Standard run
a night, from$45
- Two field walks of 30 minutes each
- A play group session if your dog enjoys company
- Your own bed or blanket welcome
- Fed on your dog's usual times
Room to run on the hill, a warm bed at night
Overnight and holiday boarding for dogs, with heated indoor runs, two field walks a day and small play groups matched by size and temperament. Tell us your arrival and departure dates for an answer within one working day.
18 runseach heated, with a raised bed
2 walksa day across our own fields
4 dogsat most in each play group
- Heated indoor runs
- Five acres of fenced fields
- Play groups chosen with care
- Staff on site day and night
Runs and nightly prices
Every run has underfloor heating, a raised bed, a covered outdoor section and fresh water topped up through the day. Prices include both walks, play time and our own food.
Family run
a night, from$72
- Dogs who live together stay together
- Walked together or apart, as you prefer
- A third dog from the same home adds $25
- Separate bowls at feeding time
Quiet wing
a night, from$52
- Set away from the play yard and the arrivals door
- Suits older, shy or noise sensitive dogs
- Three shorter walks instead of two long ones
- An evening check before staff turn in
School and public holidays add $6 a night. One night's fee holds your dates once we confirm, and it is returned in full if you cancel 14 days or more before arrival.
A day at Hilltop Hounds
Dogs settle faster when every day has the same shape. Times move a little for dogs who eat earlier or later at home.
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| 07:00 | Breakfast, fresh water and a garden break |
| 08:30 | First field walk on the lead, in pairs or alone |
| 10:30 | Play groups in the fenced yard, or a sniff walk for dogs who prefer their own company |
| 12:30 | Rest time in the runs with the radio on low |
| 15:00 | Second field walk and a towel down if it is wet |
| 17:00 | Dinner, medicines given to the label, and a cuddle |
| 21:00 | Last garden break, then lights down |
Runs built for sleeping, not just for keeping
Each run is a warm indoor room with a glass front, so dogs can see people passing but not stare down the dog opposite. Floors are heated from below in winter and stay cool in summer, and every bed is raised off the tiles.
Runs are cleaned twice a day and disinfected between guests. A member of staff sleeps in the house beside the kennel block, so a dog who barks at three in the morning is checked on, not ignored.
- Underfloor heating and a raised bed in every run
- A covered outdoor section for fresh air
- Cleaned twice daily and between every stay
- Staff on site through the night
Before you come, and if a dog seems unwell
These rules keep every guest safe. We look after dogs; we are not vets, and any dog who seems ill or hurt is seen by one.
Vaccinations up to date
Bring your dog's vaccination record on arrival. Which vaccines are needed varies by country, so ask your own vet what your dog should have before boarding.
Flea and worm treatment
Treat your dog in the weeks before the stay, as your vet recommends, so no guest brings a problem in with them.
Ill or injured on our watch
We call you, and the dog is seen by our local vet the same day. In an emergency we go straight to the nearest emergency clinic, and vet fees are passed on at cost.
Medicines to the label
Tablets and drops are given only as your vet has prescribed them, at the times on the label. We never change a dose or give health advice.
Food from home if you like
Our own food is included, or bring your dog's usual food in labelled daily portions and we take $3 a night off the price.
Dogs in season stay home
Females in season and dogs recovering from surgery are better cared for at home, and we will help you rearrange the dates.
A first stay, step by step
Dogs new to boarding start with a short visit, so their first night is spent somewhere that already smells familiar.
Request your dates
Choose a run, add the arrival and departure dates and tell us about your dog.
A trial afternoon
First timers spend three hours with us a week or two before, for $20, including a walk and a play group test.
Drop off
Arrive in a drop off window with the vaccination record, any medicines and a blanket that smells of home.
Collection
We share how the stay went, hand back anything you brought and send you home with a tired, happy dog.
Up on the hill
Play groups, field walks, feeding time, wet days and quiet evenings.
Back home and fast asleep (example reviews)
Our collie can be wary of other dogs, so the staff kept her out of the big games and gave her long sniff walks instead. She came home calm, clean and ready for her own sofa.
Two old labradors who have never been apart stayed in a family run together. Every evening the office answered our call with how they had eaten and walked.
The trial afternoon made all the difference for a nervous rescue. By the time we dropped him off for the holiday, he trotted in to see the handler he already knew.
What owners ask before the first night away
Does every dog join the play groups?
Only dogs who enjoy them. The trial afternoon shows us how your dog plays, and groups are kept to four dogs of similar size and energy with a handler in the yard the whole time.
Can we bring our dog's bed and toys?
Yes. A bed or blanket that smells of home helps most dogs settle. Toys are welcome too, though we take away anything that could be swallowed or chewed into pieces.
Will my dog be fed the same food?
Bring your usual food in daily portions and we follow your feeding times, or we use our own food at no extra cost. Sudden food changes can upset some stomachs, so tell us what your dog normally eats.
Can we phone to check on our dog?
Of course. Call the office any day between 08:00 and 18:00 and the handler who walked your dog that morning tells you how the day is going.
What if my dog becomes ill while staying?
We call you and arrange a visit to our local vet the same day, or the nearest emergency clinic if it cannot wait. Our staff do not diagnose or treat dogs themselves.
Is the kennel licensed?
Boarding kennels need a licence in many places, and each country sets its own rules. Ours is on the wall in reception, and we are happy to show it to anyone who asks.
Request a stay
Pick a run, add your dates and tell us a little about your dog. You will hear back within one working day with a confirmation, the nearest open dates, or a note if the kennel is already full.
- Dates are held only once we confirm them
- One night's fee secures the stay after we confirm
- First time guests start with a trial afternoon
Find us on the hill road
The kennel sits on a working farm above town, with parking right outside the arrivals door.
Call or email
On the hill road, about 15 minutes' drive north of the town centre
Kennel times
| Drop off and collection, Monday to Saturday | 08:00 to 11:00, 16:00 to 18:00 |
| Drop off and collection, Sunday | 09:00 to 11:00 |
| Phone and office | 08:00 to 18:00 daily |
Come and look around
Owners are welcome to see the runs, the yard and the fields before booking. Tours run on weekday afternoons between 14:00 and 15:30, when the dogs are resting.
Ask for a tour