5 cosy retreats for dog boarding in Birmingham
A common problem among fur parents like me is finding a good place to leave their canine companions when they go away for a few days. I’ve encountered that same problem a few times in the past.
It hasn’t been a problem lately because I already know some great spots for dog boarding in Birmingham. I owe it all to my friend. He helped me search for places where I could leave my dogs and have peace of mind that they’d be A-OK.
The best venues for dog boarding in Birmingham, at least in my experience, are headed by excellent dog handlers. They also have clean, well-maintained facilities.
Here are my top picks!
How much do dog boarding services cost in Birmingham?
Dog boarding services in Birmingham cost around £35 – £80 per night. The final tab generally depends on factors such as the facility itself, the size of the dog, and the services provided.
1. Gabs Dogs
Address: Gertrude Place, Brookfield Rd, B18 7JA
Contact Details: +44 75 75 071 310
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Sunday: Open 24 hours
Quality Business Awards named Gabs Dogs the Best Dog Day Care in Birmingham. For me, that’s saying something.
The facility offers quality dog care at reasonable rates. At £37 per day, you get to leave your dog under the care of Gabriel Bononi, a self-described half-human, half-dog (just kidding!). But he might be right, as I’ve seen how easily he calms dogs and how caring he is with them.
Gabs Dogs’ open-air dog place by the garden deserves a shout-out too. It has a spacious shed, a play tent, and a pond. It’s also really clean and well-maintained, so much so that you wouldn’t think several dogs at a time often call the place home.
Unfortunately, you and your dog will need to wait for your turn. I see many fur parents dropping off or picking up their babies whenever I go here. So, you’d better book early.
Friendly, welcoming, and well-trusted
“Rosie LOVES her time with Gabriel and the other dogs. This is the third time we’ve left her to enjoy lots of walks and play while we were away and I highly recommend Gabs Dogs. Gabriel clearly loves dogs and is very friendly and welcoming. I trust him implicitly with our dog and we love getting photos, video clips and messages to see what she’s been up to every day! Thanks Gabriel!”
- Mari Pasantes Fernandez, Google Review
Trustworthy handler
“It means so much to us that we can leave our puppy with Gabs when we go on holiday and have complete peace of mind that he will be looked after as well as we would ourselves. Our furry baby loves going to Gabs and getting walks during the day. It’s also brilliant that he gets to interact with other dogs during the day. I can’t recommend Gabs enough to trust with your pets!”
- Cara da Silva, Google Review
2. GrizzlysWalks
Address: 17 Southbourne Ave, B34 6AH
Contact Details: +44 74 94 010 884
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Sunday: Open 24 hours
My friend, who owns a German Shepherd, highly recommends GrizzlysWalks to owners with larger breeds of dogs. That’s because they specialise in caring for bigger breeds, like German Shepherds, Great Danes, and Mastiffs.
They also accept dogs that are not accepted by other facilities. These may be extra-large dogs or aggressive breeds that are typically harder to handle.
They ensure that having different types of dogs won’t compromise the safety of the pack by evaluating dogs individually. The staff employs techniques such as temperament tests and gradual interaction with other dogs, along with a detailed interview with the dog’s owner.
I was also impressed by how the handlers maintain the peace. They are very firm but loving, and they appear to be very comfortable around large canines and hyperactive dogs.
One slight issue I noticed is that GrizzlysWalks only accommodates four dogs at a time. This can make it challenging to ensure a slot for caring. Aside from that, my friend told me that due to the facility’s specialist nature, the rates usually lean towards premium.
Safe and caring staff
“Grizzly’sWalks is a top notch day care for my Husky! Safe, caring staff, personalised attention and great communication. Highly recommend!”
- EGG Mamoun, Google Review
Amazing place with great service
“Amazing place to drop your dogs when you’re gone for the weekend. From the daily updates to the pictures of what my Rottweiler gets up to during the day – just a great service would recommend to everyone”
- Claire Donahue, Google Review
3. Doggy B&B with Natalie
Address: Lyndworth Rd, Stirchley, B30 2UG
Contact Details: +44 77 03 358 990
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Sunday: 8 AM – 5:30 PM
Doggy B&B with Natalie is a personal favourite because of the pampering they give to dogs. Sure, other facilities do it, but Doggy B&B takes it up a notch.
Aside from bathing and fur combing, they offer paw and nose moisturising, coat conditioning, and more fur brushing. They then get spacious, comfy rooms all to themselves.
I also love the facility’s play area. It’s a sprawling land with well-trimmed grass, trees, and a nearby pond. Dogs here can scurry about, roll around, and chill out. Seeing pups roaming freely in open spaces is just an incredible sight for any fur parent.
My only complaint about Doggy B&B is that I initially had trouble getting in touch with them. It took two days for my initial inquiry to be answered. Maybe it was a mix-up, or they just have too many customers.
Handles dogs professionally
“We left our puppy Willow for her first long stay with Natalie and it couldn’t have gone any better. Natalie was so friendly, professional and had so much knowledge of dogs. We received lots of video and photo updates whilst we were on holiday which was so lovely and really put our minds at ease. Natalie took Willow on lots of fantastic walks and showered her with hugs and affection. I could tell Willow absolutely loved staying with Natalie and can’t wait to go back next time! I can’t thank Natalie enough for taking such good care of Willow, I would highly recommend her.”
- Chloe Belsham, Google Review
Amazing carer
“We’ve used Natalie a number of times both for home boarding and for dog walking. Natalie is amazing at caring for your dogs like they are her own. We have daily updates and videos sent to use whilst on holiday which is so reassuring to see. Our dogs have a great time when they stay, playing with Natalie’s own dog Millie to the point where they don’t want to come home and sulk when they do. We highly recommend Natalie to anyone who is considering using her services.”
- Clare Sheridan, Google Review
4. Hollytrees Boarding Kennels and Cattery
Address: Hollytrees Kennels, Packhorse Lane, B47 5DH
Contact Details: +44 15 64 823 244
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Sunday: 11 AM – 4 PM
What impressed me most about Hollytrees is their no-nonsense approach to dog boarding. The facilities won’t wow you, but they are spacious, well-maintained, and more than enough. They’re also the most escape-proof facilities I’ve seen by far in the city.
I’m also impressed by how hands-on and meticulous the staff are. They’re always in constant communication with owners from the start to ensure a dog’s every need is met correctly. This attention to detail will give any dog owner peace of mind.
Even better, Hollytrees’ rates are, I believe, among the lowest here in Birmingham.
Rates start at £13 for smaller dogs and go up to £16 for extra-large dogs. If there’s a dog boarding in here that offers low rates like that, you’d be hard-pressed to find one.
No wonder Hollytree has many happy customers. No wonder it can also be hard to secure a booking. I suggest securing yours 2-3 weeks prior to your planned date.
Very knowledgeable and friendly
“Left my two dogs Callie a 10 month old Labrador and Boxer a very feisty little chihuahua with them for 17 days. They had never been boarded before and they were great with them. Would highly recommend Hollytrees. Very knowledgeable and friendly.”
- Sarah Drury, Google Review
Compassionate to all animals and considerate handlers
“Family run boarding facility and wildlife sanctuary. Ray Dedicoat who runs it is incredibly knowledgeable and compassionate to all the animals who board or stay or are saved by him and his family. I cannot speak more highly than to say I would not board my dogs anywhere else or take my injured wild pigeons. There are more swanky places but I wouldn’t rely on them to have the same level of care and consideration that I know they get at Holly trees.”
- Karen Urwin, Google Review
5. Playful Paws Birmingham
Address: 39 Morar Cl, B35 7PE
Contact Details: +44 75 11 814 386
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Sunday: 7:30 AM – 5:45 PM
My friend and I mainly like Playful Paws because the atmosphere is homely. It’s probably why our dogs are so at ease and comfortable here.
That home features a spacious, grassed garden, playpens, and a variety of toys. The staff make the facility even more comfortable for dogs. We’ve seen firsthand how warm and gentle they are around pups.
Aside from this “home away from home” vibe, we also like how Playful Paws emphasises socialisation. The staff walk the dogs in groups and encourage them to intermingle during playtime. They even do creative photo shoots with them; the photos are always amazing.
However, we must note that this spot primarily caters to smaller and medium-sized breeds. We’re talking Pomeranians, Chihuahuas, and Beagles. Other breeds we’ve seen are Basset hounds, Corgis, and Dachshunds.
Regardless, we really like how they provide monthly availability updates through their social media pages. This is helpful for clients to plan and book services easily.
Very professional and super friendly
“My dog is an anxious girl and shy so kennels were a no no. Becky’s set up is home from home and she cares for your pups like they are her own. I know my dog is in safe hands and i dont need to worry, especially as Becky provides updates throughout their stay to give you peace of mind. Playful Paws Birmingham is 5* very professional yet super friendly. I would 100% recommend. Becky is also the loveliest of people!”
- Genna Carr, Google Review
Reasonably priced and treats dogs as their own
“We left our little Cavapoo with Becky for 4 nights. It was our first time leaving him with someone other than family and we couldn’t have been more happy. Becky filled us with confidence from the meet and greet and all the photos and videos she sent during his stay made us feel so comfortable and let us enjoy a stress-free holiday. She is reasonably priced but more importantly treated him like her own – from letting him sleep where he felt comfortable to managing his funny eating habits. No doubt we’ll be using her daycare and boarding services again.”
- Raji Rajmohan, Google Review