Preparing for Dog Boarding in Baltimore: A Practical Timeline

Before booking: choose a real resort and a suitable room

Parkwood has three physical resorts: Pikesville at 1848 Reisterstown Road, Locust Point at 1624 Beason Street, and West Baltimore at 3001 Wilkens Avenue. Compare both your drop-off and return routes. Families coming from Federal Hill may find Locust Point convenient; Timonium-area families may compare Pikesville; Arbutus and Elkridge families may compare West Baltimore. Those nearby areas are not additional branches.

Room mixes differ. Each location lists a small-dog cabin for dogs under 20 pounds from $65 per night and an overnight room from $85. Pikesville also lists a $75 standard cabin and a $110 luxury bedroom with 24-hour room-camera access. West Baltimore lists a $110 indoor/outdoor suite. Camera access is not a feature of every room. Ask what is available for your dog's size, the number of dogs staying together, and your exact dates. Confirm the total price, not just the starting nightly rate.

Before the stay: finish eligibility and records

Parkwood's boarding and daycare policy calls for current rabies, distemper, parainfluenza, leptospira, canine influenza, and Bordetella vaccinations, plus an annual fecal test for Giardia and parasites. Send records showing the clinic, dog's name, and next due dates in time for the resort to review them. Your veterinarian should answer medical questions about timing or exemptions; the resort confirms its own admission requirements.

Eligible social boarding guests can participate in daycare play after a temperament assessment. Group play is not automatic for every dog, and room selection does not replace the assessment. If your dog is shy, anxious, elderly, or has mobility or handling needs, describe those honestly and ask whether the offered care is a fit before paying for a stay. A tour or trial visit can be more informative than a room description alone.

A few days ahead: agree on the care handoff

Write down each meal's food and amount, timing, dietary notes, and a reachable owner number plus a backup contact. If medication is involved, talk with the chosen resort before the stay about whether it can follow the plan. Bring labeled medication and clear written directions only after the plan is accepted. Do not assume that every medication schedule or special-care request is available at every location.

Ask whether your specific blanket, toy, or other comfort item is allowed. Pack enough of your dog's usual food for the stay and a possible travel delay, with each container labeled. The separate packing guide covers the bag in more detail; the essential point here is that the written instructions and the resort's agreement matter as much as the items themselves.

• Arrival and collection dates and expected times
• Confirmed resort, room type, dog count, and total charges
• Each meal's amount and timing, plus approved medication directions
• Owner, backup contact, and veterinarian phone numbers
• Approved comfort items and any handling or group-play limitations

Drop-off and pickup: make the timing explicit

All three Parkwood resorts open at 6:15 a.m. daily and close at 8:00 p.m. Published boarding drop-off is 6:15 a.m. to 7:55 p.m.; checkout is by 10:00 a.m. unless later care is added. Confirm the applicable windows and any later-care charges for your specific dates when you reserve. Do not assume an after-hours handoff is available.

At drop-off, review the food, medication, contact, and pickup plan with the team. At collection, ask how your dog ate, rested, and handled the daytime routine, then collect remaining food, medication, and belongings. Those observations can guide the next reservation, especially after a first stay.

Keep the booking focused on services Parkwood offers

Parkwood offers dog boarding and daycare at all three resorts. Grooming can be requested separately at Pikesville or Locust Point; it is not offered at West Baltimore. Parkwood does not offer dog walking, training, board-and-train, cat grooming, or flea and tick treatment at any location. If another service is part of your travel plan, arrange it separately rather than assuming the boarding reservation includes it.

Confirm services with the right Parkwood location

Use our published service and location details to plan your questions. Confirm current availability, pricing and your dog’s eligibility with the resort before booking.

• Compare Parkwood boarding rooms and rates
• Pikesville resort and room options
• Locust Point resort and room options
• West Baltimore resort and room options
• Plan a tour or first visit

Keep planning

Related Parkwood guides

• Boarding while you travel
• Vaccination requirements for boarding
• Choosing care for an anxious dog
• Dog boarding packing list