SHORT ANSWER
In England, any commercial dog daycare must hold a licence from its local council under the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018, so the first step is to check that a daycare is licensed and look at its star rating, which runs from 1 to 5. From there, visit in person, ask how dogs are screened and supervised, and have your dog's vaccination records ready, since UK daycares must see proof of current core vaccines before your dog can attend. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland use different licensing rules, so ask your council which licence applies where you live.
If you're moving from the US, the biggest difference is who sets the rules. In the US, oversight of dog daycare depends on your state and sometimes your city. Colorado, for example, licenses boarding and training facilities through its Pet Animal Care and Facilities Act program, while other states set fewer requirements.
England takes a single national approach. Since the 2018 regulations, local councils license and inspect dog daycares against the same national conditions, published as statutory guidance from DEFRA. That gives you a consistent checklist wherever you settle in England.
The culture is a little different too. When Adam Melton, VP of Strategic Initiatives at Starwood Pet Travel, asked Emma Day, Branch Manager at our UK sister company PetAir UK, whether daycare had caught on in the UK, she said it is growing but that many owners still lean on in-home help:
"We're starting to see more of that now, but plenty of pet dog sitters, you know, that will come on in and do the lunchtime walk for you, do the after work one if you're running late. There's plenty of support and services from dog washing to pet walking, everything you need."
Yes. According to DEFRA's guidance, all dog day care activities need a licence if they are carried out as a commercial business. Councils look at whether the operator makes a profit or earns a fee, and anyone with trading income under HMRC's trading income allowance does not need a licence.
A few types of care fall outside the daycare licence:
That second point matters for new arrivals. The lunchtime walker Emma describes does not hold a daycare licence, so you'll vet those services differently, by asking about insurance, references and how many dogs they walk at once.
A licensed daycare should make its licence easy to find. DEFRA's guidance says a copy must be displayed in a public-facing area of the premises, such as the entrance or reception, and the licence holder's name and licence number must appear on any website the business uses.
Every licence also carries a star rating. Under the animal activity licensing process guidance, councils award 1 to 5 stars based on inspection results and compliance history, and licences can run from 1 to 3 years. Councils should also keep a list of licensed businesses and their ratings on their websites.
A 4 or 5 star rating means the business meets the optional higher standards in the guidance. For staffing, that includes at least one full-time member of staff per 8 dogs and a permanent full-time staff member with an Ofqual-regulated Level 3 qualification. A star rating can change after an unannounced inspection, so check it again if you're choosing months after your move.
Your visit is the best chance to see whether a daycare actually runs to the standards its licence promises. These questions map directly to conditions in DEFRA's dog day care guidance.
|
Question to ask |
What the England guidance requires |
|---|---|
|
How do you assess new dogs? |
Every dog must be screened before admission to check it isn't afraid, anxious or stressed around other dogs and people, and each screening must be recorded |
|
How many dogs does each staff member look after? |
10 dogs or fewer per staff member at the minimum standard |
|
Where can a dog go to get a break? |
There must be an area where a dog can avoid seeing other dogs and people if it chooses |
|
Are dogs ever left alone? |
Dogs must be supervised at all times |
|
Can my dog stay overnight? |
No. Keeping dogs overnight is not permitted under a daycare licence |
|
Do you take dogs out on walks? |
A walker may take no more than 6 dogs at once, with the owner's consent, and dogs must wear an ID tag with the licence holder's details |
|
What happens in an emergency? |
A designated key holder must be able to reach the premises, normally within 30 minutes |
Ask to see the register too. Daycares must record each dog's microchip number, vet details, insurance, medical and behavioural history, and the dates of recent vaccinations, worming and flea treatments. A daycare that asks for all of this at sign-up is doing its job.
UK daycares need an up-to-date vaccination record before your dog can attend. DEFRA's guidance requires current vaccination against canine parvovirus, canine distemper, infectious canine hepatitis (adenovirus) and leptospirosis. A daycare may also require kennel cough vaccination, against Bordetella bronchiseptica or canine parainfluenza virus.
A few details are worth knowing before you book:
That last point can catch out dogs vaccinated in the US. Bring your dog's full US vaccination history, register with a UK vet soon after arrival, and ask your chosen daycare whether it will accept your current records or wants a UK booster first.
These are daycare requirements, not entry requirements. For what your dog needs to enter Great Britain from the US, see GOV.UK's bring your pet to Great Britain guidance.
The 2018 regulations cover England only. If you're moving elsewhere in the UK, check with your local council before you assume the same rules apply.
Owners in r/UK_Pets often point new arrivals toward smaller operators and practical questions. In a thread titled "Doggy Day Care, Advice and Suggestions," one user wrote: "I tend to recommend the smaller home based day cares if they are available... Ask about the training the staff have" (r/UK_Pets).
It's sound advice, and it lines up with the rules. Home-based day care in England is licensed under home boarding, and staff training is one of the areas councils look at when deciding a star rating.
Pet bakeries have taken off in US towns, and the UK has its own version. Emma told Adam that handmade treats are easy to find, often in cafes and pubs:
"Lots of cafes here have doggy treats, all handmade for them, with their own little sort of area for buying. Pubs, cafes, very much more pet friendly than they ever have been before. So plenty of places that you can go."
If you're buying treats from a small bakery or market stall, one quick check helps. GOV.UK states that any business that makes or sells animal feed, which includes pet food, must register with its local Trading Standards office, with a different process in Northern Ireland. It's fair to ask a small maker whether they're registered.
Finding your dog's favourite cafe or treat shop is one of the easiest ways to feel at home. For places to start in the capital, see our guide to pet cafes in London. If you'd rather build your dog's social life outdoors, our roundup of social dog walking groups in the United Kingdom covers groups that meet across the country.
As Georgiana Strait, Marketing Manager at Starwood Pet Travel, puts it: "After a long flight and a new home, most dogs need a little time before a busy daycare room feels fun. I'd tell any family to find a licensed daycare before you land, book the assessment for a week or two after arrival, and bring every vaccination record you have. The paperwork that got your dog into the country is the same paperwork your new daycare will want to see."
Planning your move is the place to start. If you're relocating with your dog, request a free quote and our team will walk you through UK entry requirements and timing.