Ava GabouryGetting a home loan, buying your first car, and marrying the love of your life – seem like big adult decisions, right?
But you know what else is a real grown-up decision? Finding the perfect dog daycare center for your beloved four-legged baby!
We’re fur parents, too, so we know it’s serious – and who else can we trust for insights than other fur parents?
For this, we reached out to local dog owners for their trusted recommendations – which places are worth the penny and which ones we should avoid at all costs.
The options you’ll find here is every single place that came up multiple times during our interviews. After a series of on-site visits and interviews, here’s what we have to say about each one.
How much does dog daycare in Vancouver?
The cost of dog daycare in Vancouver starts at $33 per hour for half-day boarding (5 hours) and $43 for full-day boarding (over 5 hours).
Some daycares offer discounts for dogs in the same household, as well as packages for multiple passes.
1. Dog Swim Vancouver
Location: 2213 Granville St
Contact: +1 604-362-7487
Opening hours: Monday – Friday: 6:00am – 7:00pm; Saturday & Sunday: 6:00am – 7:00pm
Dog Swim Vancouver is a standout choice for dog owners seeking exceptional daycare services. Their facility is designed with care and expertise, offering a safe and stimulating environment for dogs of all sizes and energy levels.
The daycare program emphasizes structured, positive reinforcement-based interactions. Owned and operated by a certified dog trainer, the staff is highly experienced and trained, ensuring that every dog receives personalized attention and care. From regular potty breaks to engaging play sessions, dogs are kept active and happy throughout the day.
A highlight of the daycare is the custom-made indoor pool, where dogs can enjoy a fun, 45-minute group swim. Alternatively, they can opt for a 60-minute walk if swimming isn’t their thing. Owners are encouraged to drop their dogs off by 9:30 a.m. to ensure their pet can participate in the swim session.
Daycare rates are competitively priced, offering excellent value. A full day (8+ hours) costs $47.25, while a half-day (up to 6 hours) is $42. Discounts are available for multi-session packages, making it an affordable option for regular visitors.
The staff’s commitment to each dog’s well-being and their emphasis on safe, supervised group activities is commendable. This dedication ensures dogs leave daycare happy, tired, and ready for a relaxing evening at home.
Overall, Dog Swim Vancouver offers a fantastic daycare experience with comprehensive care, engaging activities, and a team that truly loves what they do. It’s a place where dogs thrive and owners can feel confident their pets are in excellent hands.
Extremely kind and professional
“We love taking our dog Theo to Dogswim for daycare. The staff/owner have been extremely kind and professional with us and Theo is always well taken care of! Plus, they end up using the dog park right next to their daycare and it’s a nice bonus to see all of them playing and running around outside. Best daycare in vancouver that we have found.”
-Josh J | Google Reviews
Recommended for furbabies
“I absolutely recommend anyone,who works & has a FurBaby, to bring their Pup here for Daycare. It is very affordable, the Owner takes great care of the dogs, & my little dog seems much calmer when I pick her up, compared to other dog daycares I’ve taken her”
-Tamara Petrollini | Google Reviews
2. Noelle’s Pet Love
Location: 2141 Burrard St
Contact: +1 604-442-5022
Opening hours: Monday – Friday: 6:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Located in Kitsilano, this 3,500-square-foot facility offers a spacious environment that we think every pet owner will love. They have rubber floors, air conditioning, and many cozy dog beds and couches for the fur babies.
What makes the day care services here is its unique approach. All dogs attending daycare at least once a week receive complimentary behavior and obedience training. This ensures that your dog stays well-behaved, engaged, and socialized with others.
We find it comprehensive as owners are provided with detailed training notes, videos, and regular updates. This helps reinforce the positive behavior training outside of daycare, which we also found remarkable.
Clients we spoke to praised the daycare’s structured playtime, with dogs being grouped based on size, age, and temperament. This system reduces potential risks of scuffles and ensures that each dog gets the right amount of attention.
The daycare also includes a 30-minute neighborhood walk for every do. And for an additional $15 per day, dogs can enjoy a trip to the beach with recall training. The transportation van is air-conditioned, so the dogs are comfortable throughout.
However, we found reports of last-minute cancellations or sudden changes in schedules, which has caused frustration for a few owners. Thankfully, the daycare is proactive in its approach and has been working on the issue as of writing.
Professional team
“Our 11 month old rescue pup Benny started with Noelle when he was 4 months old. He loves going to his “club” and the beach walks are a highlight of his day! Benny has also boarded with Noelle several times including a longstay of 2 weeks over the summer. We appreciate the care, training and professional team who really seem to like Benny! Noelle loves dogs and it shows in the way she operates her business. Thank you!”
-Patrice Pringle | Google Reviews
Welcoming and attentive
“We are new to Noelle’s and have found the staff amazing and the hours convenient. It’s the first time we’ve used a dog daycare and I was nervous to leave our new pup. The staff are so welcoming and attentive, and Nugget loves going there. We really like the videos of their beach walks and I’ve already recommended Noelle’s to our friends!”
-Carole Leong | Google Reviews
3. Pipsqueak Pups Doggy Daycare & Home Boarding
Location: 2083 Alma St #261
Contact: +1 604-454-8488
Opening hours: Monday – Friday: 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM
What’s nice about Pipsqueak is that, as the name suggests, they specialize in daycare services designed for small dogs up to 35 pounds. And with 13 years of expertise, the place guarantees a stress-free environment complete with miniature couches and spacious rooms.
Their daycare service includes full-day play with daily walks, potty breaks, and supervised playtime. A win for convenience, they offer full-day and half-day options, with rates starting at $45 for half-day and $55 for full-day drop-ins.
They also offer discounted packages, such as the 10-day pass for $465, which includes daily walks. As a team that loves value for money, this definitely earned them a point.
We also like their range of services that make them a one-stop-shop for dog care needs. Their overnight boarding package includes complimentary daycare and is priced at $110 per night, ideal for dogs that need extended care.
While most clients rave about the service, there have been a few concerns about occasional rough handling with pets. Fortunately, our team verified reviews and records and found these to be unfounded claims. Still, we recommend strictly checking your pets upon picking them up.
Makes dogs happy
“Pipsqueak Pups has been wonderful both for drop-in daycare and for boarding. Our pup comes home happy and goes in willingly, so clearly she loves it there! Staff has also been terrific to work with, quick to communicate and responsive always. Cannot say enough good things and so grateful to have found them.”
-Lisa Quay | Google Reviews
Fun and convenient
“We have had great care for our dog over several years at Pipsqueaks. Sonja and Brian are very attentive to the dogs’ needs and responsive to our requests for additional boarding or support. We are grateful to have a fun and convenient place for dog care at Pipsqueaks.”
-Matthew Evenden | Google Reviews
4. Raise the Woof
Location: 1924 Triumph St
Contact: +1 604-401-3345
Opening hours: Monday: 7:00 AM – 10:00 PM | Tuesday – Friday: 6:30 AM – 10:00 PM | Saturday: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM
After visiting Raise the Woof, we were impressed by their thoughtfully designed space and attentive approach to dog care. Located near Parallel 49 Brewery, this daycare offers an accessible environment for dogs of all sizes and breeds.
The facility has two separate play areas tailored to dogs’ energy levels, complete with comfy couches for lounging. We loved this quieter lounge area, as it’s ideal for dogs needing a break from the action.
Their pricing structure is flexible and accommodating, with options for full days (12 hours at $45) and half days (6 hours at $30). Monthly packages and multi-day passes are available too, so it’s easier for regular attendees to save.
But what really won our vote was the transparency in their services. All new dogs undergo a free 20-minute assessment, and staff takes time to answer questions and ease new pet owners’ concerns.
While most reviews rave about the care, some reports suggest occasional lapses in cleanliness and inattentiveness from staff. This could be an area for improvement, though generally, the place had been nothing but reliable for daycare services.
Keeps dogs happy and healthy
“Andrea and all her staff are great and all of them genuinely care about my dog’s health and well being. My dogs come back relaxed, happy and tired. Its so nice to have a place to drop my dogs when life gets a bit overwhelming, and know that everyone is going to be happy.”
-Claire LeLacheur | Google Reviews
One of the best
“We tested a bunch of doggy daycares, but Raise the Woof is the best! Such lovely people working there and our dogs so look forward to going to daycare a couple of times a week. We haven’t used it yet, but they also have a super reasonably priced pick-up/drop-off service! Highly recommended!”
-Baxter Bullock | Google Reviews
5. Petite Paws Playcare
Location: 194 W 3rd Ave
Contact: +1 778-772-4489
Opening hours: Monday – Friday: 7:00 AM – 6:30 PM
Petite Paws’ boutique-style facility is custom-designed to ensure comfort and safety for small breeds. Unlike other daycares, Petite Paws provides daily walks at no additional cost, which we find as a thoughtful inclusion for active dogs.
We also liked their structured pricing and flexible packages. Full days are priced at $49, half days (under 5 hours) at $35, and petite days (under 2 hours) at $20. In addition, they also offer discounts for multiple dogs from the same household.
Petite Paws also excels in maintaining a strong connection with pet owners. Clients we interviewed appreciated the detailed Instagram updates and the attentive communication, making it easy to stay informed about their dog’s day.
We were also impressed by the staff’s attentiveness towards dogs. In particular, they have vaccination and flea prevention policies to maintain a healthy environment.
Our only concern was minor issues of unprofessional staff attitude, during which a customer felt a sense of rudeness from the staff. On the good side, it’s far from their usual service and we’ve encountered no recent reports of a similar event.
Professional and welcoming
“Both our dog and us loves this place (highly recommended). The staff and management are very professional, trained, very nice and welcoming. Every time our dog joins the party, not only he gets a chance to play with other dogs in a safe environment, but also receives a lot of love and attention from the staff.”
-Ramtin S | Google Reviews
Worth the investment
“My dog Chadley loves it here! He was nervous on his first day but now he practically claws his way through the front door. The owners, Sharon and Angela, are huge dog people and provide a loving and fun atmosphere all around. I live closer to another doggy daycare but the commute to Petite Paws is definitely worth the investment.”
-Julianne Keu | Google Reviews
