If you're searching for dog boarding in Boston, you have two real choices: a traditional kennel with crates and limited human contact, or a cage-free home where your dog actually lives like a guest. Pawmenities is the second. Our boarding program runs out of two private homes — one in the Boston Seaport and one on the North Shore in Lynnfield — with overnight staff on-site, small group play, and a structured daily routine that mirrors what your dog gets at home.
This page covers what cage-free Boston boarding actually involves, how pricing works, what's included in every night, and how to decide whether our model fits your dog. If you'd rather skip ahead, the full boarding service page is here: Luxury Boarding.
What "cage-free dog boarding" means in practice
Cage-free is a marketing term that gets misused. At Pawmenities it means dogs are never kenneled during their stay. They sleep in open spaces, on real beds and couches, in rooms shared with other compatible dogs and a member of staff who lives on-site. There are no rows of metal runs, no concrete floors, and no scheduled "kennel time."
We assess every dog before boarding to confirm they can handle group living. Dogs who do better solo get a private room with the same one-on-one attention. Dogs who thrive in social play join a small, vetted group of three to six dogs grouped by size and energy. Either way, no crates.
What's included in every Boston boarding night
- 24/7 live-in staff. Staff lives on-site overnight. Someone is always with the dogs.
- Three or more outdoor walks daily plus regular bathroom breaks throughout the day.
- Structured enrichment — puzzle feeders, scent work, training games, sensory rotations. Mental work tires dogs out faster than physical exercise alone.
- Small-group supervised play in compatible cohorts, broken up by individual rest periods.
- Daily photo updates through your client portal — usually 2–4 photos plus a short note.
- Individual feeding on your dog's normal schedule, with their own food. We never mix bowls.
- Medication given on your schedule: $5 each time we give it.
If you've boarded before at a traditional facility, you've probably been quoted a low base rate that ballooned with add-ons. Our nightly rate covers the stay. Dogs who need extra care have a care level set by Pawmenities from their care answers (most dogs need none), and a holiday fee applies on major US holidays. Both are shown before you book. See how care is priced.
Pricing for dog boarding in Boston
Our 2026 boarding rates:
- Small adult (1–20 lbs) — $80 per night
- Medium adult (20–50 lbs) — $85 per night
- Large adult (50–75 lbs) — $90 per night
- XL adult (75+ lbs) — $95 per night
- Puppies under 12 months — add $30 per night ($110–$125; more frequent breaks, closer supervision)
- Senior dogs: senior rate ($90–$105). No extra senior fee.
- Holiday surcharge — $100 per stay during Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year weeks
No charge for walks, play or daily updates. Medicine and any extra care are listed on your estimate, set by Pawmenities (see how care is priced). For a deeper price comparison against other Boston boarding facilities, read how much dog boarding costs in Boston.
Who Boston boarding is right for
Cage-free boarding is the right fit if your dog is socialized, vaccinated, comfortable around other dogs, and either house-trained or on a clear potty schedule. We board:
- Adult dogs of any breed under 120 lbs
- Puppies after their second round of vaccines (with a vet note)
- Senior dogs who need a calmer pace and slower-paced playmates
- Dogs on routine medications including insulin, thyroid, and seizure meds
- Dogs with mild anxiety who do better with a person nearby than alone in a kennel
Reactive, anxious, or less social dogs are welcome too — we just ask owners to share that history upfront at booking so we can plan individualized one-on-one care in a quieter setting, away from the main pack. Any extra handling has a care level set by Pawmenities, shown before you book.
Vaccines and requirements
For overnight boarding we require Rabies, Distemper/Parvo (DHPP), and Bordetella. Bordetella must be administered at least 14 days before the first stay and within the past 6 months. Puppies under 6 months are exempt from the Bordetella minimum. Full requirements are on the help page.
How to book
First-time boarders fill out a short profile so we can match your dog to the right play group and confirm feeding, meds, and vet info. We then schedule a free meet-and-greet at the location closer to you — Seaport or Lynnfield. After that, you can book directly through your client portal whenever you need a stay.
For a step-by-step walkthrough including drop-off, what to pack, and the daily routine, see first-time dog boarding in Boston or the broader how it works page.
Boston boarding vs. dog hotels and kennels
The differences come down to staffing model and physical layout. Traditional kennels are built around individual runs — dogs spend most of the day in their own space and get walked or played with on a schedule. Dog hotels usually offer larger suites but the same fundamental structure. Cage-free is structurally different: the home itself is the boarding space, the staff lives there, and dogs spend the day moving between rooms, outside time, and shared rest spaces.
For a head-to-head breakdown of which model fits which dog, read cage-free vs kennel boarding in Boston.
Quick reality check: cage-free isn't better for every dog. Dogs who hate sharing space, who don't sleep with others around, or who get over-stimulated by group energy actually rest better in a quieter setting. Share your dog's needs in their profile and we'll plan their stay around them.
Both pickup & drop-off hubs
Our Seaport pickup & drop-off hub serves downtown, Back Bay, South Boston, Cambridge, and Somerville. Our Lynnfield home serves the North Shore including Marblehead, Swampscott, Salem, Peabody, Wakefield, and Reading. Both follow the same care model. Pick whichever is closer to you.