Dog Boarding & Daycare FAQs - Kennel Club Boarding

We offer dog boarding (overnight and extended stays) and dog daycare at our facility in North Gower, in the south end of Ottawa. We serve dog owners throughout the Ottawa region including Barrhaven, Manotick, Kanata, Nepean, Riverside South, Richmond, and Stittsville.

We are located at 5673 Fourth Line Road, Ottawa, Ontario, K0A 2T0 — in North Gower, right off Highway 416 in the south end of the city, about 5 minutes from Manotick and 10 from Barrhaven.

Two windows a day, and you can drop off or pick up in either. Weekdays 7:00–8:45 AM and 4:00–5:45 PM; weekends and holidays 8:00–8:45 AM and 5:00–5:45 PM. Please arrive inside a drop-off / pick-up window — the doors are locked at other times because staff are out with the dogs. For full details, visit our Hours page.

Our insurance does not allow customers inside the kennel where the dogs are kept. However, we have photos of all areas throughout our website and offer a virtual tour. You are welcome to visit during drop-off or pick-up times to meet us, see the property, and ask any questions.

We serve dog owners throughout the Ottawa region including Barrhaven, Manotick, Riverside South, Nepean, Kanata, Richmond, Stittsville, and surrounding areas. Our North Gower location is centrally positioned to serve the west and south ends of Ottawa.

Yes. Kennel Club Boarding gift cards are available for purchase on our website and make a great gift for dog owners in the Ottawa area.

We accept dogs of all ages. However, puppies are at higher risk of contracting communicable diseases in a kennel environment. We highly recommend waiting until your puppy has all of their recommended vaccinations for their age before boarding or attending daycare.

All dogs must be up to date on their vaccinations, including rabies, distemper, and bordetella (kennel cough). Please provide proof of vaccination when you complete your registration form.

We highly recommend medicating against fleas and ticks for all dogs. Fleas and ticks are prevalent in the Ottawa area in all weather above freezing and are carriers of communicable diseases and internal parasites.

Dog boarding starts at $55 per night for one dog that plays well with others. Multi-dog rates are $90/night for 2 dogs and $125/night for 3 dogs. Dogs requiring special care or that do not play well with others start at $70/night. Bite risk dogs start at $100/night. Optional daily email updates with photos are available for an additional fee. Visit our dog boarding page for full pricing.

Yes. We offer optional email updates with photos of your dog during their stay. You can choose every-other-day updates or daily updates when you book. It is a great way to see how your dog is doing and have peace of mind while you are away.

The time your dog spends outside depends on the weather. On nice days, dogs are given every opportunity to play outside and socialize. When weather is poor, dogs are rotated outside for shorter periods. Each enclosure has a covered outdoor run for use during bad weather. We also pair up dogs who play well together so their indoor time is not spent alone.

All boarding dogs receive a private, temperature-controlled enclosure — 5 by 8 feet inside with a covered outdoor run of 5 by 12 feet — with a raised Kuranda bed sized to the dog, supervised group play in large outdoor play areas, fresh clean water at all times, and plenty of attention and care from our staff.

Bedding is not required — every dog has a raised bed in their enclosure — but if you like, bring a machine-washable towel or blanket that smells of home. You may bring up to two toys for your dog. Make sure the toys cannot be eaten, and keep in mind that some dogs chew toys much more in a kennel environment. Please do not leave anything with your dog that you cannot live without.

Yes. If you prefer that your dog spends more time inside, we are happy to accommodate your request.

Yes. We offer extended boarding for dogs who need longer stays. This is ideal for owners with extended travel, work commitments, or other situations requiring longer care.

We take great care with all new dogs. Every new dog is first taken for a walk to familiarize them with the environment. They are then introduced to other dogs one at a time — we bring the new dog to the play area alone first, then add one dog at a time to build the group around them. This keeps new or nervous dogs at ease throughout the process. The great majority of shy or nervous dogs do well in a matched playgroup. For the few who don't, book "Special Care Required" — a calmer day with closer attention.

Dog daycare is $35 per day for one dog that plays well with others. Multi-dog rates are $60/day for 2 dogs and $90/day for 3 dogs. Special care dogs start at $50/day. We also offer a monthly daycare pass for regular customers. Visit our dog daycare page for full pricing.

Daycare dogs play outside in supervised groups throughout the day. All play areas have shade, fresh water, and pools for dogs that like to cool off. In winter, play areas have heat lamps and straw bedding for warmth. On bad weather days, dogs are rotated outside with periods inside to avoid the worst conditions.

No crates. On arrival, dogs go to their own enclosure while groups are formed, then play outside in groups for the day with a midday rest in their enclosure. They come back in about 20 to 30 minutes before the pick-up window.

Yes. All dogs are supervised by staff whenever they are outside in the play areas.

It depends on the issues you are experiencing, but our customers often report that their dogs are so tired from playing all day that they simply do not have the energy to get into trouble at home.

No. Our daycare service is designed for dogs who play well with other dogs. We are not able to accept dogs who display aggression toward other dogs for daycare. These dogs may still be accepted for boarding, where they receive separate care.

No. We do not have breed restrictions. We evaluate each dog based on their individual behavior and temperament.

Yes, and it is required. Every dog new to our daycare starts with a Dog Daycare Trial Day before they can book regular days. One staff member is assigned to your dog for that first day, introducing them to one dog, then two, then a full playgroup at whatever pace your dog sets. It is how we confirm daycare is the right fit and keep the play groups safe.

You can book directly through our website. New customers should visit our New Customer page for important details about the registration and booking process. If your preferred dates are sold out, you can join our waitlist — we frequently accommodate customers from the waitlist as spots open up.

Join our boarding waitlist or daycare waitlist. We frequently accommodate bookings for customers who join the waitlist as spots open up.

Cancellations and date changes are covered by Flex Booking Protection, added at checkout. With Flex, email us by 6pm the day before your booking begins and we'll refund in full or move the dates; after that deadline the booking is final. Without Flex, bookings are non-refundable and non-transferable. The full policy is on our cancellation and refund policy page.

We accept credit cards. Payment is processed through our website at the time of booking.

Yes, for boarding. Dogs that do not play well with others are physically separated from all other dogs and receive one-on-one attention with supervised outdoor time. Additional fees apply due to the extra handling required, and we can only accept a limited number at a time. These dogs are not accepted for daycare.

Yes, for boarding. Dogs who have bitten a person, or might, are booked under "Bite Risk" — you can book online like any other dog. They have their own yard with no sightlines to other dogs, are moved through the play areas without crossing paths, and are handled by Patrick or Chandra or our most experienced staff member. If your dog will actively go after a person even when left alone, call us before booking so we can plan the stay together.

Yes. We can administer a variety of medications. Dogs requiring daily medication should be booked under "Special Care Required." Dogs who need medication only once during their stay will be charged an additional fee. All medications must be in their original packaging with clear dosage instructions on the package and on your dog's registration form.

Yes. Your dog's health and safety is our first priority. All dogs are fed separately and never have access to another dog's food. We only give treats to dogs with allergies that are provided by the owner. We also keep hypoallergenic gastrointestinal food on-site in case any dog gets an upset stomach during their stay.

Yes, depending on the care required. We can accommodate most dogs with non-serious injuries. Additional fees may apply. Clear instructions for care and all medical supplies must be provided, and the dog should be booked under "Special Care Required."

Your dog will never be left loose with the option to run away. Our outdoor play areas are fully fenced with 6-foot high fences. Dogs are always on leash when moving to and from play areas, and all dogs are supervised during play sessions.

Yes. All staff members have graduated from the Dogsafe Canine First Aid course. We have multiple dog-specific first aid kits throughout the kennel and property. We always consult with you or your emergency contact before administering any first aid or changing your dog's food, so you always have complete control over treatments given to your dog.