It happens to the best of us—we have to go out of town or work on a big job and there’s no one to look after the dog. Thankfully, there are a fair number of dog boarding opportunities for your dog near your home. Dog boarding kennels provide your dog a safe and secure place to call their home away from home while you are away. Dog boarding is sometimes accompanied by other services, such as dog training and dog grooming.

Dogs like to play like dogs! They will run, chase, be chased, grab each others’ necks, fall down, bark, trip, pull on each others’ ears and tumble around. To pet parents, this play could look worrisome, but this is standard dog play! The Canine Coach in the playroom will monitor your pup to make sure they are safe and having fun playing with the other dogs in the room. If at any point your dog gets scared or overwhelmed, our staff will intervene.
Dogs don’t think about inside vs. outside the way people do. They view the world around them through smell, sight and sound in a different way. Their nose will be full of new scents to explore as they meet their new BFFFs. They will see many wagging tails and hear excited yips and words of praise for playing excitedly! Because the sights, smells and sounds of our indoor playrooms are different from what they experience at home, you don’t have to worry about it impacting your house training. After 15 years in the business, we can confidently say that open play at Dogtopia does not translate to dogs going potty in the house.

Is Doggy Daycare a good idea?


We’ve created a loving place with dogs’ wants and needs in mind. We offer everything your furry family member requires with award-winning dog daycare, overnight, weekend and holiday boarding, and spa services.  Use our webcams to watch them play all day with their BFFFs (best furry friends forever) in open and safe environments. Professionally trained Dogtopians will love and care for your pup like they are our own. You can trust your dog will come home overjoyed – and most likely overtired – from all of the excitement of the day.

Can my dog fly with me?


Your dog can make a splash in our specifically designed dog pool! We have an easy access beach front entry into our 3 1/2 foot deep center, or they can dive in from the deck, or just frolic in the fountains. Our 1/2 acre leash free backyard also provides great entertainment with chasing tennis balls, running with the other guests, catching a Frisbee or just catching rays on our sundeck.
The difference between dog sitting and boarding is the length of stay and attention of care. Dog boarding is like hotel, where it's typically an overnight stay at a kennel where your dog is around other dogs. On the other hand, a dog sitter will watch your pet at either their or your home, or they may just stop by to care for your pets two or three times per day.

Our dog daycare facilities include a variety of fun playrooms that provide everything an active pup needs, including space and supervision. Our climate-controlled playrooms are grouped by size, personality and play style to make sure your dog is safe and comfortable. As your dog ages, grows, and develops, they may switch playrooms as their confidence builds and/or play preferences change.

Dogtopia is a very active environment, with the dogs interacting for several hours per day. Even if your dog did not run all day, simply being awake can make them very, very tired. At home, most dogs sleep the day away getting 18 or more hours of sleep. Although we have a two-hour nap, and the dogs sleep approximately eight hours per night, they will be tired. Please let them rest. We do not recommend that you take them to the dog park or any other social environment for at least a few days.

Do dogs like being in kennels?


Your dog can make a splash in our specifically designed dog pool! We have an easy access beach front entry into our 3 1/2 foot deep center, or they can dive in from the deck, or just frolic in the fountains. Our 1/2 acre leash free backyard also provides great entertainment with chasing tennis balls, running with the other guests, catching a Frisbee or just catching rays on our sundeck.

Does my dog Remember me?


Exercise: Consistent physical exercise is important to the growth and happiness of your pup – of course, there’s a whole lot of health benefits, too! Dog obesity is a serious health concern, as it increases the risk for osteoarthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, kidney disease, cancers, ligament injuries and decreased life expectancy (up to 2.5 years). Plenty of playtime enhances dog health and longevity, leaving furry children happy and relaxed. With 8-10 hours of off-leash open play, Dogtopia offers pups plenty of exercise to help ensure a healthy weight, a strong heart and a good night’s sleep!


Hello, my name is Shawna, I am a licensed pet sitter, and the founder of Tampaws Pet Care. I am a pet owner and animal lover myself. I have owned a variety of pets in my lifetime, including cats, dogs, guini pigs, iguanas, turtles, birds,snakes, fish, and even a sugar gliders. Not only am I a pet owner, i am also very involved with local rescues in the Tampa Bay area and have been a volunteer/foster mom for Pug Rescue Of Florida for the past three years. This experience has allowed me to foster and care for a variety of pugs and given my first hand knowledge with dogs of all ages and conditions. I have experience with administering basic med ... View Profile

What is the meaning of pet boarding?