The best-documented dog boarding in Durango is at Willow Tree Kennels: $55 a day, a 4.9 Google rating and a written holiday policy. The cheapest posted rate is $43 a night at Puppy Love Boarding Kennels. For daycare, Healthy Hounds and Fat Cats charges $39 for a full day, the lowest of the three daycares that post prices.
How we built this: durangocolorado.org is run by Animas Marketing, and no business on this page pays for placement. Every price, vaccine rule and hour below comes from the business's own website, read in October 2026. Google ratings come from the listings in our directory. Prices change, so call before you book.
Which Durango dog boarding and daycare is best?
Here is our ranking of the four places that board dogs or run daycare, with the reason each one placed where it did:
- Willow Tree Kennels: the highest rating (4.9) and the most complete posted rules, including a written holiday deposit policy. It runs small play groups of six dogs at most.
- Healthy Hounds and Fat Cats: which calls itself Durango's original daycare, with the lowest posted daycare prices and the most reviews (181).
- Durango Pet Resort: boarding, daycare and grooming under one roof, plus a 10% discount for locals.
- Puppy Love Boarding Kennels: the cheapest overnight rate, with private runs instead of group play. No daycare.
Dog Gone Gorgeous is not on this list because it only grooms. You will find it in the grooming section below.
How did we rank them?
We ran six yes-or-no checks that you can repeat yourself on each website:
- Is a nightly boarding price posted?
- Is a daycare price posted?
- Is the vaccine list posted?
- Is a play-group or supervision policy posted?
- Are holiday hours, a holiday deposit or blackout dates posted?
- Does the Google rating reach 4.5 with at least 30 reviews?
Ties break on Google rating, then review count.
| Business | Checks passed | What was missing |
|---|---|---|
| Willow Tree Kennels | 6 of 6 | Nothing |
| Healthy Hounds and Fat Cats | 6 of 6 | No holiday deposit (holiday hours are posted) |
| Durango Pet Resort | 6 of 6 | Nothing |
| Puppy Love Boarding Kennels | 4 of 6 | No daycare, no holiday policy; rating is 4.4 |
We did not visit these places, and we did not test them. Two things no website answers: none of the four posts a live webcam, and none says a staff member sleeps on site overnight. Ask both questions before you book.
How do the Durango kennels compare at a glance?
| Business | Services | Boarding (posted) | Daycare (posted) | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Willow Tree Kennels | Boarding, daycare, exit baths | $55 a day; $60 if not neutered | $55 weekday, $60 weekend | 4.9 (74 reviews) |
| Healthy Hounds and Fat Cats | Daycare, boarding, grooming, self-service wash | $45 to $54 a night | $28 half day, $39 full day | 4.6 (181 reviews) |
| Durango Pet Resort | Boarding, daycare, grooming, cat boarding | $55 a night | $32 half day, $42 full day | 4.6 (114 reviews) |
| Puppy Love Boarding Kennels | Boarding, grooming | $43 a night | Not offered | 4.4 (60 reviews) |
The rules differ more than the prices do:
| Business | Vaccines required (as posted) | Holiday policy (as posted) | Hours (as posted) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Willow Tree Kennels | Rabies, distemper/parvo, bordetella, canine influenza | $100 per pet on top of a 2-night prepayment; refundable until 14 days before check-in | Office 8 to 10 a.m. and 2 to 4 p.m., every day |
| Healthy Hounds and Fat Cats | Rabies, distemper/parvo, bordetella, canine influenza, leptospirosis | No deposit posted; doors locked on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day | Mon to Fri 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sat 8 to 5; Sun 8 to 10 and 1 to 5 |
| Durango Pet Resort | Rabies, distemper/parvo, bordetella | $100 deposit, refundable with 30 days' notice; daycare closed Nov. 23 to 27 and Dec. 22 to 25 | Mon to Sat 7:30 to 7:30 (closed 11 to 2); Sun 7:30 to 10 and 4 to 7:30 |
| Puppy Love Boarding Kennels | Rabies, DHLPP, bordetella | Nothing posted | Mon to Fri 7 to 5:30; Sat 7 to noon and 2 to 5:30; Sun 8 to 8:30 and 4 to 4:30 |
Dogs that are not neutered are the policy that catches people out. Willow Tree takes them at $60 a day. Healthy Hounds takes them by available space, but they sit out play time. Durango Pet Resort contradicts itself: its boarding page says it does not accept them past one year old, and its fee page lists a $5 charge for "approved" ones. Call before you book.
How much does 7 nights of holiday boarding cost for one dog?
We worked out a week-long stay from each business's posted price. It assumes one dog, no add-ons, seven billed days and 2026 rates.
| Option | Nightly rate | 7 nights | Extras that change the total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Puppy Love Boarding Kennels | $43 | $301 | Pick up after noon and you pay for another night |
| Healthy Hounds and Fat Cats | $45 to $54 | $315 to $378 | Six or more nights earns a free bath and nail trim |
| Durango Pet Resort | $55 | $385 ($346.50 with the 10% locals discount) | Pick up after 11 a.m. costs a half-day charge |
| Willow Tree Kennels | $55 | $385 ($420 for a first-time client) | Adds a $35 setup fee for new clients and a 3.55% fee on cards |
| In-home sitter, holiday week | $80, plus 25% = $100 | $700 | Both local sitters post the 25% holiday markup |
Here is the part that surprised us. None of the four kennels posts a holiday surcharge. The cost of a holiday stay is the $100 deposit and the cancellation deadline, not a higher nightly rate. An in-home sitter at the holiday markup costs about $315 to $400 more than a kennel stay.
When should you book holiday boarding in Durango?
Thanksgiving is Thursday, November 26, 2026, and Christmas is Friday, December 25. No Durango kennel posts how far ahead it fills for either one. The only lead time on any website is a warning from Healthy Hounds that its space "can fill up a month or more in advance." That line is written for summer train riders, but it is the best clue we have.
So call now. The posted deadlines also run out sooner than most people expect. For a Wednesday, November 25 check-in, Durango Pet Resort's 30-day refund line has already passed. Willow Tree's 14-day line falls on November 11.
For a December 23 check-in, those dates are November 23 and December 9.
Plan the pickup day too. Healthy Hounds says its doors are locked on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day, though pets still get several hours of supervised play. Plan your pickup around that. Durango Pet Resort closes daycare for Thanksgiving week and Christmas week but does not list boarding as closed, so ask about drop-off and pick-up on those days.
Where can you find doggy daycare in Durango?
Three businesses run daycare. Buying a pass cuts the price per visit, so we divided each pass by its days.
| Business | Single day | Pass price | Per day with the pass |
|---|---|---|---|
| Healthy Hounds and Fat Cats | $39 full day | 10 full days $353; 20 full days $624 | $35.30; $31.20 |
| Durango Pet Resort | $42 full day | 10 full days $350; 20 full days $600 | $35.00; $30.00 |
| Willow Tree Kennels | $55 weekday | 5 days $215; 10 days $385 (one day free) | $43.00; $38.50 |
Passes last 90 days at Durango Pet Resort and Willow Tree. At Healthy Hounds, the 20-day pass expires 30 days after first use. Its passes are also for full-time Durango-area residents only.
Willow Tree books daycare by appointment only, with drop-off from 8 to 10 a.m. and pick-up from 2 to 5 p.m. Its price is higher, and its play groups are smaller. Healthy Hounds splits dogs by size and energy, with a separate area for dogs under about 20 pounds.
Where do you take a dog for grooming in Durango?
Four businesses post grooming details. Colorado's Pet Animal Care and Facilities Act requires many boarding and grooming businesses to hold a state license, so ask any of them for a license number.
| Groomer | Posted prices | Booking | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dog Gone Gorgeous | Not listed | Call for an appointment; open Mon to Sat | 4.8 (114 reviews) |
| Durango Pet Resort | Full groom: $65 to $75 small, $85 to $95 medium, $115 to $125 large, $150 to $175 extra large | By email or online scheduling | 4.6 (114 reviews) |
| Healthy Hounds and Fat Cats | Nail trim $17; self-service wash $19 | Full grooming on a limited basis; call | 4.6 (181 reviews) |
| Puppy Love Boarding Kennels | Bath or haircut at about $68 to $70 an hour; nails $28 to $30 | Phone only | 4.4 (60 reviews) |
Dog Gone Gorgeous has the best rating of the group. It says its team has more than 35 years of experience, and it grooms dogs from Durango, Hesperus, Marvel and Ignacio. It posts no prices, so call for a quote. Pet Haus Groom Room is also listed in our directory at 4.6 stars, but we could not find any grooming prices on its website. Our full best pet groomers in Durango page ranks every groomer by live rating.
Two notes from the websites. Durango Pet Resort's grooming prices come with a warning that coat condition and behavior can change the final bill. Puppy Love does not de-mat, so brush a matted dog before you go.
What are the alternatives to a kennel?
An in-home sitter comes to your house, so your dog keeps its bed and routine. Two local sitters post their rates:
- Durango Tails: $80 for a standard overnight and $100 with a midday visit. Drop-ins run $20 to $50. It posts a 25% holiday markup that covers Thanksgiving week and Christmas week. It says it is licensed, bonded and insured, and it does not board dogs or run daycare.
- Mountain Mutts of La Plata: the same $80 and $100 overnight rates, a 25% holiday markup, and a $175 weekend 24-hour care option. The sitter does not board dogs either.
App marketplaces such as Rover list independent sitters who set their own prices. We have not rated any of them. Ask about insurance, ask for a meet-and-greet and confirm who has a key to your home.
Run the numbers first. Seven kennel nights cost $301 to $385. Seven sitter nights cost $560, or $700 in a holiday week. Healthy Hounds adds a bath and nail trim at six nights. A sitter's edge is not price. Your dog never meets a stranger dog.
Bringing the dog along? Travel Durango keeps a list of pet-friendly hotels in Durango. For a train day, Healthy Hounds sells a $52 extended day to Durango and Silverton riders from April through October. Drop-off is one hour before departure.
What should you ask before you book?
Use this list on the phone:
- When did my dog's last vaccines need to be given? Healthy Hounds wants them at least 72 hours before a reservation.
- How big is the play group, and how are dogs matched?
- Who is on site overnight?
- What happens if my dog needs a vet? Willow Tree posts how it handles emergencies.
- What is the cancellation deadline, and does the deposit come back?
- Which add-ons cost extra: medication, food, walks, an exit bath?
Keep your dog's paperwork current too. Our guide to licensing a dog in Durango covers the county rules. For vets, see the Durango veterinarians guide. The pet owner's guide covers altitude and trail hazards, and the dog parks answer lists places to burn off energy before a drop-off.
Where can you find more Durango pet services?
Browse the pets and animals category, the pet groomer listings and dog trainers. For food and supplies, Pet Haus is on Main Avenue. Run a kennel, grooming shop or sitting service in La Plata County? Claim your free listing and send us your prices.