Best dog daycare & boarding in Durham, NC
These are the Durham businesses that make daycare and boarding their main service, not a side offering, ranked by our earned composite score (see our methodology) built from ratings, review volume, recency, and sentiment.
Looking for the top daycare pick specifically? See our best dog day care center overall. This list is scored the same way but weighted toward businesses built around boarding and extended stays alongside daycare.
Picks are ranked by score and relevance to daycare & boarding, so a lower overall score can rank higher here.
At a glance
| # | Business | Score | Rating | From | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Camp Bow Wow North Durham | 87 | 4.8 (427) | — | Full-service daycare & boarding |
| 2 | Dog Tales Day Camp and Boarding | 79 | 5 (54) | — | Small-group hikes & boarding |
| 3 | Apex Dog Sitting | 78 | 5 (10) | — | Home-based boarding |
| 4 | Peak City Puppy - Rolesville | 76 | 5 (21) | — | Meet-and-greet boarding & sitting |
| 5 | Raleigh Concierge Group | 72 | 5 (6) | — | Bundled pet care & home check-ins |
| 6 | Critter Sitter of Cary | 63 | 4.2 (5) | — | Long-tenured in-home sitting |
| 7 | Waggin' Tails n' Trails Boarding | 19 | — | — | New, unreviewed boarding option |
| 8 | Kristen's Dog Sitting | 16 | — | — | New, unreviewed sitting option |
1. Camp Bow Wow North Durham
4.8 (427 reviews)score 87/100
With 427 reviews at a 4.8 average, this is the highest-volume, highest-confidence pick on the list. Owners describe staff who build real relationships with dogs, backed by creative monthly enrichment and live webcam access so you can check in on your dog mid-stay.
- Staff described as genuinely engaged with individual dogs
- Creative enrichment, from cuddle time to themed photo shoots
- Live webcam access throughout the day
- Medication administration included in boarding rate, no hidden fees
Watch out: Turf and concrete play areas plus occasional larger group sizes have drawn concern from owners of bigger or more anxious dogs.
Services: daycare boarding, grooming, dog training, webcam monitoring
2. Dog Tales Day Camp and Boarding
5 (54 reviews)score 79/100
A perfect 5.0 across 54 reviews, with owners consistently noting how eager their dogs are to go back. The wooded, hike-based setting and intentionally small groups set it apart from bigger commercial daycares.
- Small groups with personalized attention
- Daily photo updates from hikes and playtime
- Wooded setting with trail access
- Staff proactively seeks vet care when needed
Watch out: Review volume is solid but still smaller than the category leader, so treat the track record as promising rather than exhaustive.
Services: daycare boarding, dog training, webcam monitoring, puppy daycare
3. Apex Dog Sitting
5 (10 reviews)score 78/100
Jason and Andressa run this as a home environment rather than a commercial facility, and every review currently on record is five stars. Owners mention dogs bonding with the caregivers and coming back excited on repeat stays.
- Home setting instead of a kennel-style facility
- Named, consistent caregivers
- Daily photo updates during stays
- Repeat customers returning again and again
Watch out: Only 10 reviews so far, so the sample is small even though the sentiment is strongly positive.
Services: daycare boarding, grooming, transportation, cage free
4. Peak City Puppy - Rolesville
5 (21 reviews)score 76/100
Peak City pairs each pet with an assigned, background-checked sitter after a pre-visit meet-and-greet, which owners credit for how quickly their dogs and cats settle in. Daily app photos and video keep communication steady through the stay.
- Pre-visit meet-and-greet with the assigned sitter
- Daily photos and video sent via app
- Background-checked and bonded staff
- Responsive communication from sitters and management
Services: pet sitter, daycare boarding, dog walker
5. Raleigh Concierge Group
5 (6 reviews)score 72/100
Every review on record for Raleigh Concierge Group is five stars, with owners calling out attentive, responsive care alongside bundled extras like home cleaning and plant checks. Pricing is noted as running below category average.
- Five-star rating across all current reviews
- Staff named and praised directly by clients
Watch out: Review count is still small, so weigh the perfect rating against a limited sample.
Services: pet sitter, daycare boarding, dog training, dog walker
6. Critter Sitter of Cary
4.2 (5 reviews)score 63/100
Nina has run this pet-sitting operation since 2005, and clients describe her staying late for pets who need extra comfort and sending daily activity notes. It's a smaller, more personal alternative to a facility-based daycare.
- Long-standing operation dating to 2005
- Daily activity notes for owners
Watch out: Rating and review count are both lower than the rest of this list, with just 5 reviews at a 4.2 average.
Services: dog walker, daycare boarding, pet sitter
7. Waggin' Tails n' Trails Boarding
score 19/100
Waggin' Tails n' Trails is listed as a dedicated boarding specialist in Durham, but there isn't yet a review history to evaluate against the rest of this list. It's included because boarding and trails-based care is its core focus, not a side service.
- Positioned as a dedicated boarding and trails-based service
- Opportunity to be among the first reviewers
Watch out: No Google reviews yet, so there's no track record to compare against other picks here.
Services: daycare boarding, pet sitter, dog walker
8. Kristen's Dog Sitting
score 16/100
Kristen's Dog Sitting is included as a boarding and sitting specialist in Durham, though it currently has no Google review history to draw on. Consider it if you want a smaller, sitting-based alternative and are comfortable being an early customer.
- Focused specifically on dog sitting and boarding
- Opportunity to be among the first reviewers
Watch out: No Google reviews yet, so there's no sentiment data to confirm quality of care.
Services: daycare boarding, pet sitter, dog walker
Looking yourself? Describe what you need once and hear from suitable dog day care center in Durham, NC.
Enquiries submitted through our forms may be shared with partner providers who can do the work, and we may receive a referral fee. Our rankings and scores follow our published methodology only and are never affected by referral fees.
Guides before you choose
- What dog day care costs in Durham and what changes the price
Typical daily and monthly day care rates in Durham, what pushes the price up or down, and how to budget without overpaying for extras you don't need.
- How to spot red flags and check safety practices before choosing a dog day care
What to ask about staff ratios, play group size, and supervision before you enroll, plus the warning signs that mean it's time to look elsewhere.
- What to expect on your dog's first day of day care in Durham
A walkthrough of intake, temperament assessment, and drop-off at a Durham dog day care, so your dog's first visit goes smoothly.
- Helping an anxious dog adjust to day care
Practical ways to ease an anxious dog into group day care, how to tell normal adjustment from a bad fit, and when a smaller setting works better.