Dog daycare and boarding near Palo Alto

Palo Alto is a city of long commutes and frequent travel, which makes daycare and boarding some of the most searched pet services in town. Yet when we checked in late October and early November 2026, we could not confirm a dog daycare or boarding kennel inside city limits on its own website. Names that appear on review and booking sites without a working website of their own were left out, as were a few businesses whose sites did not load properly for us.

The good news is that several confirmed options sit within about 15 minutes of south Palo Alto. This guide covers them, plus medical boarding for pets with health needs and in-home care. We do not rank businesses or compare prices. Always tour a facility and ask questions before you leave your dog for the first time.

Daycare or boarding?

Daycare is for the workday. Dogs arrive in the morning, play in supervised groups and go home in the evening. It suits young, social dogs with energy to burn and owners who are away for long hours. Boarding means overnight stays, usually while you travel. Some dogs love both. Others, often older, shy or reactive dogs, find group play stressful and do better with a walker at midday or a sitter at home. Watch how your dog behaves after a trial day. A tired, relaxed dog is a good sign. A dog that hides, stops eating or comes home hoarse from barking may need a different setup.

Confirmed daycare and boarding

Camp Bow Wow Mountain View

Camp Bow Wow is a national daycare and boarding franchise. Its Mountain View center on East El Camino Real lists dog daycare, dog boarding, grooming and what it calls enrichment, with activities meant to give dogs mental stimulation. Its services page says every dog completes a Camp interview before joining group play, so plan a visit before the day you need care. The page does not list hours or vaccine rules, so call to ask.

PetSmart in Mountain View and San Carlos

PetSmart's store pages list PetsHotel overnight boarding and Doggie Day Camp at both the Mountain View store off East Charleston Road and the San Carlos store on Industrial Road. In early November 2026 both stores listed hotel and day camp hours starting at 7 a.m., earlier than the stores themselves, which helps with a morning drop-off before work. The Mountain View store is close to Highway 101, a few minutes from the Baylands side of south Palo Alto. Our Mountain View guide covers the area.

Medical boarding at Adobe Animal Hospital

For pets with health problems, a regular kennel may not be enough. Adobe Animal Hospital in Los Altos offers medical boarding with ICU technicians caring for patients 24 hours a day and giving medications. Its criteria include heart disease on medication, diabetes, epilepsy, hyperthyroidism, Addison's disease, kidney patients on fluids, complicated nursing needs and pets recently discharged from the hospital. It says it is not boarding exotic pets for now. Pets must be up to date on a physical exam. Request a spot by phone at (650) 209-9385 or by email. Our Los Altos guide covers that side of the line.

What to check on a tour

1. Staffing. Ask how many dogs each staff member supervises in group play and whether someone is on site overnight.
2. Grouping. Are small and large dogs separated? Are rest periods built into the day?
3. Vaccines. Ask which vaccines are required and how far ahead of a stay they must be given. Some need time to take effect.
4. Emergencies. Which vet do they use if a dog is hurt or sick? The nearest 24-hour hospitals are listed in our emergency vets guide.
5. Outdoor space. On hot or smoky days, where do dogs go?
6. Updates. Do they send photos or reports during a stay?
7. Cleaning. Look at floors, water bowls and sleeping areas.
8. Fees. Ask about late pickup, holiday surcharges and cancellation rules.

Preparing for a first stay

• Do a trial. A half day of daycare or one night of boarding shows how your dog copes before a long trip.
• Bring the food your dog eats. A sudden diet change can upset a stomach. Pack portions in labeled bags.
• Write down medications with doses and times. Bring them in the original bottles.
• Update ID. Make sure the collar tag, microchip and city license tag are current. Palo Alto dog parks require a collar with ID and a license tag.
• Leave contacts. Give the facility your phone number, a local backup contact and your vet's name.
• Keep goodbyes short. Long farewells can make anxious dogs more upset.

Pet sitters and in-home care

Many Palo Alto owners use a pet sitter or dog walker instead of a kennel, especially for cats, older dogs or dogs that do not enjoy group play. App-based marketplaces list many local sitters. Neighbors and coworkers often share names too. If you hire a sitter:

• Meet in person with your pet before the booking.
• Ask about experience with your breed or with giving medications.
• Ask whether the sitter has insurance and a backup plan if they get sick.
• Leave your vet's details and a signed note authorizing treatment up to a set amount.
• Show the sitter where the leash, carrier and food are kept and how your dog reacts to the doorbell.

Dog walkers must follow the same leash rules as owners. Off-leash play is allowed only inside the fenced dog parks, with no more than three dogs per person, according to the city. See our dog parks guide.

Holidays and peak times

Boarding fills fastest around Thanksgiving, the winter holidays, spring break and the summer travel months. Thanksgiving 2026 is November 26. Book as soon as you know your dates, especially if your dog needs a temperament test or a trial stay first. If you are traveling with your dog instead, our pet-friendly hotels guide lists local hotels that accept pets.

Cats and small pets

None of the general daycare businesses above list cat care on the pages we checked. Adobe's medical boarding does take cats with health conditions. For healthy cats, a sitter who visits once or twice a day is a common choice. Small mammals, birds and reptiles need sitters who know the species. Our cat care guide has more.

Frequently asked questions