SHUPA PET DOG / THE PRACTICAL EDIT
Dog Boarding Quote Comparator
A boarding quote can look simple until assessment fees, medication charges, transport, late pickup and a strict cancellation rule appear.
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A boarding quote can look simple until assessment fees, medication charges, transport, late pickup and a strict cancellation rule appear. This worksheet turns each quote into one comparable total and a short list of questions to settle before you pay.
1. Define the stay before comparing prices
Count chargeable nights
Write the provider’s rule, not just your travel dates. A Tuesday pickup may trigger another charge after a stated time.
Match the same care
Compare like with like: private or group time, feeding supplied or owner-provided, medication administration, transport and pickup windows.
Separate cash from risk
A refundable deposit is not the same as a non-refundable booking fee. Record cancellation deadlines beside the total.
Measure the covered hours
Two four-night quotes may cover different check-in and pickup times. Hours help reveal the difference without pretending that all care is identical.
2. Boarding quote total calculator
Quote A
This tool runs in your browser. It does not save, send or book anything. Currency is whichever currency all fields use consistently.
3. A worked comparison
Fictional four-night example: Quote A is 52 per night, plus a 20 assessment, 8 per medication day for four days and a 25 late-pickup fee. Total: 4 × 52 + 20 + 4 × 8 + 25 = 285. Across 92 covered hours, that is about 3.10 per hour.
Quote B is 61 per night, includes assessment, medication handling and the pickup window, but charges 18 each way for transport. Total: 4 × 61 + 36 = 280, or about 3.04 per covered hour. Quote B is slightly cheaper in this example, but price alone does not show whether its routine, supervision and cancellation terms suit the dog.
4. Put the non-price terms beside the total
| Question | Why it changes the decision | Evidence to keep |
|---|---|---|
| What exactly counts as a night or extra day? | Pickup after a cutoff may change the total. | Written check-in/out times and fee schedule. |
| What records and care instructions are required? | Missing documents can delay or prevent the stay. | The facility’s current checklist and your veterinarian’s records. |
| How are feeding, medication and emergencies handled? | Included care and escalation steps vary. | Written routine, emergency contact process and any extra fees. |
| What happens if your return is delayed? | Extra nights, transport or authorization may be needed. | Late-return plan and approved backup contact. |
| What is refundable, and by when? | A low quote may carry a larger cancellation loss. | Deposit, cancellation and early-return terms. |
5. Build the handover pack before the deadline
The AVMA advises leaving current medical and vaccination information plus relevant care instructions with the person responsible for an animal while the owner is away. Use the provider’s own requirements and your veterinarian’s advice; do not assume every facility has the same rules.
- Owner and backup contact details, travel dates and reachable hours.
- Your veterinarian’s details and the provider’s emergency authorization process.
- Current feeding, medication and behaviour notes written in plain language.
- Items supplied by you, labelled and counted at drop-off.
- A copy of the signed quote, cancellation terms and pickup plan.
6. Decision rule
Choose the lowest suitable total, not automatically the lowest advertised nightly rate. A useful rule is: “I will shortlist only quotes that confirm the required routine, emergency process, pickup window and full cash total in writing.”
Related Shupa Pet Dog guides
- Pet Sitter vs. Boarding vs. Traveling: A Decision Matrix
- Dog Sitter Care Handover Card Builder
- Dog Sitter Handover Stress Test
Source and photo note
Illustrative photo by Christian Testa on Unsplash. The pictured dogs are not Shupa clients and the location is not a reviewed boarding facility.