At Kennel Connection, we know that growing your pet care business isn’t just about offering more services, it’s about building more trust with the clients you already have.
If a dog already loves spending their days with you, turning that loyalty into overnight stays should feel natural for both the pet and their parent.
Here’s how to make the transition seamless (and how the right dog boarding software can make it even easier).
1. Lead with the Pet Parent’s “Why”
When you talk to daycare clients about boarding, don’t just mention your opening focus on what parents care about most:
- Familiar caregivers and routines. Same staff, same friends, same trusted environment.
- Simpler travel planning. No scrambling for pet sitters before a trip.
- Consistency in meals, meds, and schedules. You already know their dog’s needs inside and out.
Use every opportunity, at checkout, through email newsletters, on social media, to remind parents that their dog’s “home away from home” is already waiting for them.
Pro Tip:
Create small signs at your dog daycare checkout or lobby that say things like, “Going out of town? We’ve got you covered for overnights too!”
2. Offer “Trial Nights” for Daycare Dogs
Not every pet parent is ready to book a full week of boarding right away, and not every dog is ready either. Trial nights give both sides peace of mind.
Ideas for running successful trial nights:
- Create limited time offers. (“Only 5 trial slots this month!”)
- Make it special. Include a bedtime treat or a free photo update.
- Follow up the next morning. A personal check-in shows parents you truly care.
Trial nights build comfort for the pet, confidence for the parent, and loyalty for your business.
Using pet care software like Kennel Connection, you can even flag dogs who complete trial stays for future follow-up marketing.
Bonus Tip:
Offer “frequent boarder” discounts for dogs who complete trial nights successfully!
3. Showcase Happy Boarders
Seeing is believing, especially for nervous pet parents.
Use your online presence to show off:
- Photos of happy sleepers snuggled up after a day of play
- Testimonial quotes from real boarding clients
- Behind-the-scenes videos (bath time, bedtime tuck-ins, etc.)
Make sure your social media, website, and email newsletters show real dogs having real fun and rest while boarding.
Parents want to feel what boarding will be like for their pet, and good visuals help them imagine it.
4. Create Gentle Upsell Moments
You don’t need a hard sales pitch. Instead, make boarding feel like a natural next step for daycare clients.
Here’s where you can drop hints:
| Where | Upsell Opportunity |
| Daily daycare report cards | “Buddy had a great day, he’s overnight-ready anytime!” |
| Email follow-ups after bookings | “Planning a trip? Ask us about boarding early!” |
| Website & online booking pages | Banner or pop-up: “Already a daycare client? Overnight stays made easy!” |
With dog boarding software like Kennel Connection, you can automate friendly reminders based on client history, saving your team time while boosting conversions.
5. Bundle Pricing and Loyalty Rewards
One way to make boarding irresistible? Make it financially rewarding for loyal daycare clients.
Ideas for bundled packages:
- 5 daycare days + 1 overnight stay for a discounted price
- Boarding packages that include daycare play at no extra charge
- Loyalty points or credits that can be used toward boarding fees
Parents appreciate it when you recognize their ongoing loyalty with perks. Bundled deals help encourage larger purchases and make boarding feel like an extension of daycare.
6. Make the Booking Process Effortless
Pet parents are busy. If bookings feel complicated, they’re less likely to commit.
With good pet care software, you can:
- Store feeding, medication, and emergency contact details in one place
- Let parents update info easily through a client portal
- Quickly convert daycare profiles into boarding reservations with a few clicks
Kennel Connection’s dog boarding software was designed to remove friction from the booking process, making it easier for clients and faster for your team.
Pro Tip:
Include a “boarding info update” option when parents check in for daycare, so you always have the latest emergency contacts on file.
7. Personalize the First Boarding Experience
First impressions matter. Make every dog’s first boarding stay feel like a VIP experience.
Consider:
- Adding a “First Sleepover Certificate”
- Sending a personalized photo update during their stay
- Following up with a hand-written thank you card or small treat
These small touches show pet parents you’re not just offering a service; you’re building a relationship.
After their first stay, use your dog boarding software to tag the client for special boarding promotions or early-bird holiday booking reminders.
8. Track Your Success (and Tweak Your Strategy)
Finally, don’t forget to measure what’s working and adjust if needed.
Metrics to watch:
- Trial night success rate
- First-time boarding to repeat boarding rate
- Daycare clients’ overall lifetime value
- Client retention over 6–12 months
With Kennel Connection’s reporting tools, you can track these trends and fine-tune your marketing based on real data.
If you notice that trial night clients are much more likely to rebook, for example, you can promote trial nights even more heavily.
Final Thoughts
Turning daycare dogs into overnight boarders isn’t about pushing harder, it’s about making it easy, natural, and inviting.
When you focus on trust, comfort, and simple communication, you’ll find that your best boarding clients are already walking through your daycare doors every day.
And with the right dog boarding software supporting your team, converting those clients becomes easier, faster, and more profitable.
