Dog boarding in Santiago: a guide for expats and relocating families

When relocating families usually need boarding

There are three typical moments. The move itself, when the house is full of boxes and the front door is open all day. The weeks or months in temporary housing, while you look for a long-term rental, wait for your shipment or find out whether your new building accepts dogs. And the trips that come once you've settled, especially over Christmas and the summer holidays.

Each one asks for something different: a safe place for a few days, a stay that can stretch for weeks, or a booking made well in advance. In Chile, Google searches for a dog hotel or daycare go from about 4,600 a month in August to around 10,400 in January, so summer places fill up early.

Cage-free or kennels: what the difference means

You'll find both models in Santiago. In a kennel-style hotel each dog has its own run or enclosure and goes out at set times. In a cage-free hotel, dogs spend the day together in a supervised group and rest in shared indoor areas.

Neither is right for every dog. Cage-free suits sociable dogs that enjoy company. Dogs that are anxious around other dogs, or that need to be kept apart for medical reasons, may do better with more separation. The RSPCA advises that dogs should be assessed before joining group daycare, to check they aren't scared or stressed around other dogs and people, and that they should be able to get away from others if they choose to.

What to look for in dog boarding in Santiago

Before you book, ask:

• Where does my dog spend the day, and where does it sleep? Ask to see both.
• Who looks after the dogs, and is it the same person every day?
• Is there a vet on site or on call, and what happens in an emergency?
• Does anyone speak English? If your Spanish is still basic, being able to explain your dog's habits, health and medication clearly matters.
• What do you require: a meet-and-greet, vaccinations, deworming and parasite control, spaying or neutering?
• How will I hear from you during the stay: photos, videos, messages?
• Can my dog stay for several weeks while we look for a home?
• Is the price per day or per night, and does it include VAT?

RSPCA Australia also recommends visiting in person, asking other owners for referrals and, if possible, booking a short trial stay so your dog can get used to the place. It adds that most facilities require up-to-date vaccinations, worming and parasite control, and that you should either give them your vet's details or confirm they have access to vet care.

Why the meet-and-greet matters

A good hotel will want to meet your dog before its first stay, and that works in your favour. You see where your dog will spend its days and nights and who will care for it. The hotel sees how your dog behaves with people and other dogs and whether its routine fits.

For new arrivals there's a practical catch: if you land in Chile a few days before you need boarding, you may not have time to fit the meeting in. If you can, get in touch before you fly, so it's booked for your first days in Santiago.

Prices, VAT and how booking works

Prices are quoted in Chilean pesos (CLP), some with VAT included and some without. Chile's VAT (IVA) is 19%, according to the national tax service (SII), so CLP 17,000 + VAT comes to CLP 20,230. When you compare, also check whether the rate is per day or per night and what it includes.

WhatsApp is widely used in Chile, and it's how booking works with us: you message us, share your dates and your dog's details, and we arrange the meet-and-greet.

Have this ready when you write:

• Your dates, even if they're still approximate.
• Your dog's age, breed or size, and whether it's spayed or neutered.
• Its vaccination record.
• Any health issues, medication or behaviour we should know about.

Bringing your dog into Chile: the short version

If your dog is flying in with you, Chile's Agriculture and Livestock Service (SAG) asks for an original International Veterinary Certificate issued by the official veterinary authority of the country of origin, valid for 10 days from issue and extendable by up to 5 more days. Your dog also needs a current rabies vaccine, internal and external deworming and permanent identification, such as a microchip. Dogs from the European Union can use the EU pet passport. Rules change, so always confirm with SAG before you travel; our page on moving to Chile with your dog goes into more detail.

Once you live here, Chilean law requires every dog to be registered in the National Pet Registry (Registro Nacional de Mascotas).

Where The Place's fits

The Place's is a cage-free countryside dog hotel in Chicureo, Colina, about 25 minutes from Santiago airport without traffic. By day dogs play freely as a pack on natural grass with shaded areas; at night they sleep in a safe indoor gallery with beds and blankets. There's a vet on site, and the same person, Joshua or Cristina, looks after the dogs. Joshua is from Denver, so you can explain everything about your dog in English.

We take long stays while you settle in, and our relocation service, within Chile and abroad, is run by a licensed vet. New dogs come to a meet-and-greet first and need up-to-date vaccines and to be spayed or neutered. We send photos and videos during the stay, and we only take dogs.

The boarding price varies with your dog's needs, behaviour and medication. The monthly program is about 2.5 days a week, with transport included. WhatsApp +56 9 4504 1271 · Monday to Saturday, 9:00 to 18:00, closed on Sundays · Los Pioneros 12 D, Chicureo, Colina.