Are you curious about the latest trend in dog boarding that is improving the customer experience, growing profitable revenue, and helping with staff retention?
The answer to that question is simple. Top-performing facilities across the US are now offering Boarding bundle options that incorporate enrichment into every boarding service.
WHY implement Dog Boarding Bundles?
By creating boarding bundles, businesses are improving their key performance metric of Average Revenue Per Pet Per Night.
The booking experience with boarding bundles requires less “selling involved” which removes pressure off the front desk staff (who we all know is one of the hardest positions to fill with a great team member) and simplifies the decision-making process for pet parents. This alignment of staff and customers creates a superior experience that builds stronger trust and relationships with customers.
Boarding bundles also provide a well-balanced day for all the dogs in your care. It makes it easier to address all aspects of their wellness through the 5 general themes of Enrichment.
This balanced service approach allows daycare attendants to control the energy level of the playgroup, which reduces the risks for incidents/injuries & allows you to send the dog home the best version of themselves.
HOW to implement Dog Boarding Bundles?
There are a variety of ways to bundle boarding services, but when considering the operations side of the business, I believe that keeping enrichment add-ons flexible based on staffing and dogs in-house is key. The flexibility of offering general themes of enrichment will streamline operations for the back-of-the-house team and allow you to create operational efficiencies and manage labor hours when delivering enrichment to a larger number of dogs.
Examples of Dog Boarding Bundles
- 5 Star, 4 Star & 3 Star boarding bundles
- Platinum, Gold & Silver boarding bundles
- Premium, Deluxe & Standard boarding bundles
- Playful, Clever, Solo boarding bundles

Enrichment for Dog Boarding Bundles
As you begin to develop your boarding bundles you will want to ensure that the enrichment add-ons require near-zero labor to deliver. By having enrichment that requires very little labor you can optimize your profit margins on the services and reduce the number of staff necessary to deliver the highest quality of care.
Examples of Dog Enrichment Services with Near Zero Labor
- K9 IQ Puzzle
- Snuffle Mats
- Lick Mats
- Pupiccinos
- Pup Cups
- Bacon Bubbles
- Group Sit Exercises
- Frozen Kongs
- Sniff Walks/Sniff Walls
5 General Themes of Dog Enrichment
1. Nutritional Enrichment
Encourages dogs to use natural foraging behaviors to earn food.
- Frozen Kongs
- K9 IQ Puzzles
- Snuffle Mats
- Searching for treats in ball pits
2. Occupational Enrichment
Gives dogs jobs that encourage physical and mental stimulation.
- Agility
- Bubbles
- Fetch
- Positive Reinforcement Dog Training
3. Physical Enrichment
Alter the complexity and quality of the dog’s space
- Elevated Kuranda beds
- Different shapes & textures of dogs furniture
- Splash Pads & Pools
- Rotation of toys
4. Sensory Enrichment
Stimulate the sight, sound, and smell senses of each dog
- Sniff Walls and/or Sniff Walks
- Lavender oil diffusers throughout the facility
- Smart TVs play calming visuals and sounds
- Tempered Glass provides outside views and natural light
5. Social Enrichment
Positive contact between dogs & daycare handlers
- Small & Supervised playgroups
- Positive reinforcement during polite play
Benefits of Enrichment
Enrichment is not just an add-on to grow revenue; it has a ton of benefits to the dogs in your care, it drives value for pet parents, and it brings more joy to your staff delivering the services. It is important to educate your team on enrichment and make sure they are able to explain the value from all perspectives.
- Improves staff engagement & makes their job more enjoyable.
- Grows profitable revenue for your business.
- Provides a balanced day for each dog that walks through your doors so you can send them home the best version of themselves.
- Allows you to improve the safety of your facility by improving behavior within playgroups.
Enrichment Success Benchmark
To measure the success of your enrichment program you can utilize industry benchmarks for your team. The goal should be to ensure that 90% of both dog daycare and dog boarding appointments have at least 1 enrichment service added to each day of their appointments. While some owners may have a preference for the enrichment service that their dog partakes in, many professionals in the pet care industry have a better understanding of the most beneficial enrichment services based on the observed behavior of the dog during group play.
Some dogs need mental stimulation using IQ Puzzles, others need to mellow out and rest with a lick mat or snuffle mat. Some dogs need more sensory through a sniff walk or bacon bubbles. Every dog can benefit from training games like group sits, gate control, and other training-focused enrichment.
Boarding Bundles Elevate Your Dog Boarding Facility
Implementing boarding bundles in your dog boarding facility is not just a trend, but a strategic approach to enhance customer satisfaction, increase revenue, and improve staff retention. By offering bundled services that incorporate enrichment activities, you simplify the booking process for pet parents and reduce the sales pressure on your front desk staff. This approach leads to a better overall experience for both your customers and your staff, fostering trust and long-term relationships.
By embracing the concept of boarding bundles and integrating enrichment activities into your services, you can create a more enjoyable, efficient, and profitable operation. This approach not only improves the quality of care for the dogs but also strengthens your business, making it a win-win for everyone involved.