Dog Sitting and Boarding Rates in Houston (2026): What Local Sitters Actually Charge
Short answer: in Houston, a pet sitter who comes to your home costs about $14 to $21 an hour. Overnight kennel boarding runs $38 to $82 a night (most charge $55 to $68, and one budget kennel advertises rooms from $30), and boarding in a sitter's own home starts around $35 a day for one dog. Daycare is $25 to $55 a day, and a 30-minute drop-in visit or walk is $23 to $55 (most charge $25 to $35). If you want a sitter to sleep at your house, expect $90 to $395 a night. We checked the published price lists of 29 Houston businesses, plus Care.com, in October 2026.
Leaving your dog? Hand your sitter one page with everything they need.
$17The price is the easy part. Your dog has 47 little rules. Your sitter probably knows 4. That gap is where trips go wrong, and it's why we built The Paw Brief (more below).
Houston dog care prices at a glance
| Type of care | Typical Houston price | Where the number comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Pet sitter in your home | $14.28 to $20.62 an hour | Care.com Houston rates, October 2026 |
| Kennel boarding, standard room | $58 to $68 a night | Dogtopia Houston pricing, Hounds Town Midtown, What's Up Dog |
| Boarding with daycare included | $55 to $70 a night | Wag'n World pricing, Houston Bark Park, Yale Street Dog House, Camp Bow Wow West Bellaire |
| Boarding, budget kennels | $30 to $48 a night | Paws Pet Resort, Super Paws, Pet Paradise Hobby, Dog BnB, The Fritz Kennel |
| Boarding, luxury or private suite | $100 to $125 a night | Camp Bow Wow Greater Heights, Pet Paradise Hobby, Paws Pet Resort |
| Boarding, extra dog | $30 to $65 a night | Pet Paradise Hobby, Hounds Town Heights, Wag'n World |
| Boarding in a sitter's home | $35 a day (1 dog), $30 for a second dog | Posh Paws Pet Sitters |
| Doggy daycare, full day | $25 to $55 a day (most $34 to $44) | Pet Paradise Hobby, Super Paws, Dog BnB, Yale Street, Hounds Town, Wag'n World, Dogtopia, Best Little Dog House, Hotel Kira |
| Drop-in visit or walk, 30 minutes | $23 to $55 (most $25 to $35) | WAGS, Tongue & Tail, PETfect care, A Dog's Life HTX, Shady Waggers |
| Short potty break, 15 minutes | $17 to $21 | Golden Paws, Moonwalks, Houston's Best Pet Sitters |
| Overnight sitter in your home | $90 to $395 a night (most $130 to $150) | WAGS, Julia's Pet Services, Tongue & Tail, A Dog's Life HTX, Stay Home Pet Sitting, Shady Waggers |
Houston sits right at the Texas average ($14.19 to $20.57 an hour) and below the national average of $16.68 to $22.55, according to Care.com. Kennels are a different story: inside the Loop, $58 to $70 a night is normal, and the cheaper rooms are mostly further out (Sharpstown, Spring Branch, near Hobby).
Rates in the suburbs
Hourly sitter rates swing more across greater Houston than in most cities. Some suburbs pay well under the city rate, and some pay more:
| Area | Starting rate | Top rate |
|---|---|---|
| Kingwood | $11.50/hr | $15.70/hr |
| Deer Park | $11.67/hr | $20.67/hr |
| Webster | $12.33/hr | $21.56/hr |
| Humble | $15.52/hr | $23.86/hr |
| Richmond | $15.70/hr | $24.12/hr |
| Sugar Land | $16.30/hr | $21.60/hr |
| Alvin | $17.00/hr | $24.60/hr |
Source: Care.com, October 2026.
What pushes the price up in Houston
- Big dogs. The Fritz Kennel charges $48 a night under 50 lbs, $50 for 51 to 100 lbs and $53 over 100 lbs. Some smaller places, like Dog BnB, only take dogs up to 60 lbs.
- More than one dog. A second dog is $30 a night at Pet Paradise and $65 at Wag'n World. Most walkers include 2 dogs, then add $2 to $15 for each extra dog.
- Puppies and unneutered males. Super Paws charges $48 a night for puppies instead of $38. Hotel Kira charges $109 for a puppy or unfixed male sleepover instead of $82.
- Holidays and busy weeks. Houston Bark Park adds $10 a dog on holidays and peak nights, Super Paws goes from $38 to $48, and Camp Bow Wow West Bellaire adds $5 a night for holidays and the summer months. Sitters add $10 to $30 per visit or per day. Several local price lists name Spring Break week as a peak, so book early in March.
- Late pick-up. The Best Little Dog House charges $25 to check out after 1pm; Hounds Town and Pet Paradise charge $20 for an afternoon check-out.
- Extras. Baths ($25 to $40), house food ($2 to $5) and one-on-one play sessions ($12 to $16) are usually add-ons.
Sitter at home, sitter's home, or kennel?
| Option | Houston price | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Sitter in your home | $14 to $21 an hour, $25 to $35 a visit, or about $130 to $150 a night to stay over | Dogs who are anxious away from home, older dogs, homes with other pets |
| Boarding in a sitter's home | About $35 a day | Social dogs who like a quiet house and one person |
| Kennel or pet resort | $38 to $82 a night | Dogs who love other dogs and a busy day of play |
Houston weather matters too. Houston summers are long and hot, so walks have to happen early or late, and local kennels advertise cold plates, pools and indoor play. From June to November it is also hurricane season. Whoever you pick needs to know your dog's heat limits, and what to do if a storm hits while you're away.
The part no price covers
The walk is rarely what goes wrong. It's the text at 9pm.
"How much food again?" "Is the white pill the morning one?" "Who's your vet?"
You're paying $25 to $82 a day for someone to look after your dog. Then you hand them the most important information out loud, at the door, in a rush, and hope it sticks. Or you write a 10-page Word document they skim once.
Whether it's a friend, a $21-an-hour pro or an $82-a-night resort, they all need the same things from you, and most owners forget at least one:
- Exactly how much your dog eats, and when (not "morning-ish")
- Every medication, the dose, and how to give it
- The quirks: the gate that doesn't latch, the bolt at the front door, the toy that can't be left out
- When to call you, and when to skip you and go straight to the emergency vet
- Your vet, the nearest 24-hour clinic, and a backup contact who isn't you
The Paw Brief: one handbook your sitter can scan in seconds
The Paw Brief asks you the questions you'd forget, then turns your answers into one clear care guide. Fill it in once, update it before each trip, and hand it to whoever is watching your dog: a sitter, a boarding kennel, or your neighbor.
What's inside:
- Who is who: photos and markings for each pet, so meds and food never get mixed up
- Precise times: real times for meals, walks and meds, not "evening"
- Little rituals: the bedtime toy, the water-bowl trick, the things only you know
- Behavior, honestly: checkboxes for reactivity, separation anxiety and resource guarding, so your sitter isn't surprised
- Emergency thresholds: exactly when to call you and when to go straight to the vet
- House details: alarm, fuse box, spare key, and neighbor boundaries
What you get: a fillable PDF that works on any device, plus an editable Canva version. Instant download, no subscription.
The math is easy. One night of Houston boarding costs $38 to $82. The Paw Brief costs $17, once, and you reuse it for every trip after this one.
No risk: if it doesn't help, you get your money back within 30 days.
The Paw Brief is made by the team behind this guide. The prices and local listings above are researched separately and nobody paid to be included.
Houston dog sitters, kennels and daycares
Real local options with their Google rating. Where a business publishes its prices, we list them with a link so you can check.
Boarding and kennels
- Posh Paws Pet Sitters, LLC, Pearland · 5★ (440 Google reviews) · Website · Their prices: Boarding in sitter's home, first dog: $35 per calendar day; Boarding, second dog: $30 per calendar day; Holiday/Peak Season: $10 per pet per calendar day
- Wag'n World, Montrose · 4.9★ (596 Google reviews) · Website · Their prices: Overnight boarding (daycare next day included): $67 per night; Full day daycare: $42 per day; Half day daycare (up to 6 hours): $25 per half day
- Jackson's Place Unleashed Pet Resort & Bakery, Midtown · 4.9★ (301 Google reviews) · Website
- Rover Oaks Pet Resort, Houston, South Main, near NRG Park · 4.8★ (636 Google reviews) · Website
- Houston Bark Park and Daycare, Rice Military · 4.8★ (448 Google reviews) · Website · Their prices: Overnight boarding (includes daycare): $70 per night; Daycare, full day (six hours or longer): $42.00 per day; Holidays and peak nights: $10.00 extra per dog
- The Best Little Dog House In Texas, Montrose · 4.7★ (328 Google reviews) · Website · Their prices: Boarding: $65 per night; Daycare, full day: $45 per day; Daycare, half day (less than 6 hours): $30 per half day
- Yuppie Dog, Rice Military · 4.7★ (297 Google reviews) · Website
- Pampered Pet Inn, Rice Village · 4.6★ (432 Google reviews) · Website
- Pet Paradise Houston Hobby, near Hobby Airport · 4.6★ (556 Google reviews) · Website · Their prices: Patio Suite, 1st dog: $42 per day; Pet Cam Suite, 1st dog: $55 per day; Day Camp, full day pass: $25 per day
- Super Paws: Dog Boarding & Daycare, Sharpstown · 4.7★ (261 Google reviews) · Website · Their prices: Overnight, adult dog: $38 per night; Peak/Holiday, adult dog: $48 per night; Daycare, full day (5 to 10 hours): $28 per day
- Paws Pet Resort, Oak Forest · 4.7★ (236 Google reviews) · Website · Their prices: Dog boarding: as low as $30 per night; Suite: $100 per night; House food: $2 per night
- Fur Paws, Washington Avenue · 4.6★ (236 Google reviews) · Website
Daycare
- Unleashed Retreat, Downtown Houston · 4.7★ (66 Google reviews) · Website
Sitters and walkers (they come to you)
- Furever Friends Pet Sitting, LLC, Houston · 5★ (260 Google reviews) · Website
- Let's Walk Houston, Houston · 5★ (179 Google reviews) · Website
- Julia's Pet Services, Galleria area · 4.8★ (100 Google reviews) · Website · Their prices: Quick Paws (20 min): Starting at $25 per visit; Mini Adventure (30 min): Starting at $35 per visit; Overnight Pet Sitting: Starting at $130 per night
- Houston Dog Butler, Houston · 5★ (93 Google reviews) · Website · Their prices: Quick Potty Break (20 minutes): $25 per visit; The Active Pup (40 minutes): $30 per walk; An Excursion! (60 minutes): $40 per walk
- Stay Home Pet Sitting, Houston · 4.9★ (60 Google reviews) · Website · Their prices: Drop-In Visit (dog 45 minutes): Starting at $48 per visit; Overnight Stay (10 to 12 hours): Starting at $225 per night
- PETfect care, Houston · 5★ (54 Google reviews) · Website · Their prices: Dog walk, 30 minutes (up to 2 dogs): $30 per walk; Pet sitting visit, 30 minutes (up to 2 dogs): $30 per visit; Holiday fee: $10 per visit
- A Dog's Life HTX, East End · 4.8★ (50 Google reviews) · Website · Their prices: 30 Minute Drop-In (up to two dogs): $30 per visit; 60 Minute Drop-In (up to two dogs): $40 per visit; Overnight Services: $150 per night
- Houston's Best Pet Sitters, Houston · 4.7★ (46 Google reviews) · Website · Their prices: 15 minute pet sitting visit: $21.00 per visit; 30 minute pet sitting visit: $30.00 per visit; Holiday surcharge: $10 per visit
- Tongue & Tail Pet Services, Houston · 4.9★ (42 Google reviews) · Website · Their prices: 15-Minute Potty Break: $18 per visit; 30-Minute Visit: $25 per visit; Overnight sitting: $130 per night
- Mia Pupsitter, Houston · 5★ (37 Google reviews) · Website
- Shady Waggers, Houston · 4.9★ (37 Google reviews) · Website · Their prices: Potty Break dog walk (30 minutes): $45 recurring, $55 as needed per walk; Sniff and Stroll dog walk (45 minutes): $55 recurring, $65 as needed per walk; Slumber Pawty overnight (12 hours): $295 recurring, $395 as needed per night
- LOVING-CARE PET SITTING by LYNN VIRSHUP, Spring Branch · 4.9★ (35 Google reviews) · Website
Listings come from Google Maps and each business's own website, checked October 2026. Nobody paid to be listed. Prices change, so confirm before you book. Own one of these businesses? Ask us about a featured spot.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I pay a dog sitter in Houston?
Most Houston pet sitters charge about $14 to $21 an hour, or $25 to $35 for a 30-minute visit. For a friend or neighbor, many owners pay close to the same hourly rate or a flat amount per day, plus a thank-you.
How much is dog boarding in Houston per night?
Kennel boarding is $38 to $82 a night; most Houston kennels charge $55 to $68, often with daycare included. Boarding in a sitter's own home starts around $35 a day for one dog.
Is it cheaper to board my dog or have a sitter come over?
For a full day, a kennel night ($38 to $82) is often cheaper than paying a sitter by the hour, and much cheaper than an overnight sitter ($130 to $150 a night for most). For a few short visits a day, an in-home sitter can cost less and keeps your dog in its own routine.
Do Houston sitters charge more on holidays?
Often, yes. Expect about $10 a night extra at kennels on holidays and peak nights, and $10 to $30 per visit or day from sitters. Book early for Spring Break week, the summer and the big holidays.
What should I leave for my dog sitter?
Feeding amounts and times, medications with doses, your vet and the nearest emergency clinic, a backup contact, house rules, and in Houston, your dog's heat limits and a storm plan. The Paw Brief walks you through all of it and turns it into one guide your sitter can scan in seconds.