Holiday Dog Boarding in San Diego: 2026 Holiday Bookings Are Open

Precious Petcare San Diego is now accepting holiday bookings for 2026. If you need holiday dog boarding in San Diego for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year’s, this is the moment to claim your dates. We offer kennel-free boarding, in-home overnight care, dog walks, and drop-in visits, and every service runs straight through the major holidays. So go see family. Take the trip. Your pup gets a holiday of their own.

Holiday Bookings Are Officially Open

Every fall our calendar does the same thing. It sits quiet through September, then fills almost overnight once people lock in their flights home. This year we’re opening holiday reservations early so our regular families and new clients both get a fair shot at the dates they want.

Everything we do is available all season: our cage-free boarding house, overnight care in your own home, dog walking, cat visits, and pickup and drop-off on the Magic Pink Bus. You can see the full lineup and everyday pricing on our pet care services page.

The 2026 Holiday Dates

Holiday rates apply on the five major holidays below. Here’s where each one lands this year:

• Thanksgiving: Thursday, November 26
• Christmas Eve: Thursday, December 24
• Christmas Day: Friday, December 25
• New Year’s Eve: Thursday, December 31
• New Year’s Day: Friday, January 1, 2027

Notice the pattern. Christmas and New Year’s both fall on a Thursday and Friday, which turns each one into a four-day weekend for a lot of San Diego families. Long weekends mean longer trips, and longer trips mean more nights of care per booking. That’s why December goes first.

Holiday Rates for Boarding, Overnights, and Visits

We keep holiday rates simple. Your regular pricing stays the same, and a flat holiday fee is added on the major holidays listed above:

• Overnight care (in-home): +$100 holiday fee
• Dog boarding: +$50 holiday fee
• All other visits (walks, drop-ins, cat visits): +$25 holiday fee

So a weeknight boarding stay that normally runs $89 comes to $139 on a holiday night. Payment timing, cancellation windows, and our no-cancellation guarantee are all spelled out on our booking policies page, so nothing on the invoice catches you off guard.

What a Kennel-Free Holiday Stay Looks Like

Here’s the fun part. Our take on holiday dog boarding in San Diego isn’t a row of runs in a warehouse. Boarding dogs join the daytime daycare crew, get real outdoor time, and play with a supervised pack instead of waiting out the day in a crate. Drop-off is after 5 p.m. and pickup is before 10 a.m.

You’ll get daily photo and video updates, which, let’s be honest, is the best part. Nothing takes the edge off a long TSA line like a clip of your dog mid-zoomie. Flying out early? Christmas dog boarding gets a lot easier when the Magic Pink Bus handles pickup and drop-off for $40 round trip per household.

First time boarding? Our guide to a successful dog boarding stay in San Diego covers what to pack and how to prep. The American Veterinary Medical Association also recommends confirming your pet is current on vaccines and asking how a boarding facility guards against canine flu. Book that vet check now so the paperwork is ready well before drop-off.

Prefer Home? Overnight Pet Sitting for the Holidays

Some dogs are homebodies, and that’s completely fine. Our overnight pet sitting keeps your dog in their own bed, on their own schedule, with a trusted sitter staying the night. Basic overnights cover feeding and two walks, Premium adds a midday walk, and Golden is full 24-hour care for pets who really don’t like being alone.

It’s also the easy answer for multi-pet homes, because the dog, the cats, and the fish all stay put. For many families this is the best Thanksgiving pet care option, since there’s no drop-off to squeeze in before a Wednesday flight. If you go this route, read how to set up your home for an overnight dog sitter so your sitter has everything they need on night one.

Why Holiday Spots Fill Up Fast

It comes down to numbers. AAA projected a record 122.4 million Americans would travel at least 50 miles from home over the 2025 year-end holiday period, according to its year-end holiday travel forecast. Plenty of those travelers have a dog at home, and they all go looking for a sitter during the same few weeks.

If you’re weighing options for holiday dog boarding in San Diego, don’t sit on it. Once our holiday dates are full, they’re full. We’d much rather tell you yes in October than sorry in December. And once your booking is confirmed on our end, we guarantee we won’t cancel on you, or you get a $100 credit. Book Your Holiday Dates through our client portal and we’ll set up your meet and greet.

Holiday Fun With Your Pup Before and After the Trip

The holidays aren’t only about leaving. The weeks around them are some of the best of the year to be a dog in San Diego. Mild December weather means beach days the rest of the country can only dream about, so pick a spot from our guide to the best dog beaches in San Diego and go celebrate before you pack.

Want a holiday card starring the real boss of the house? A Petography pet photo session gets you professional shots of your pup, indoors in the studio or outside on location. Get it booked early enough to print and mail.

Hosting at home instead? Keep the party safe. The AVMA warns that chocolate is toxic to dogs, xylitol in sugar-free treats has been linked to liver failure, and fatty scraps like gravy and poultry skin can trigger pancreatitis. Give your dog a quiet room away from guests, and for New Year’s Eve, use our tips on keeping your pets calm during fireworks.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does holiday dog boarding cost in San Diego?

Our kennel-free boarding is $89 on weeknights and $99 on weekends, with $39 for each additional dog. On Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day, a $50 holiday fee is added.

How far ahead should I book holiday pet care?

As soon as your travel dates are set. Our standard policy only requires 24 hours’ notice, but holiday dates fill weeks ahead. For Thanksgiving, aim to book in October. For Christmas and New Year’s, book before Thanksgiving.

Do you pick up and drop off dogs for boarding?

Yes. The Magic Pink Bus offers round-trip transportation for $40 per household or one-way for $25, so you don’t have to fight holiday traffic before your flight.

What areas of San Diego do you serve?

We cover Downtown, North Park, Hillcrest, Mission Hills, University Heights, Clairemont, La Jolla, Pacific Beach, La Mesa, and surrounding neighborhoods. New clients start with a meet and greet so we can get to know your pet first.

Sources

• AAA Newsroom — Year-End Holiday Travel Forecast (2025)
• American Veterinary Medical Association — Winter Holiday Pet Safety