Dog Sitting and Boarding Rates in Tucson (2026): What Local Sitters Actually Charge
Short answer: in Tucson, a pet sitter who comes to your home costs about $17 to $22 an hour. Overnight kennel boarding runs $27 to $75 a night (most charge $40 to $60), and a sitter who stays the night at your house is $60 to $119. Daycare is $17 to $53 a day (most $35 to $45), and a 30-minute drop-in visit or walk is $15 to $33. We checked the published price lists of 21 Tucson 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).
Tucson dog care prices at a glance
| Type of care | Typical Tucson price | Where the number comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Pet sitter in your home | $16.83 to $21.99 an hour | Care.com Tucson rates, October 2026 |
| Kennel boarding, budget kennels | $27 to $34 a night | Camino Verde Pet Resort, At-Home Kennels price list |
| Kennel boarding, most kennels | $40 to $60 a night | Balboa's Bed & Biscuit, Kennel Nirvana, Paw Commons, Camp Bow Wow Tucson, Hounds Town, Como Pet Lodge |
| Cage-free boarding | $75 a night | Camp Jimmydog |
| Boarding in a sitter's home | $75 a night | Howling Success (dogs sleep in their home) |
| Boarding with daycare included | $99 a night (dogs not enrolled in daycare) | Dogtopia Tanque Verde pricing, Dogtopia Oro Valley pricing |
| Boarding, extra dog from the same family | $36 to $51 a night | Balboa's, Hounds Town, Camp Bow Wow Tucson |
| Overnight sitter in your home | $60 to $119 a night | Pawsitively Reliable, Reigning Cats & Dogs, Pura Vida, Pyle's |
| Doggy daycare, full day | $17 to $53 a day | At-Home Kennels, Kennel Nirvana, Como, Hounds Town, Camp Bow Wow, Camp Jimmydog, Dogtopia Oro Valley |
| Drop-in visit or walk, 30 minutes | $15 to $33 | Happy Paws Tucson, Pawsitively Reliable, Pura Vida, Reigning Cats & Dogs, The Pet Nanny |
| Walk or visit, 60 minutes | $25 to $50 | Happy Paws Tucson, Reigning Cats & Dogs, The Pet Nanny, Pura Vida |
| Short check-in, 15 minutes | $20 | Pyle's Pet Sitting |
Tucson runs about 4% under the Arizona average ($17.51 to $23.13 an hour) and right at the national average of $16.68 to $22.57, according to Care.com.
Rates in the suburbs
Care.com lists two nearby towns. Marana costs the same as Tucson; Vail runs higher at the top end:
| Area | Starting rate | Top rate |
|---|---|---|
| Marana | $16.86/hr | $21.57/hr |
| Vail | $17.88/hr | $26.00/hr |
Source: Care.com, October 2026.
What pushes the price up in Tucson
- Big dogs. At-Home Kennels goes from $28 a day for dogs up to 29 lbs to $34 for dogs 90 lbs and over. Balboa's kennels run from $40 (under 20 lbs) to $55 (extra large).
- Dogs that aren't neutered. Kennel Nirvana charges $65 a day instead of $50 for unneutered dogs or dogs that need to exercise alone, and Como Pet Lodge adds $10 a day for unaltered pets.
- More than one dog. Kennels usually discount the second dog rather than halve it: Camp Bow Wow is $58 for one dog and $51 each for two; Balboa's charges $36 for each extra dog sharing a kennel.
- Holidays and busy weeks. Camp Jimmydog adds $5 a night in peak weeks and $10 on holidays, Camp Bow Wow adds $5 a night in season, The Pet Nanny adds $10 per visit on major holidays, and an overnight sitter from Pawsitively Reliable goes from $60 on a weekday to $80 on a holiday. At-Home Kennels asks a $50 non-refundable deposit for holiday week stays. Winter is Tucson's busy season, and the gem and mineral shows in late January and February fill the city, so book early.
- Late pick-up. Camp Jimmydog and Hounds Town both charge $30 for picking up after the morning cut-off (10am and noon), and Camp Bow Wow adds $15 after 11am.
- Extras. Medication ($3 a day at At-Home Kennels, $5 a night at Balboa's), baths ($30 at Camp Jimmydog, $25 to $45 at Hounds Town), and sitter key pick-up or very early and late visits ($15 and $10 at Pura Vida).
Sitter at home, sitter's home, or kennel?
| Option | Tucson price | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Sitter visits at your home | $17 to $22 an hour, or $15 to $33 per 30-minute visit | Dogs who are anxious away from home, older dogs, homes with other pets |
| Boarding in a sitter's home | About $75 a night | Social dogs who like a quiet house and one person |
| Overnight sitter at your home | $60 to $119 a night | Dogs who shouldn't be alone at night, and owners who want the house looked after too |
| Kennel or pet resort | $27 to $75 a night ($99 with daycare at Dogtopia) | Dogs who love other dogs and a busy day of play |
Tucson weather matters too. In summer the walk has to happen early, before the pavement gets hot enough to burn paws (Happy Paws Tucson advertises every walk as heat-aware). Monsoon storms from July to September frighten a lot of dogs, and rattlesnakes and Sonoran Desert toads are real risks: The Complete Canine even runs a rattlesnake and toad avoidance class. 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 $15 to $75 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 $22-an-hour pro or a $75-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 Tucson boarding costs $27 to $75. 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.
Tucson 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
- Hounds Town - Tucson - Marana, Northwest Tucson (Camino Martin) · 5★ (342 Google reviews) · Website · Their prices: Boarding, Townhome: $59 per night; Boarding, Luxury Suite: $69 per night; Daycare: $37 per day
- Camp Bow Wow Tucson, Catalina (North Oracle Rd) · 4.8★ (532 Google reviews) · Website · Their prices: Boarding: $58.00 per night; Luxury Suite, first dog: $74.00 per night; Day Camp, full day: $39.00 per day
- Minerva's Pet Grooming and Boarding, North Tucson (Prince Rd) · 4.7★ (288 Google reviews) · Website
- Central Pet Tucson, West Tucson (Jackrabbit Ave) · 4.5★ (349 Google reviews) · Website
- At-Home Kennels, Southeast Tucson (Millmar Rd) · 4.8★ (264 Google reviews) · Website · Their prices: Boarding, small dogs (up to 29 lbs): $28.00 per day; Boarding, X-Large dogs (90 lbs and over): $34.00 per day; Day Care: $17 per day
- Dogtopia of Oro Valley, Oro Valley · 4.8★ (256 Google reviews) · Website · Their prices: Overnight stay, non-enrolled dogs: $99 per night; Daycare, 1 day per week: $53 per week; Unlimited daycare: $159 per week
- Camp Bow Wow Tucson East, East Broadway · 4.9★ (217 Google reviews) · Website
- Dogtopia of Tanque Verde, Tanque Verde Rd · 4.7★ (215 Google reviews) · Website · Their prices: Overnight stay, non-enrolled: $99 per night; Daycare, 1 day per week: $47 per week; Unlimited daycare: $129 per week
- Sabino Canyon Pet Resort, Sabino Canyon Rd · 4.3★ (194 Google reviews) · Website
- Camino Verde Pet Resort - Dog and Cat Boarding in Valencia Tucson, Southwest Tucson (Valencia) · 4.4★ (188 Google reviews) · Website · Their prices: Daily boarding: $27.00 per day
- Sol Dog Lodge and Training Center, Marana · 4.8★ (155 Google reviews) · Website
- Sit! Stay! Play!, Midtown (East 14th St) · 4.8★ (130 Google reviews) · Website
Daycare
- Dirty Dawgs Pet Care DIY Dog Wash & Grooming, Campbell Ave · 4.6★ (244 Google reviews) · Website
- Coby's Dog House, North Tucson (Prince Rd) · 4.7★ (86 Google reviews)
- Paws Up, Northwest Tucson (Sunset Rd) · 4.8★ (63 Google reviews) · Website
- Doggie Funhouse 2, East Grant Rd · 5★ (4 Google reviews) · Website
- Veteran Embraced Pet Services - Pets of Vets, South Tucson (Sylvane St) · 5★ (4 Google reviews) · Website
Sitters and walkers (they come to you)
- Fetch! Pet Care Tucson, Tucson · 4.9★ (121 Google reviews) · Website
- Pura Vida Pet Care, Tucson · 5★ (103 Google reviews) · Website · Their prices: 30-minute walk: $30 per walk; Almost overnight: $110 per night; Daytime buddy: $35 an hour
- The Pet Nanny In-Home Pet Sitters, LLC, East Tucson · 5★ (66 Google reviews) · Website · Their prices: Dog walk, 30-minute visit: $33 per visit; Dog walk, 60-minute visit: $45 per visit; Major holiday: additional $10 per visit
- Paws & Tails Petsitting of Arizona, Tucson · 5★ (51 Google reviews) · Website
- Pawsitively Reliable Pet & Home Care by Cambria, Tucson · 5★ (32 Google reviews) · Website · Their prices: 30-minute visit for one animal: $20 per visit; Overnight / 24-Hour Care, weekday: $60 per 24 hours; Overnight / 24-Hour Care, holiday: $80 per 24 hours
- Home Sweet Home Pet Sitting and Dog Walking, Midtown east (Cooper St) · 4.8★ (25 Google reviews) · Website
- Nunn Better! LLC, Tucson · 4.7★ (23 Google reviews) · Website
- Tucson House Sitters, Tucson · 4.8★ (20 Google reviews) · Website
- Working For Wags, Tucson · 4.8★ (18 Google reviews) · Website
- The M Fluence, Midtown (East 18th St) · 5★ (16 Google reviews)
- Hearts of Gold Pet Services, Tucson · 5★ (14 Google reviews) · Website
- Pyle's Pet Sitting, Tucson · 5★ (12 Google reviews) · Website · Their prices: Full-Day Live-in Care: $119 per day; 15 Minute Check-in: $20 per visit; 45 Minute Check-in: $35 per visit
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 Tucson?
Most Tucson pet sitters charge about $17 to $22 an hour, and a 30-minute visit or walk from a local company is $15 to $33. 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 Tucson per night?
Kennel boarding is $27 to $75 a night; most Tucson kennels charge $40 to $60. Boarding that includes a full day of daycare is $99 a night at Dogtopia if your dog isn't enrolled there, and a sitter who stays overnight at your house is $60 to $119.
Is it cheaper to board my dog or have a sitter come over?
For a full day, a kennel night ($27 to $75) is often cheaper than paying a sitter by the hour. For a few short visits a day, an in-home sitter can cost less and keeps your dog in its own routine, away from the summer heat of a car ride and a new place.
Do Tucson sitters charge more on holidays?
Often, yes. Kennels add about $5 to $10 a night in peak and holiday weeks, sitters add around $10 per visit, and an overnight sitter can go from $60 to $80. Book early for the winter holidays and the gem show weeks in late January and February.
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.