Dog Boarding Chicago

We are available for daycare and boarding year round and if we are full we can add you to our waitlist. As of today we do have a few spots available for regular package daycare clients and we are always accepting new boarding clients.

Getting setup with services is a simple process: 

• Register online to create a client and pet profile here
• Select your dog’s interview date (paid full or half day of daycare) and submit your requested date/time through the customer portal
• Bring your dog in for their interview (consists of behavioral evaluation)
• Once your dog is approved we can setup a package or approve the boarding request

We are open for boarding 365 days per year. Our standard pickup/dropoff hours/days are as follows:

• M-F we are open 7am-7pm for pickup/dropoff
• Saturday/Sunday we are open 10am-12pm and 5-7pm for pickup/dropoff

We are available for 24/7 pickup/dropoff for an additional charge. Email us if you have special requests for your pickup/dropoff times.

Sit Social: Little Dog Lounge is happy to schedule a tour of our small dog daycare/boarding space Monday-Friday at 7:00pm when we close for daycare. To schedule a tour simply email us at info@sitinchicago.com.

Dog boarding is the same as “pet sitting” - it’s just a term used when your dog stays overnight at a space away from your home. The dictionary definition in this case describes boarding as: 

To provide (a person or animal) with regular meals and somewhere to live in return for payment.

At our space, boarding (pet sitting) includes feeding, potty breaks, and overnight care. We create an environment that mimics home life as much as possible during their stay with us at Sit Social: Little Dog Lounge, while also having the added benefits of play time with other dog friends to burn energy so they’re ready to rest when night time comes. We have 3 boarding options including crated overnight boarding, cage free overnight boarding, and solo overnight crated boarding for pups who prefer humans only.

• Food labeled in baggies or tupperware type containers for each meal
• We provide blankets, beds, toys, food bowls, etc so please leave your pets’ personal belongings at home. We are not responsible for loss or damage if you send personal pet belongings to our space.
• We do accept Medicines (if needed, and $5 per day charge to administer), diapers (if needed), leash, collar/harness, and food in a tote bag with your dog’s name on it

• Feeding
• Up To 12 Hrs of Playtime in the dog lounge during the day M-F (if desired)
• Bathroom breaks
• 1 Pupdate (cute photo or video update of your dog to let you know how they’re doing each day)
• Cozy accommodations with fuzzy blanket, ambient music, and more depending on the boarding selection

Dogs are creatures of habit and repetition and often feel abandoned and anxious if left somewhere they've never been. Many facilities will not tell you this because they simply want your money. To avoid those feelings of stress, depression, confusion and abandonment on your pup, we encourage repetition prior to the stay so they know this is a safe and familiar place where they get to have fun and that no - you are not abandoning them - they will get to go home to you. That is where the repetition comes in. They've been here, they have fun, they go home. They understand this pattern which helps lessen anxiety for a longer stay. We want the best for your pup -  so let's set them up for success with a positive, stress free experience when they stay. This is why at minimum we require an interview day for your pup at our space to ensure it will be a good fit on both ends.

If your dog is new to our space and exhibits higher than normal anxiety, it is recommended that after they pass their interview day (paid half or full day of daycare) they attend a few daycare sessions leading up to and immediately prior to their boarding visit in order to lessen the anxiety of being in a new space.

We offer 3 boarding types and yes, our most popular home style option is our cage free boarding. For $100/night (24 hr period) we have Cage Free Home Style Boarding. This is an overnight open sleeping space for the pups with staff member sleeping on a lofted bed above them.

• Best for pups who like to be out in the open amongst other furry friends
• Play for several hours during the day and when it's bed time, sleep in a cozy, spacious open area filled with dog beds, blankets, and with a human staff member who sleeps overnight in a lofted bed of the open room with our furry friends.
• This option is only for approved dogs - we reserve the right to crate your pup if your dog is damaging property, disturbing other pups/staff overnight with anxious, vocal, or rowdy behaviors, or is not a fit for the home style open boarding space.

Dog boarding pricing can vary from every business depending on city, accommodation, and amenities provided. Our listed rates cover a 24 hr period for boarding. So for example, if your pup is dropped off at 10am, and picked up by 10am of the next day, that would cover one “night” of boarding. Somewhat similar to a hotel stay, but we have flexibility with pickup/dropoff times.

Our boarding pricing ranges from $80- $125 per night (plus you may add on services like treat time, walks, grooming for additional pricing) and covers up to a 24 hr period (which breaks down to only $3-$5 per hour when you do the math!) Our small dog boarding includes hours of playtime, feeding, potty breaks, a pupdate (photo/video of your dog during their stay to let you know how they are doing) and a cozy overnight space with ambient music, fuzzy blankets, and a safe space to rest after a day of play with us.

For the safety of all dogs it is recommended that dogs be fully vaccinated before 6 months of age. We understand that sometimes people adopt new puppies and have to go out of town unexpectedly so we are able to make slight exceptions to the rules for a fee on an individual basis. Reach out to the owner of the business to discuss.

As a standard, all dogs in dog daycare playgroups or boarding must have proof of the following vaccinations and shots uploaded to their pet profile to be admitted for boarding or playgroup:

• Rabies
• Bordetella
• Influenza
• No Intestinal Parasites
• Clean Fecal Test

The standard vaccinations required for a dog to be boarded at our space include inoculations against:

• Distemper
• Kennel Cough
• Parvo
• Lepto
• Bordetella
• Rabies

At Sit Social Little Dog Lounge we understand that some dogs prefer humans only. This is why we have a special setup for solo overnight boarding option. This includes an overnight isolated crate (with cozy blanket) and regular 1-1 potty breaks, feeding, snuggles, as well as one ten minute adventure walk per day):

• Best for pups who prefer the company of humans
• Relax in a solo crate during the day and night with regular potty breaks
• 1 adventure walk per day (More can be added for additional charge)
• This option is for anti social pups who would not do well in playgroup and need a place to rest their head, be fed, and let out but require solo 1-1 attention.

For the safety of all dogs it is recommended that dogs be spayed or neutered before 6 months of age. We understand that there may be special circumstances around this timeline so we are able to make slight exceptions to the rules for a fee on an individual basis. Reach out to the owner of the business to discuss.

The main reason that all dog boarding and dog daycare facilities require a spay/neuter is to avoid risks of pregnancy and also to avoid reactivity in the pack. Dogs emit different hormones when they are still intact and it can cause reactive/aggressive behavior within the pack as they try to assert dominance. If your male dog is intact you may notice this reactivity from other dogs on walks or in playtime at dog parks. We recommend spaying and neutering all pets.

Your dog should only board at any facility including ours if they are free from parasites or contagious diseases. Make sure to do a follow up visit with your vet to ensure they are healthy before bringing them to a shared space with other dogs. Ideally your dog should be illness and disease free for at least a few days to a week before boarding.