small-breed service. Amersham sits at the heart of the Chilterns and is within easy reach of a wide area — including Beaconsfield, Berkhamsted, Chalfont St Giles, Chalfont St Peter, Chesham, Gerrards Cross, Great Missenden, Hazlemere, Hemel Hempstead, Holmer Green, Hyde Heath, Little Chalfont, Penn, Prestwood, Rickmansworth, and Wooburn Green. Owners across these towns choose Lap of Luxury because they want their small dog to be somewhere that genuinely understands them, not somewhere that simply has room.

So our pricing isn't decided first, with the care fitted around it. It works the other way around: the care comes first, and the price reflects what that care actually costs to deliver well.

Ellen Marzell, owner of Lap of Luxury, relaxing on the sofa with Harry the Bichon Frise in her Amersham home

Try Before You Commit

Reading about pricing is one thing. Seeing my home and garden, meeting me and some of the other dogs in my care on the day you visit, and watching your dog settle is another. That's why every new family is invited to come over for a no-obligation visit .

Your dog gets to explore, sniff, and settle. We will go through a Client Pack which goes into more detail than you can see on my website, including my training, insurance, licence and terms and conditions. You can ask questions, look at where the dogs sleep and eat, and decide whether it feels right. For most owners, this is the moment the pricing question quietly answers itself.