Kennel, pet sitter or home boarding? An honest comparison
A holiday without your dog starts with one choice: where do they stay? How to choose between a kennel, a sitter at home and small-scale home boarding — without regrets afterwards.
In this article
The three options in short
Holiday care for dogs in the Netherlands comes in three main forms, each with its own character:
- The classic kennel (hondenpension): professional facility with runs or enclosures and usually larger groups of dogs. Lots of space, routine on a schedule, less personal.
- The pet sitter: someone comes to (or stays in) your house, or your dog stays with a private sitter. Your dog keeps their own environment; the quality depends entirely on the person.
- Small-scale home boarding: your dog joins the host's household, with at most a few guest dogs at a time. A family setting with professional agreements.
The comparison: atmosphere, cost and certainty
| Kennel | Sitter (your home) | Small-scale home boarding | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Environment | Run or enclosure, professional site | Your own house — familiar | Family home, as a family member |
| Group size | Often large (dozens of dogs) | Only your dog | Small (often 1–3 guest dogs) |
| Personal attention | Shared across the group | Full — when the sitter is there | High; a small group in one household |
| Overnight supervision | Varies per kennel | Only with a live-in sitter | Yes — the dog lives in the house |
| Cost per night (indication) | €20 – €40 | €25 – €50 (or free via friends) | €25 – €40 |
| Ideal for | Social, resilient dogs | Dogs that truly can't handle change; households with cats | Dogs that need routine and calm |
| Watch out for | Bustle and stimuli; quality varies a lot | Screening is everything; what if the sitter cancels? | Limited spots — book early |
Cost indications for the Netherlands, 2026. Rates differ per region and provider.
There's no best option for all dogs — there's a best option for your dog. A young, social labrador experiences a kennel as a festival week. A sensitive senior glued to their own sofa can be quietly miserable there.
The questions to ask any provider
Wherever your dog stays: a serious provider answers these without hesitation. Doubt or evasion is an answer in itself.
- 1How many dogs do you take at once — and who watches them at night?
- 2Can my dog come for a meet & greet or trial stay first?
- 3Which vaccinations are required? (Serious providers require at least the combination and kennel cough vaccines.)
- 4What happens if my dog gets sick — which vet, and how am I informed?
- 5Do I get updates during the stay, and how often?
- 6How do you handle their own food, medication and familiar bed?
- 7What are the cancellation terms?
How boarding works at LuckyPaw
For full transparency: we run a small-scale home boarding service in Wassenaar ourselves — so that preference shows in this article. But our agreements are concrete and checkable:
- Maximum 2 guest dogs at a time, living along in the house — no kennel
- €28 per night, everything included; second dog from the same family −20%, stays of 7 nights or longer −10%
- Always a free meet & greet first, and a daily Pup Report with photos and videos
- Free cancellation or rescheduling up to 7 days before the stay
See what a boarding day looks like, what to pack and when to book.
See boarding at LuckyPaw →What to pack: the boarding checklist
- Their own food for the whole stay, plus a day or two extra — a food switch plus holiday stress is a bad combination
- Medication with clear instructions (dosage and times on paper)
- The vaccination booklet or pet passport
- Their own bed or blanket and one familiar toy — the smells of home work wonders
- Leash, harness and the crate if your dog sleeps in one
- Your contact details and a backup contact, plus your own vet's details
Frequently asked questions about holiday care
In the Netherlands, expect roughly €20 to €40 per night for a kennel or home boarding; a professional sitter at your home often runs €25 to €50 per day. At LuckyPaw boarding costs €28 per night, everything included, with discounts for a second dog (−20%) and longer stays (−10% from 7 nights).
For summer holidays and public holidays: the earlier the better — small-scale hosts have limited spots that often fill up months ahead. Two to four months in advance is a realistic guideline for busy periods.
Not by definition. A good kennel with enough attention and exercise is fine for social, resilient dogs. It only becomes sad when your dog's character doesn't match the bustle — then small-scale home boarding or a sitter is the better choice.
Plan a meet & greet well before your holiday and, if possible, a trial night or settling-in day. Your dog gets used to the address while you're still at home — and you know it clicks before you board the plane.
Good hosts administer medication according to your instructions; with us that's at no extra cost. Put dosage and times on paper, pack generously, and include your own vet's phone number.
Sources
For this article we used, among others:
- LICG — on outsourcing the care of your dog
- Our own practice as a small-scale home boarding host in Wassenaar
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