Make sure your fur family is taken care while your away
There are so many boarding options for dogs in Shanghai that it can be overwhelming choosing the right one for your pet. It all comes down to cost and how well they actually look after your furry friend. I don’t like leaving my dog with a stranger, so I started doing more road trips. This allows me to bring my dog along for the adventure, but sometimes that’s just not possible and picking the best boarding option can seem daunting.
We’ve compiled a list of places we have tested and trust.
Spare Leash
Spare Leash is a pet-sitting platform that connects pet owners to verified pet-sitters. All services are in a home and 100% cage free. They also organize pet friendly activities and work with multiple rescue organizations to help promote adoption. They have a variety of services so you can find the best option for your furry companion’s needs.
You can visit their website here to learn more
Search SpareLeash on WeChat to access their mini program for bookings or to become a pet sitter.
My experience
Reviewed by: Mel
I am a pet sitter and as such I know that all pet sitters must go through an application and interview process to ensure they have experience with the animals they plan to look after. You can also see reviews for each sitter that other owners have left before booking. Then there is a meet and greet before the date to make sure the owner feels comfortable leaving their animals with the sitter and vice versa. This also gives the owner a chance to explain the dog’s routine and show them where everything is kept (ex: food, poop bags, leash etc.)
The sitter will also send you updates, pictures and videos of your pups so you can feel confident they are being well taken care of.
Spare leash is my go to when I have to leave my 2 dogs and cat. I have hired a cat sitter to come in and check on my cat and make sure she has food, water and clean litter as well as some human interaction well I am gone. I have had dog walkers come and take the dogs out when I have a really busy day. Everything always runs very smoothly, and I get lots of pictures and videos of the animals.
Qingpu
Fairy Tales
Fairy Tales is a boarding facility run by Iva, a big advocate and animal rescuer herself. The boarding facility also serves as a stopping point to get dogs from The Haven into fosters in Shanghai.
My Experience
Review by Dustin Doyle
My 3 dogs recently stayed at Fairytails during the Chinese New Year. The service is exceptional! They stayed around 2 weeks. Iva came to pick them up and dropped them back off when I was back. I received daily videos and pics each day. She sent daily updates. Very good communication and service. I will definitely send my dogs back there the next time I travel. I highly recommend!
Reviewed by Jeanette
Highly recommend Fairytails dog hotel! They made a huge effort when designing a inclusive space and there’s something for everyone, every dog can find their own little sanctuary there, regardless if your dog is into group play with toys, a bit of outdoor time on the turf or just basking in the sun on the sofas with occasional head scratches – the options are many! Our dog is normally not very social but she always manages to find a small group of new friends, we love how happy she looks when she’s staying there!”
Minhang/ Songjiang/Boashan
Kungfu Pet
kung Fu Pet is a facility that offers boarding as well as grooming, and training facilities. They have 3 locations in Shanghai. Each location has different facilities available
My Experience
Review by Lindsay Snider
Jameson and Hanna loved their time at KungFu Pet. Communication with Sheng was easy and informative. We weren’t able to go there first to see the facilities, but I felt that through the pictures and videos sent it would be a great place for them both. Sheng understood and asked about dietary, medicine and special behaviours for both dogs. Pictures of boarding rooms were sent with a price list. Pickup and drop off were agreed upon. Both dogs were expected to be UTD on their vaccinations and registration.
Updates during the week were sent each day, in a group WeChat. Their room was changed to the larger Sunroom with no problem. High quality videos of each dog or a combination was sent, about 4-5. They had a large area to run which was shaded and were taken out in the morning and late afternoon due to the heat. There was also an indoor area for them. Photos and video of dinner time were also sent with proof of medicine given. Special attention was given to each dog through play, games and cuddles. Jameson and Hanna enjoy swimming, so they were able to do this in the last days with their own personal swim coach. After they were bathed and delivered home.
Cost was comparable at around 3000 including pick Up/drop off, room for two dogs (6 nights/7 days) swimming and bathing for two dogs.
I would rate them 5/5, from pick up to drop off, with special mention of quick communication and inquiries on both sides. Overall enjoyment of both dogs was seen in the videos. They loved it, especially the staff.
Jing'an District
Buddy City
Buddy Dog is a boarding and training facility. They also offer doggie day-care for those hardworking paw-rents.
My Experience
Review by Lindsay Snider
I can’t say enough good things about the staff at BuddyCity and their hard work to create a safe space for their daycare dogs and boarding clients. Last March we suffered a house fire that Hanna and Jameson were trapped inside. Elissa at BuddyCity was the first person I contacted to help board them for a week while dealing with the aftermath. She immediately set them up in a kennel, had the driver pick them up and even took them to the animal hospital next door when they noticed the effects of inhaling plastic smoke in both dogs. They took them daily for oxygen treatments and gave them personal attention during their stay. I can’t say enough good things about the staff.
I would recommend BuddyCity as a short-term boarding option for small to medium dogs. The facilities are more geared towards them. The only issue is that they don’t have a designated green space or large outdoor area for dogs to run. They do training like leash walking, stay and other simple commands with the dogs. They do utilize the front outside area for training and outdoor activities, but again it is in front of building and on concrete.
Prices are reasonable and they offer pick up for an extra cost. On special days they team up with BuddyDog and go swimming with the dogs, also at an extra cost. Location is also a plus, as it’s city centre ish and pick up is free for locations within 5 km. Communication is done through WeChat and updates are sent usually every 1-2 days via pictures and videos. Questions are mostly answered in a reasonable time frame.
BuddyCity is a great option for medium to small dogs as a more short-term option for which weekend or week getaways and I would rate it 5/5 for this and 4/5 for larger dogs (smaller areas, no pool or outside area for running and play)
Fengxian
Buddy Dog
Pet Dreamland a boarding and training facility.
My Experience
Review by Melissa
I used Buddy Dog for the first time in the summer of 2023 and have been using them ever since. They are very upfront about everything and very communicative with any problems. Over the summer I sent my dogs there for 2 months and they were able to go swimming and have lots of play time with other dogs. They also have training courses (which are great) that I’ve used for some of my hard to deal with fosters. During the summer we did basic training to keep their minds active and reinforce some manners.
Both my dogs are a bit difficult. Hugo has epilepsy and Juno is scared of people she doesn’t know and bites. They both did fantastic and the trainers that work there take extra care to make sure Hugo’s meds are given correctly and on time and that Juno feels as comfortable as possible. Both dogs now get excited when they see the van, and that says a lot to me about how much they like it there.
Pudong
Pet Dreamland
Pet Dreamland a boarding and training facility.
My Experience
Review by Kirstie
I used Pet Dreamland during lockdown. They were really good with updating me if anything changed throughout the day regarding their schedule. They received about 6 hours of outdoor time a day. The staff seem very experienced with large breed dogs as well as high energy dogs.
They were also great at sending videos. I got 3 videos in the morning and 3 in the evening.
I highly recommend Pet Dreamland if you are looking for a fun and safe place to board your dogs.
Add them on WeChat if you have any questions: PETDREAMLAND
* Please note: Pet Dreamland changed locations from Songjiang to Pudong and no longer has a large pool at their facility.
