Going away without your dog involves a decision that feels bigger than it should. Do you book them into kennels? Send them to someone else's house? Or have someone stay in your home? Every option has trade-offs, and the right answer depends on your dog's temperament, your budget, and how long you'll be away.
I've been on all sides of this. I run a dog sitting service in Taunton, so I know what in-home care looks like from the professional side. What follows is an honest comparison of the three main options, plus a note on dog day care for those who need daytime cover rather than overnight stays. It's written to help you make the right call for your particular dog.
And if you're still working out who should walk your dog while you're in town, I covered what to look for in a local professional in my guide to choosing a dog walker in Taunton. The same vetting principles (insurance, qualifications, the meet and greet) apply to sitters as much as walkers.
1. Traditional Kennels: the familiar option
Kennels are what most people think of first, and for some dogs, they work perfectly well. Your dog stays in a purpose-built facility with individual accommodation, structured feeding times, and set exercise periods. The good ones are licensed by the local council, staffed by experienced people, and run to a predictable daily routine.
The downsides are real, though. Kennels are noisy. Dozens of dogs in close proximity means constant barking, which is stressful for many dogs, particularly those who are sensitive to sound or prone to anxiety. Exercise is typically limited to short, scheduled sessions in a compound. Your dog is away from everything familiar: their bed, their smells, their routines. And there's a meaningful risk of kennel cough even in well-run facilities, because wherever large numbers of dogs congregate, respiratory infections spread.
Kennels tend to suit confident, easygoing dogs who take the world as it comes and don't rely heavily on routine. For an anxious dog, a senior dog, or one who's never been in kennels before, the adjustment can be genuinely hard. It's also worth knowing that many boarding kennels in Taunton and across Somerset book up solid from June to September, so waiting until the week before your holiday to call around won't work.
2. Home Boarding: someone else's home
Home boarding means your dog stays in the boarder's own home, living alongside their family and (usually) their own dogs. It's typically a smaller, more personal setup than kennels, and for social dogs who slot easily into a new pack, it can work beautifully.
The appeal is that it feels more like normal life than a kennel. Your dog is on sofas, in gardens, interacting with people throughout the day rather than being left in a run between exercise sessions. It's also licensed by the local council (home boarders need a licence if they're being paid), so there's an inspection regime behind it.
The catch is compatibility. If the boarder has their own dogs, your dog needs to get on with them. A boarder taking multiple client dogs at once (which is legal up to their licence limit) is essentially running a smaller, home-based version of a kennel, with the same group-dynamics risks. It's crucial to ask how many dogs will be in the house at once. The best home boarders take only one family's dogs at a time, but they're harder to find and book up fastest.
3. In-Home Dog Sitting: they come to you
In-home sitting means a professional comes to your house and stays there with your dog while you're away. Your dog gets to stay in their own familiar environment, with their usual bed, food, walks and surroundings. Rather than being moved somewhere unfamiliar, they can continue life largely as normal at home. For dogs who find change stressful (and that's a lot of dogs), it's the least disruptive option by a considerable margin.
This is the service I offer, so I'll be upfront about that. But I'll also tell you what to ask any in-home sitter, because not all sitters are the same. A good one does more than feed your dog and stay overnight. They make sure your dog is cared for in their own home, provide their usual walks and meals, and give them company throughout the stay. They can also bring in post, water plants and make the house look lived in. You'll receive daily updates with photos, and your home is left as you found it.
In-home sitting is generally the most expensive option, because you're paying for someone to stay in your home, care for your dog and provide overnight companionship, while also looking after the house.. It's also the option that requires the most trust; you're giving someone your house key and asking them to live in your space. That's why the vetting process matters so much (see my guide to choosing a dog walker, as the same questions apply to sitters).
4. Cost comparison: what you're paying for
Prices in the Taunton area vary, but as a rough guide: kennels typically run £18 to £30 per dog per night, with discounts for second and third dogs. Home boarding is in a similar range, £25 to £40 per night depending on the setup and whether it's one-to-one or multi-dog. In-home sitting is the premium option, generally £75 to £100 per day/night for overnight stays, reflecting the one-to-one attention and the fact the sitter is living in your home.
The price difference reflects what you're buying. Kennels charge per dog, and the cost covers accommodation, feeding, and basic exercise. The price reflects the convenience of having your dog cared for in their own home, regular walks and feeding, overnight companionship, daily updates, and having someone look after your home while you're away. For a two-dog household, the cost gap between kennels (two dogs times nightly rate) and in-home sitting (one flat rate) often narrows considerably.
5. Dog day care: the daytime option
Before we compare which dogs suit which overnight arrangement, it's worth mentioning dog day care. If you work long hours but are home every evening, you might not need overnight sitting or boarding at all. Dog day care means your dog spends the working day with a carer, either in their home or yours, and comes back to you in the evening. It's increasingly available in the Taunton area, and it bridges the gap between a dog walker (an hour's visit) and full overnight care. Some sitters and walkers offer both, so it's worth asking.
6. Which option suits which dog
There is no single right answer. The right choice depends on your dog.
Kennels tend to suit: young, confident, healthy dogs who are well socialised, have no separation anxiety, and adapt easily to new environments. If your dog bounces through life unbothered, kennels might work fine.
Home boarding tends to suit: social dogs who enjoy the company of other dogs, adapt well to new people, and don't need a rigid routine. The key question is compatibility with the boarder's own dogs; a proper introduction before booking is essential.
In-home sitting tends to suit: anxious dogs, senior dogs, dogs on medication, reactive dogs, puppies who can't be left, multi-dog households, and any dog where maintaining normal routine is important. In-home sitting tends to suit anxious dogs, senior dogs, dogs who are happier in familiar surroundings, multi-dog households, and any dog where avoiding the disruption of kennels or boarding is important. If your dog finds the world hard, keeping home constant while you're away is the kindest thing you can do.
Dog day care tends to suit: dogs whose owners work full-time but are home evenings and weekends. It's also a good fit for high-energy dogs who need more than a walk but don't need overnight care, and for puppies who are building up to being left for longer periods.
7. Questions to ask any sitter or boarding provider
Most of the same questions apply regardless of the option you're considering. What's your insurance cover and can I see the certificate? For kennels and home boarders: What's your licence number and which council issued it? For in-home sitters (who aren't required to hold a licence): ask about insurance and qualifications. How many other dogs will be on site while my dog is there? What's your emergency procedure? Can you give me two recent references I can call? What's your cancellation policy? And the question that tells you the most: can we do a trial night before I book the full stay?
A professional has immediate, confident answers to all of these. Someone who hesitates, deflects, or tells you "it'll be fine" without detail is not ready to be responsible for your dog.
8. Trial nights: the single most useful thing you can do
Whatever option you're leaning towards, do a trial run before the real thing. One night in kennels while you're still in Taunton. A single night with the home boarder. A single evening of sitting while you go out for dinner. This tells you more than any review or reference. It tells you how your dog actually responds to the arrangement, not how you hope they'll respond. And it gives you time to find an alternative if it doesn't work out, rather than discovering it from a worried phone call while you're three hundred miles away.
9. What a good in-home sitter does that kennels and boarding can't
In-home sitting has specific advantages that are worth naming clearly. Your dog stays in their own environment, so there's no adjustment period and no stress from unfamiliar smells and sounds. Your dog stays in their own familiar environment, with regular walks and feeding provided as part of the stay. Because the sitter stays overnight, your dog has company at home rather than being moved to an unfamiliar environment. Your home is occupied while you're away, and you receive daily updates with photos. Your home is occupied, which is both a security benefit and a bonus for your insurance. Most home insurance policies cover the property for up to 30 days unoccupied; a sitter staying in your home keeps it occupied, which keeps your cover intact. And you get daily updates: photos and messages that show your dog relaxed on their own sofa, which is genuinely reassuring when you're away.
10. Booking lead times and why they matter
Summer holidays, Christmas, and half-terms book up months in advance. If you're reading this in August and hoping for a Christmas sitter, start now. The best options (the experienced, well-reviewed, properly insured ones) are always the first to fill up. Leaving it late doesn't just limit your choices. It means you're picking from whoever has space, not whoever is right for your dog.
11. Peace of mind is the product
However you choose to cover your dog while you're away, the thing you're actually buying is peace of mind. You want to enjoy your holiday, focus on your work trip, or be present at your family event without a low-level hum of worry about whether your dog is okay. The right arrangement gives you that. The wrong one doesn't, regardless of what it costs.
Take the time to get it right. Ask the questions listed here. Do the trial night. Trust your instincts. And if you're looking for in-home sitting in Taunton, get in touch and we'll arrange a meet and greet. If your dog would be happier with kennels or a boarder, I'll tell you that too.
Practical Tips for Going Away Without Your Dog
Leave a written brief. A single A4 page covering feeding (what, how much, when), walking (where, how long, on-lead/off-lead rules), medical info (vet details, insurance, any medication), quirks (scared of the toaster, hates the postman), and emergency contacts. A good sitter will ask for this. If they don't, write one anyway.
Stock up before you go. Make sure there's enough food, treats, poo bags, and any medication to cover the whole period plus a couple of extra days. Flight delays happen.
The goodbye matters. A calm, low-key departure is better for your dog than a big emotional farewell. Your anxiety about leaving transfers straight to them. Walk out the door like it's a normal Tuesday.
Check your home insurance. Most home insurance policies cover the property for up to 30 days unoccupied; a sitter staying in your home keeps it occupied, which keeps your cover intact. Worth a five-minute phone call to your insurer.
Don't underestimate enrichment. Even with a sitter or in kennels, dogs miss their people. Activities that use their brain (a frozen Kong, a snuffle mat, a scent game) help them stay settled. I wrote a full guide to indoor enrichment for dogs that has ideas that work whether your dog is at home or away.
Want someone to stay with your dog?
Hi, I'm Emma, the dog walker, sitter, and trainer behind Dogs and Fairy Tails, based in Taunton. I offer in-home dog sitting across Taunton and the surrounding villages. Your dog stays in their own home, with their own routine, while I stay with them. I'm BSc Animal Behaviour qualified, fully insured, DBS checked, and I compete at Crufts in Heelwork to Music and Agility. Whether it's a single evening or a two-week holiday, your dog gets to stay in their own home with regular walks, familiar surroundings, overnight companionship and daily updates, while I take care of the house too.
Book a free meet and greet and we'll talk through what your dog needs. Or if you'd like to know more about me first, here's the about page.