The 10 best dog boarding and daycare spots in Charlotte
Dog boarding and daycare around Charlotte runs from a $15 half day of yard play in Fort Mill to a $90 luxury suite in South End, with webcams, splash pads and a dog bar along the way. This list covers 10 dog daycare and boarding facilities in Charlotte, Concord, Cornelius and Fort Mill, S.C. Eight are locally owned, and two belong to national franchises. Eight of them start new dogs with an evaluation or temperament test. The list is for owners heading back to the office, travelers booking holiday boarding and anyone with a dog that needs more play than a walk can give. Entries are listed alphabetically, not ranked.
How we chose
Each facility showed 2026 activity: posted 2026 prices or holiday boarding dates, dated 2026 blog posts, a website updated in 2026, or a live booking portal and webcams. Picks are based on the play setup, such as yard space, pools, playgroup rules and staff ratios where posted, plus prices and booking rules from each business’s own website and coverage from Axios Charlotte, Charlotte Agenda and Creative Loafing. Facilities whose websites could not be read or that could not show 2026 activity were left out. Prices are for one dog and leave out holiday surcharges. No business paid to be included.
Animal People Dog Boarding & Day Care
Owner Ashley started a pet-sitting business in 2021, and she and her husband, Aaron, later bought the boarding facility that became this west Charlotte daycare, according to the business’s website. Creative Loafing, which wrote about the facility in July 2024 before opening, gave their last name as Babaa. The 9,000-square-foot building has three indoor and three outdoor play yards, with splash pads and pools outside, plus 50 boarding suites.
Why we chose them
- Playgroups are sorted by size, gender, play style and age, at 10 to 12 dogs per staff member.
- A new customer’s first day of daycare is free.
- A full day is $32, a half day is $22 and boarding is $54 a night.
- Boarding requires rabies, distemper and Bordetella records.
- Pick up by 6:30 p.m. to avoid a $15 late fee; after 8 p.m. the dog stays the night.
Address: Charlotte (west Charlotte) — 2908 Rozzelles Ferry Road
Camp Bow Wow Charlotte Metro
This location of the national Camp Bow Wow franchise splits dogs by size, temperament and activity level, and counselors are trained in pet CPR and first aid. A free Interview Day comes before any first visit, every camper must be spayed or neutered, and live webcams let owners check in from work. The general manager also oversees camps in Fort Mill and Matthews.
Why we chose them
- A full day of daycare is $36, a standard cabin is $57 a night and a luxury suite is $85.
- Luxury suites include 24-hour webcam viewing.
- Thanksgiving peak dates run November 25 to December 1, and Christmas peak dates run December 19 to January 3.
- Peak stays add $10 a night, and deposits are forfeited unless a stay is canceled 14 days ahead.
- Checkout for boarders is at 11 a.m.
Address: Charlotte (south Charlotte) — 4900 Chastain Ave.
Camp Happy Hound
Big yards are the selling point at this Concord daycare, with more than 2 acres of fenced outdoor space split into two sand yards for large dogs and three grass yards for small dogs. Three rubber-floored indoor play areas cover bad-weather days. Boarders sleep in 43 climate-controlled kennels, and a third-shift crew takes them out overnight.
Why we chose them
- Under prices effective September 1, 2026, full-day daycare is $27 and boarding is $55 a night.
- Free evaluation days run Monday through Wednesday, and dogs must pass before booking.
- Dogs must be spayed or neutered by the end of their eighth month.
- Weekday drop-off and pickup windows are 7 to 9:30 a.m., 12:30 to 2 p.m. and 4:30 to 7 p.m.
- Sunday is boarding only, and the gate stays closed during play sessions.
Address: Concord — 995 Warren C. Coleman Blvd.
Canine Corner
K9 Playland, the South End daycare, is now Canine Corner under new ownership, and the owner, Jamie, has more than 15 years in rescue, fostering and dog training, according to the business’s website. The facility covers more than 6,000 square feet, with three indoor playrooms and three outdoor yards, and most daycare dogs play all day with one rest break.
Why we chose them
- New dogs start with a $25 evaluation day that lasts at least five hours.
- A single daycare session is $45, the highest posted day rate on this list.
- All-inclusive boarding is $65 a night for a standard suite or $90 for a luxury suite.
- Drop-off starts at 6 a.m. on weekdays, and every service needs a reservation.
- There are no drop-offs or pickups on Thanksgiving, November 26, or on Christmas Day.
Address: Charlotte (South End) — 2139 S. Tryon St.
Carolina Doggie Playland
Open since 2004, this playland is owned and run by Charlotte residents Tina and Mike Manns, and the website points out that the business is not a franchise. The yards have pools and a splash pad, and the activity list includes bubble dance parties and frozen peanut butter Kongs. Axios Charlotte included the playland in a May 2022 roundup of places to leave a dog when returning to the office.
Why we chose them
- A single daycare day is $36, and 5-, 10- and 20-day passes never expire.
- Boarding is $60 a night with daycare included, in suites slightly larger than 5 by 10 feet.
- New dogs start with a free evaluation day.
- Dogs older than 1 year must be spayed or neutered.
- The homepage price notice is dated January 2025, so confirm rates when booking.
Address: Charlotte (LoSo) — 3111 S. Tryon St.
Dogtopia of Fort Mill
Owners who like to watch can pull up live webcams on a computer or the Dogtopia app at this Fort Mill daycare, including during boarding stays. Part of the national Dogtopia franchise, the daycare splits dogs into playrooms by size and temperament, supervised by staff the company calls Canine Coaches. Dogtopia recommends three daycare days before a first overnight.
Why we chose them
- Full-day daycare is $43, or $135 a week for unlimited days.
- Standard boarding is $57 a night for dogs on a daycare plan and $67 for others.
- Every dog starts with a 20- to 30-minute meet-and-greet and must be at least 12 weeks old.
- Dogs must be spayed or neutered after 7 months.
- Sunday is boarding only, with drop-off and pickup from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Address: Fort Mill, S.C. — 829 Stockbridge Drive
Lucky Dog Bark & Brew
Owners can order a beer while the dog runs at this dog bar and daycare, which pairs an off-leash dog park and bar for guests 21 and older with daycare, overnight boarding and baths. The Thrift Road location opened in April 2016 as the company’s second site, with more than 25,000 square feet, and sister locations operate in Steele Creek and Cornelius.
Why we chose them
- In 2016, Charlotte Agenda picked the bar as the place in Charlotte to drink with a dog.
- A dog’s first day is a free temperament test of at least four hours, Monday through Thursday.
- Boarding runs all year at $44 a night and needs a reservation 24 hours ahead.
- The website posts no daycare price, so call to confirm rates.
- There are no webcams; staff post photos on each location’s Facebook page.
Address: Charlotte (Thrift Road, near Wesley Heights) — 2220 Thrift Road
One Lucky Pup
Owner Amanda DiLiberto holds the Certified Professional Animal Care Operator credential from the Professional Animal Care Certification Council, and the business runs two Charlotte locations, on Springbrook Road and on Reames Road in Northlake. Both handle daycare, boarding, dog and cat grooming and retail, and the Springbrook Road site has turf play areas, play structures and pools.
Why we chose them
- Groups are set by size, temperament, energy level and play style after an evaluation.
- Daycare is $38 for a full day, and boarding is $62 a night with feeding and medication included.
- Boarding also includes report cards and daytime play at no extra charge.
- Packages of 5, 10 and 20 days are nonrefundable and expire after six months.
- Dogs that aren’t spayed or neutered may still qualify, depending on age, temperament and location.
Address: Charlotte (south Charlotte) — 616 Springbrook Road, with a second location in Northlake
Paws Life
Seven free HD webcams, covering four outdoor yards and three indoor rooms, let owners check on dogs at this Cornelius daycare from any device. Owner Kayla Shaw has more than 25 years in dog daycare and boarding, and the business calls the operation woman-owned and mom-managed. Boarding is social, with elevated beds, and new clients can no longer book non-social boarding because of space.
Why we chose them
- Prices marked effective June 2026 put daycare at $36 a day for all sizes.
- Boarding is $45 a night for a small-dog suite or $55 for a large suite.
- A large suite fits two medium dogs sharing a stay.
- The free temperament test is a half day of daycare on a weekday morning.
- From Interstate 77, take Exit 28 and head south on Statesville Road about three-quarters of a mile.
Address: Cornelius — 18920 Statesville Road
See the full directory listing
Re-Treat 4 Dogs
Small and low-key, this Fort Mill boarding and daycare runs group play in a fully fenced one-acre yard, with a team the website names as Karen and Vincent plus staff. Budget-minded owners get the lowest posted daycare prices on this list. Meet-and-greets are welcome before a first stay, and all dogs must be vaccinated, with records emailed before a stay.
Why we chose them
- A half day is $15, a full day is $25 and five straight days are $100.
- Boarding starts at $45 a night with playtime, snacks and a going-home bath, and no medication fees.
- Haircuts start at $45 or $60, depending on breed and size.
- Early drop-off or late pickup can be arranged in advance.
- Holiday boarding rates for 2026 are posted on the homepage.
Address: Fort Mill, S.C. — 2143 Bessbrook Road
Prices, hours and opening status last checked November 11, 2026. Call ahead where an entry says to.
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