Thanksgiving and Christmas Dog Boarding in Baltimore: A Book-Early Checklist

Why holiday weeks fill first

Thanksgiving and the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day are the busiest boarding periods of the year because most families travel at the same time. Rooms that are easy to reserve in October are gone by mid-November at many facilities, and the rooms left are not always the ones you would have picked.

There is no universal rule for how far ahead to reserve. Book as soon as your travel dates are firm, and treat any date in the last week of November or December as one that needs a reservation rather than a call the day before. If the trip is uncertain, ask the resort how a tentative reservation is handled instead of waiting.

Finish first-visit steps before the rush

A dog who has never stayed at Parkwood cannot simply be dropped off on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. New families start with a free tour and trial day, which gives your dog a normal weekday to meet the team and gives you a chance to see the rooms and yards. That visit needs required health records on file and a temperament assessment completed before your dog joins group play.

Do this in October or early November. It leaves time to chase a missing vaccine due date, schedule a lapsed booster, and, if the trial day shows a busy resort is not a fit, make another plan while options still exist. A first stay that is also a five-night holiday stay is a lot to ask of a dog.

• Book the free tour and trial day at parkwood.pet/tour.
• Send current records for rabies, distemper, parainfluenza, leptospira, canine influenza, Bordetella and the annual fecal test.
• Complete the temperament assessment before the holiday reservation date.
• Ask what the team observed and whether a longer stay is a good idea.

Choose the location and room while options are open

Parkwood has three resorts, and the room lineup is not identical. Pikesville offers small-dog cabins ($65 per night, under 20 pounds), standard cabins ($75), overnight rooms ($85) and luxury bedrooms ($110) with 24-hour camera access. Locust Point offers small-dog cabins and overnight rooms. West Baltimore offers small-dog cabins, overnight rooms and a West-only indoor/outdoor suite ($110). Every room is private, with a real bed, and daytime play is included for eligible social guests.

Pick the location that works for both handoffs, then the room. Dogs from one family who sleep together at home usually do better sharing an overnight room, which can host up to four. Confirm room fit, multi-dog pricing and availability with the resort; published rates are per dog per night, not a holiday quote for your dates.

Build the rest of the checklist around your travel dates

Parkwood is open 6:15 am to 8:00 pm daily, but a published window is not a promise that a holiday morning works like a normal Tuesday. Confirm drop-off and pickup times for your exact dates when you reserve. Boarding checkout is by 10:00 am unless later care is added, so a flight landing at noon needs that care arranged in advance.

Holiday travel is also the most likely to be delayed. Name a local person who can collect your dog if you are stuck in another city, make sure the resort has that person’s number, and pack an extra day or two of food and medication.

• Reservation confirmed for the exact nights, at the exact resort, in the room you chose.
• Records accepted, assessment complete, trial day done.
• Food pre-portioned by meal with one or two spare days; medication in original containers with written directions.
• Pickup person and time confirmed; backup contact on file.
• Grooming requested separately if you want a bath before pickup (Pikesville and Locust Point only).

A note on the fall season

The holiday rush starts earlier than most people expect. October stays are a lower-pressure way to complete a first visit before the calendar tightens, and the resorts lean into the season: dogs boarding the week of Halloween (October 26 through November 1, 2026) receive a free photo from the fall photo booth.

If your dog boards in the fall and again over Christmas, the second stay is easier: the team knows your dog, the records are reviewed, and only the reservation itself is left to confirm.

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.

• Boarding rooms, rates and daily routine
• Book a free tour and trial day
• Pikesville room options
• West Baltimore room options

Keep planning

Related Parkwood guides

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