Dog Sitting and Boarding Rates in Portland (2026): What Local Sitters Actually Charge
Short answer: in Portland, a pet sitter who comes to your home costs about $19 to $25 an hour. Overnight kennel boarding runs $39 to $70 a night (most charge $54 to $65), and boarding in a sitter's own home is $60 to $150 a night for one dog. Daycare is $28 to $55 a day, and a 30-minute drop-in visit or walk is $24 to $35. We checked the published price lists of 34 Portland 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).
Portland dog care prices at a glance
| Type of care | Typical Portland price | Where the number comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Pet sitter in your home | $19.21 to $24.64 an hour | Care.com Portland rates, October 2026 |
| Kennel boarding, standard room | $55 to $59 a night | Howliday Inn, Dogville on Barbur, Reynolds Pet Resort, DogConnectionPDX, The Dog House |
| Boarding, close-in pet hotels | $60 to $70 a night | Sniff Dog Hotel, Wag Along, Dogtopia Pearl District, Rose City Dogs |
| Boarding, budget kennels | $39 to $50 a night | Natures Acres, Damascus, Safe Journey (winter $40, summer $50) |
| Boarding, suites and private rooms | $67 to $120 a night | Reynolds ($67 to $73), DogConnectionPDX ($75), Dogtopia ($88), Rose City Dogs ($90), Sniff Dog Hotel ($90 to $120) |
| Boarding, second dog | $35 to $50 more a night | The Dog House ($94 for two), Howliday Inn ($50 each extra pet) |
| Boarding in a sitter's home | $60 to $150 a night (1 dog) | Night Shift Pet Care, Bark Meow PDX, Pooch Patrol, Arf Road |
| Overnight sitter in your home | $100 to $150 a night | Downtown Doggies, PurrBaby, Katcandu and Woofgang, Stay Lady Stay, Dog Adventures Northwest |
| Doggy daycare, full day | $28 to $55 a day | Natures Acres, Safe Journey, Reynolds, Howliday Inn, Dogville, Dogs Dig It, The Dog House, Dogtopia, Sniff, Rose City Dogs, Outwoof Bound |
| Drop-in visit or walk, 30 minutes | $24 to $35 | Downtown Doggies, Night Shift, PDX Dog Walker, PetSitter Portland, Bark Meow PDX, Stay Lady Stay |
| Group hike or adventure | $56 to $105 a dog | Surf's Pup, Arf Road, Dog Adventures Northwest |
Portland runs a little above the Oregon average ($18.30 to $23.90 an hour) and well above the national average of $16.68 to $22.55, according to Care.com. Care.com puts the city about 5% over the state's starting rate and 15% over the national one.
Rates in the suburbs
Most suburbs come in a little cheaper to start, but the top rates can run higher than the city:
| Area | Starting rate | Top rate |
|---|---|---|
| West Linn | $16.67/hr | $24.50/hr |
| Gresham | $17.00/hr | $23.43/hr |
| Hillsboro | $17.28/hr | $24.33/hr |
| Beaverton | $17.98/hr | $23.53/hr |
| Wilsonville | $18.00/hr | $29.86/hr |
| Happy Valley | $19.60/hr | $26.20/hr |
| Oregon City | $21.79/hr | $28.00/hr |
| Fairview | $24.00/hr | $38.80/hr |
Source: Care.com, October 2026.
What pushes the price up in Portland
- Summer and the holidays. Safe Journey charges $40 a night in winter, $50 in summer (June 15 to September 15), $55 over Thanksgiving and $60 over Christmas and New Years. Rose City Dogs goes from $70 to $80 on holidays, DogConnectionPDX and Sniff Dog Hotel add $10 a night, and Sniff asks for a 3-night minimum on holiday stays.
- Holiday fees from sitters too. In-home sitters add $10 a visit (PetSitter Portland, Bark Meow PDX, PurrBaby), $20 a day (PetPals) or $25 a night for overnights (Stay Lady Stay).
- Winter weather. Portland gets the odd ice or snow day, and sitters charge for it. Downtown Doggies adds $10 for inclement winter weather, PetPals lists a $15 emergency weather fee, and PetSitter Portland may cancel or adjust visits below 30 or above 90 degrees.
- More than one dog. One dog at The Dog House is $59 a night; two are $94. At Natures Acres one dog is $39 and two are $69.
- Big dogs. Natures Acres charges $39 for a standard kennel, $43 for a large one and $46 for extra-large.
- Parking and keys. Close-in visits can carry a parking fee ($4 to $6 at Stay Lady Stay, $1.50 at PetSitter Portland), and key pick-ups run $10 to $35.
- Timing and extras. Late check-out is $20 at Sniff, early or late pick-up $25 at Rose City Dogs, and Rose City adds a $25 lobby fee on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day. A third medication costs $8 a day at Sniff.
Sitter at home, sitter's home, or kennel?
| Option | Portland price | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Sitter in your home | $19 to $25 an hour, or $100 to $150 for an overnight | Dogs who are anxious away from home, older dogs, homes with other pets |
| Boarding in a sitter's home | About $60 to $150 a night | Social dogs who like a quiet house and one person |
| Kennel or pet hotel | $39 to $70 a night (suites up to $120) | Dogs who love other dogs and a busy day of play |
Portland weather matters too. From fall through spring a sitter is walking your dog in the rain and toweling off muddy paws; on the few icy days, roads and sidewalks get tricky. Whoever you pick needs to know your dog's limits.
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 $24 to $70 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 $25-an-hour pro or a $70-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 Portland boarding costs $39 to $70. 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.
Portland 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
- BarkZone Dog Daycare & Boarding, Montavilla · 4.7★ (352 Google reviews) · Website · Their prices: Late pick-up/drop-off fee: $15 per visit
- Townhouse Pet Care, Kerns, NE Portland · 4.5★ (314 Google reviews) · Website
- Woof-Tastic Playhouse, Hazelwood, East Portland · 4.8★ (273 Google reviews) · Website · Their prices: Evaluation: $28 per evaluation
- DogConnectionPDX Daycare & Boarding, Arbor Lodge, North Portland · 4.9★ (246 Google reviews) · Website · Their prices: Boarding, standard 5' x 6': $58 per night; Boarding, deluxe 5' x 10': $75 per night; Full-Day Dog Care: $44 per day
- Sniff Dog Hotel, Northwest Portland · 4.4★ (269 Google reviews) · Website · Their prices: Boarding, standard room: $60-65 per night; Boarding, junior suite: $90 per night; Full Day Play: $50 per day
- Pavlov Dog Training - Portland, Lower Burnside, NE Portland · 4.9★ (228 Google reviews) · Website · Their prices: Boarding with Benefits: $80 per day
- Natures Acres Boarding Kennels, Damascus · 4.5★ (223 Google reviews) · Website · Their prices: Boarding, 1 dog, standard kennel: $39 per day; Boarding, 1 dog, extra-large kennel: $46 per day; Boarding, 2 dogs, standard kennel: $69 per day
- Reynolds Pet Resort - Portland, North Portland · 4.7★ (206 Google reviews) · Website · Their prices: Boarding, standard: $56 per night; Boarding, suite: $67 per night; Boarding, XL suite: $73 per night
- Howliday Inn Doggie Hotel, Roseway, NE Portland · 4.8★ (183 Google reviews) · Website · Their prices: Boarding, single pet: $55 per night; Boarding, additional pets: $50 per night; Daycare, single visit: $40 per visit
- Safe Journey Dog Boarding, Brooklyn, SE Portland · 4.3★ (200 Google reviews) · Website · Their prices: Boarding, 1 dog (winter): $40 per night; Boarding, 1 dog (summer): $50 per night; Boarding, 1 dog (Christmas and New Years): $60 per night
- Rose City Dogs- Broadway, Sullivan's Gulch, NE Portland · 4.9★ (138 Google reviews) · Website · Their prices: Cage-free boarding (non-holiday): $70 per night; Cage-free boarding (holiday): $80 per night; Full-Day Daycare: $54 per day
- Stay Pet Hotel, Cully, NE Portland · 4.7★ (121 Google reviews) · Website · Their prices: Dog boarding: From $54 per night; Doggy daycare: From $35 per day
Daycare
- Dogs Dig It, Buckman, SE Portland · 4.4★ (162 Google reviews) · Website · Their prices: Full day of daycare: $44 per day; Half day of daycare (5.5 hours): $34 per half day
- Sit Down & Beyond, Buckman, SE Portland · 5★ (99 Google reviews) · Website · Their prices: Board and train: $200 per night
- Dog Days, Hosford-Abernethy, SE Portland · 4.6★ (95 Google reviews) · Website
- Mother Pupper - Alberta, Alberta Arts District · 4.9★ (79 Google reviews) · Website
- Lil Doggie Den, Rose City Park, NE Portland · 5★ (40 Google reviews) · Website
- Bomb Diggity Dogs, Sylvan, SW Portland · New on Google · Website
Sitters and walkers (they come to you)
- PetSitter Portland + Dog Walking, Southwest Portland · 4.9★ (146 Google reviews) · Website · Their prices: Visit or walk: $28 per half hour; Visit or walk: $38 per hour; Holiday rate: $10 extra per service
- Dog Adventures Northwest, Portland · 5★ (136 Google reviews) · Website · Their prices: Drop-in care (1 hour): $80 per visit; Overnight care (6pm to 8am): $150 per night; A la carte adventure: $105 per adventure
- Hot Diggity! Dog Walking + Pet Sitting, Portland · 4.5★ (127 Google reviews) · Website
- Downtown Doggies, Downtown Portland · 5★ (79 Google reviews) · Website · Their prices: Dog walking or pet visit: $25 per 30 min; Hourly dog sitting: $30 per hour; Overnight pet sitting: $100 per day
- Katcandu and Woofgang LLC, Northwest Portland · 5★ (69 Google reviews) · Website · Their prices: Dog in-home visit: $28 per 30 min; Dog in-home visit: $40 per 60 min; Overnight care (includes a mid-day walk): $125 per night
- Stay Lady Stay -Home and Pet Care, Irvington, NE Portland · 5★ (66 Google reviews) · Website · Their prices: Vacation drop-in visit: $35 per 30 min; Overnight pet sitting (Amethyst): $150 per night; Holiday overnight: $25 extra per overnight
- Bowser's Best Buddy, LLC, Milwaukie · 4.9★ (64 Google reviews) · Website
- Petlandia Pet Care, Foster-Powell, SE Portland · 5★ (41 Google reviews) · Website
- PurrBaby Pet Care, LLC, Portland · 5★ (41 Google reviews) · Website · Their prices: 60-minute pet visit (includes 30-minute walk): $45 per visit; 12-hour overnight home stay, 1 dog: $100 per night; 30-minute dog walk (up to 2 dogs): $30 per walk
- Surf’s Pup Doggie Lounge, Mt. Tabor, SE Portland · 5★ (38 Google reviews) · Website · Their prices: On-Leash Social Pack Hike (2 hours): $56 per dog; Off Leash Adventures: $62 per dog; All Day Adventures: $90 per dog
- Scratch N’ Sniff Pet Care, King, NE Portland · 5★ (33 Google reviews) · Website · Their prices: Dog walk (20 to 25 minutes): $27.00 per walk; Weekend and holiday walk: $30.00 per walk; In home pet sitting: $125 per day
- Doggy Walkie, Hayden Island · 5★ (31 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 Portland?
Most Portland pet sitters charge about $19 to $25 an hour, a little above the Oregon average. A 30-minute visit or walk is usually $24 to $35, and an overnight in your home is $100 to $150. 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 Portland per night?
Kennel boarding is $39 to $70 a night; most Portland kennels and pet hotels charge $54 to $65 for a standard room. Suites run $67 to $120. Boarding in a sitter's own home is about $60 to $150 a night for one dog.
Is it cheaper to board my dog or have a sitter come over?
For a full day, a kennel night ($39 to $70) is usually cheaper than an overnight sitter ($100 to $150). For a few short visits a day, an in-home sitter at $24 to $35 a visit can cost less and keeps your dog in its own routine.
Do Portland sitters charge more on holidays?
Yes, most do. Kennels add $5 to $10 a night or switch to holiday rates (Rose City Dogs goes from $70 to $80), sitters add about $10 a visit, and some kennels also charge more in summer. Book early for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years, when some places ask for a 3-night minimum.
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, and house rules. The Paw Brief walks you through all of it and turns it into one guide your sitter can scan in seconds.