16/09/2026
🐾💷 £50 A NIGHT — BUT WHAT DOES THAT ACTUALLY COVER? 💷🐾
I thought I’d explain a little bit about what goes into home boarding, because I think sometimes people understandably look at a price per night and think:
“£50? But the dog is only sleeping there…” 🫣
And I completely get it. If you’ve never run a home boarding business, it’s easy to imagine that the dogs arrive, have a cuddle, have a bit of dinner and then everyone goes to bed for the night. 😴🐶
Reality is very different.
🐾 1 dog = £50 per 24 hours
That works out at around £2.08 an hour BEFORE any expenses are taken off.
And that £50 covers far more than a place for your dog to sleep.
🏡 Your dog is being cared for in my home, not simply left somewhere overnight.
That means constant supervision and being aware of what is going on with every dog in my care.
I’m watching for changes in behaviour, appetite, toileting, drinking, energy levels, interactions with other dogs and anything else that might indicate they aren’t quite themselves.
And honestly?
That constant visual monitoring is exhausting.
Because you don’t just switch off at the end of the day.
You’re always watching.
Always listening.( imagine a newborn in the house)I don’t sleep soundly for weeks 🥱 😴
Always assessing.
🐶 And then there’s the part nobody really thinks about…
TOILETING IN THE HOUSE. 💩🧻
Dogs who are perfectly house-trained at home can have accidents when they’re somewhere unfamiliar.
They’re not being naughty. They can be unsettled, excited, confused or simply out of routine.
But those accidents still need cleaning.
And it isn’t just a quick spray of Tesco multisurface cleaner and a wipe down.
🧼 We use industry-grade disinfectant, which is around £40 a tub, because hygiene and infection control are incredibly important when you have multiple dogs coming through your home.
Then there’s the washing.
And more washing.
And when you think you’ve finally caught up… more washing. 😂🧺
Bedding, blankets, towels, cleaning cloths — it all needs to be washed, dried and put away.
And what about the dogs who don’t settle?
Some dogs take a few days to realise they’re safe and their people really are coming back.
That can mean:
🌙 Pacing at night
🌙 Whining or barking
🌙 Restlessness
🌙 Wanting reassurance
🍽️ Going off their food
💩 Changes in toileting
🐾 Needing extra one-to-one attention
So no, they don’t all just come in and go to sleep like they do at home. 😂
Sometimes I’m up during the night reassuring a dog.
Sometimes I’m spending extra time encouraging a dog to eat.
Sometimes a dog becomes unwell and suddenly their care becomes completely one-to-one, including monitoring them closely and potentially taking them to the vets.
And then there are all the everyday business costs:
🧼 Industry-grade cleaning & disinfectant
🧺 Laundry & washing
💡 Electricity & heating
🐶 Leads, crates & equipment
⛑️ First aid & safety equipment
🚗 Vehicle costs & maintenance
⛽ Fuel
🌳 Field hire
🥎 Enrichment & activities
🛡️ Insurance
📋 Licensing
🏡 Wear and tear on my home
💷 Tax & National Insurance
📱 Licence Admin, messages, video updates, you cant imagine 😩
⏰ And, of course, my time
And that’s before you put a value on the responsibility of having someone else’s beloved family member in your care.
Because that’s ultimately what I’m looking after.
Someone’s baby. ❤️🐾
I absolutely LOVE what I do.
Home boarding is something I’m incredibly passionate about, and I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t genuinely adore the dogs who come through my door. 🥰
But loving my job doesn’t mean there aren’t real costs involved.
£50 isn’t £50 profit.
It’s 24-hour care, supervision, cleaning, responsibility, preparation, planning, and a whole lot of love.
So the next time you see a home boarder’s price and think “that’s a lot for one night”, hopefully this gives you a little insight into what you’re actually paying for. ❤️
🐾 A safe home.
🐾 Individual care.
🐾 Constant supervision.
🐾 Clean and hygienic surroundings.
🐾 Someone who genuinely cares.
And yes… probably quite a lot of coffee too. ☕😂
