Holiday Travel? How to Plan Your Dog’s Boarding in Las Vegas
Planning holiday travel? When to book dog boarding in Las Vegas, how to time drop-off and pickup around Harry Reid flights, and vaccine and food tips.
• Boarding
Holiday travel has enough moving parts without a last-minute search for someone to watch your dog. In Las Vegas, the busy stretches aren’t just Thanksgiving and late December. Big event weekends, conventions, and long weekends fill calendars fast too.
A little planning makes the whole trip calmer, for you and for your dog. Here’s how to set it up.
1) Book early for the busy dates
Boarding spots for popular dates go quickly. As soon as your travel plans are set, reserve your dog’s stay.
- Thanksgiving week: Many families travel Wednesday through Sunday, so those days book up first.
- Mid-December through New Year’s: School breaks and long trips stretch demand across several weeks.
- Big Las Vegas event weekends: Major races, fights, concerts, and conventions bring visitors and keep locals busy too.
- Three-day weekends: Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, and Labor Day are popular as well.
You can request dates on our booking page or call us to check availability.
Good to Know
Boarding drop-off from 9 AM works best. We recommend pickup by 5 PM, and the latest pickup is 7 PM, when our doors close. Staff stay with boarders overnight, but the doors are not opened after closing and the phone is not answered overnight.
2) Try a daycare day first
If your dog has never stayed with us, a daycare day before the trip is one of the best things you can do. It gives your dog a chance to learn the sights, smells, and people in a low-pressure way, and it gives our team a chance to learn your dog.
- Schedule it a week or two ahead, so there’s time to adjust if anything comes up.
- A half day ($20) is plenty for a first visit. A full day is $30 for up to 8 hours.
- Watch how your dog does afterward: tired and content is a great sign.
When boarding day arrives, your dog walks in somewhere familiar, which makes the first night much easier.
3) Plan drop-off and pickup around your flights
We’re close to Harry Reid International Airport, which makes travel days easier for a lot of families. Still, flight times and our hours need to line up.
- Early morning flight? Drop off the afternoon or evening before, before our doors close at 7 PM.
- Late arrival home? If you land after closing, plan to pick up the next day. Add that night to your reservation.
- Leave a buffer: Holiday flights get delayed. If your landing time is close to 7 PM, it’s safer to plan a next-day pickup.
- Use Pet Valet: Our Pet Valet can handle drop-off or pickup for you. It’s $12 for the first 5 miles, then $3 for each additional mile.
4) Confirm vaccines early
Vet offices get busy before the holidays, just like boarding does. Check your dog’s records as soon as you book.
- Boarding requires Rabies, DHPP, and Bordetella, current through the whole stay.
- Dogs in boarding must be spayed or neutered.
- If anything is due, book that vet visit now, and ask your vet about timing before group care.
- Send records ahead. If you’re not sure where they are, we can call your vet.
For a full rundown, see which vaccines your dog needs for daycare and boarding.
5) Keep holiday food safe, before and after the trip
Holiday tables are full of things dogs shouldn’t eat. A stomach upset right before boarding is no fun for anyone, so be careful in the days leading up to your trip and when you get home.
- Turkey skin, fatty trimmings, and gravy: Rich foods can upset a dog’s stomach and cause more serious problems.
- Cooked bones: They can splinter.
- Chocolate, grapes, raisins, onions, and garlic: Keep these well out of reach.
- Sugar-free treats and gum with xylitol: Very dangerous for dogs.
- Unattended plates and trash: Remind guests not to share and keep trash cans closed.
If your dog eats something worrying, call your vet or an emergency vet right away.
6) Pack simply and share the details
Send your dog’s regular food in labeled portions, any meds in their original containers with written instructions, and a small item that smells like home. Leave us a phone number where you can be reached, an emergency contact, and your vet’s information. Our boarding packing guide has the full checklist.
Ready to plan your trip? Read more about dog boarding in Las Vegas, check our FAQ, or contact us with your travel dates. Book early, and you can head to the airport knowing your dog is in good hands.