Skip the kennel. Columbia dogs get comfy beds, group play, and hands-on attention at Happy Dog Care's cage-free pet resort just up the road in Ellicott City. It's the closest thing to a sleepover at a friend's house your dog will ever have.
Leaving your dog for a night, or a week, is easier when you know exactly what that night looks like. For dogs coming from Columbia, that means no metal bars, no isolation, and no stranger keeping half an eye on them. Happy Dog Care's overnight boarding wraps every stay in the same all-day play, soft bedding, and attentive staff supervision your dog would get at daycare, just extended through bedtime and into the next morning.
No metal crates or cage runs for boarding dogs (available only if you specifically request one)
A full day of group play built into every stay, so your dog is worn out and ready to settle down by bedtime
A home-style sleep setup: soft group bedding and low lighting instead of a kennel run
Includes:
All-day daycare
Medications (if needed)
Meal time (Provided by you. Emergency meals provided for $5)
Lots of love
*Add $10 per night during holiday periods ($85 per 24 hours)
**Military/Veteran discount: 5% off every stay
We adjust each stay to match your dog’s personality, energy level, and needs, whether they’re a first-timer from Columbia or a regular.
Current on Rabies, Distemper, Canine Influenza, and Bordetella vaccinations
Pre-portioned meals and any medications sent along for the stay
Happy Dog Care built its overnight program around the same safety standards used for daily daycare: supervised, clean, and genuinely attentive.
Spots fill fast, especially around holidays, so reserve early! Make a reservation or give us a call to chat about your dog's ideal overnight experience.
A trip to Happy Dog Care’s Grooming Spa in Ellicott City gives Columbia dogs a full refresh, not just a quick rinse. Professional groomers work in a calm, clean space designed to keep the whole visit low-stress, from check-in to pickup. A simple bath, a breed-specific cut, or the full spa treatment: whatever the service, your dog leaves looking, feeling, and smelling noticeably better. Every dog earns the nose-to-tail pampering treatment, no exceptions.
Columbia pet parents already know their neighborhood is built for dogs, from the trails around Lake Elkhorn and Wilde Lake to the open green space threading through Symphony Woods and the village centers. Between the pathway system connecting neighborhoods like Long Reach, Owen Brown, and Harper’s Choice, most Columbia dogs are used to getting outside daily, not just on weekends. When it’s time to leave town or pull a long shift, that same active-dog lifestyle is exactly why Columbia families make the short drive up Route 29 to Happy Dog Care instead of dropping their dog somewhere unfamiliar.
Whether it’s a weekend trip, a work conference, or just a night you can’t be home, Columbia dogs get to keep their routine of play, exercise, and social time going at our Ellicott City pet resort. No lonely kennel runs, no last-minute scramble to find someone reliable. It’s a short enough trip that boarding here still feels local, even though the facility itself sits just over the Columbia line.
From Columbia, head toward US-29 South and get on US-29 North at Exit 18. Follow US-29 North for about 6 miles, then take Exit 24B onto US-40 West/Baltimore National Pike in Ellicott City. Stay on Baltimore National Pike for another 2.6 miles and you’ll spot Happy Dog Care at 10246B. The whole trip is about 9.7 miles and takes roughly 13 to 14 minutes.
How far is Happy Dog Care from Columbia?
We’re about 9.7 miles from Columbia, a roughly 13 to 14 minute drive up Route 29 and Baltimore National Pike. Most Columbia families find the trip short enough that boarding here still feels local, even though our pet resort sits just over the Columbia line in Ellicott City.
What makes your boarding cage-free?
Boarding dogs are never kept in metal crates or cage runs (unless you specifically request one). Instead, your dog spends the day in supervised group play and sleeps in a home-style setup with soft group bedding and low lighting. It’s the same cage-free experience they’d get at daycare, just extended overnight.
What vaccinations does my dog need to board?
Every dog must show proof of current Rabies, Distemper, Canine Influenza (K9 Influenza), and Bordetella vaccinations before their first stay. This applies to both boarding and daycare and keeps every dog in the building safe.
How much does dog boarding cost?
Boarding is $75 per 24 hours, which includes all-day daycare, medication administration if needed, mealtime, and plenty of attention. Holiday periods add $10 per night ($85 per 24 hours). We also offer a 5% military and veteran discount on every stay. You provide your dog’s food, and emergency meals are available for $5.
Do I need to bring my dog’s food?
Yes. We ask that you send pre-portioned meals along with clearly labeled feeding instructions, plus any medications your dog needs. If you run short, emergency meals are available for $5.
Can I board my dog over a holiday weekend?
Yes. Spots fill fast, especially around holidays, so we recommend reserving early. Holiday stays run $85 per 24 hours.
When can I drop off and pick up my dog?
Drop-off and pickup happen during daycare hours: Monday through Friday, 6:30am to 6:30pm. Weekend service windows are 8 to 9am, 12 to 1pm, and 5 to 6pm, and we ask that you schedule weekend drop-offs and pickups ahead of time.
Will my dog be safe playing with other dogs?
Yes. We group dogs by size, temperament, and energy level so play stays appropriate for everyone, and attentive staff supervise every session in our climate-controlled facility.
How do I make a boarding reservation?
You can make a reservation online or give us a call at (410) 480-0302 to talk through your dog’s ideal overnight experience.
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Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 