Dog Boarding near Leander, TX
A cramped indoor kennel run isn’t what most Leander pet parents picture when they imagine boarding their dog — and it isn’t what they’ll find at Shady Acres Pet Ranch either. Dogs here spend their stay outdoors on three shaded acres along Brushy Creek, with playtime, medication administration, and feeding from their own bag folded into every rate instead of billed as add-ons.
FREE First Night of Boarding
We’re so excited to show you and your pup our amazing facility and care that the first night is on us!
Discount subject to availability and cannot be combined with other offers. Boarding discount applies to first-time customers only and is valid for any boarding accommodation selected.
A Day in the Life at Shady Acres
Here, play doesn’t happen on a strip of turf inside a building — it happens outside, under oak shade, on ground big enough for a real group to actually run. A rotating group of friends, supervised from start to finish, is how most dogs spend the bulk of their day. Facilities that charge extra for daycare or supervised playtime would call this an upgrade; at Shady Acres Pet Ranch, it’s just what boarding is.
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Evaluations: How We Learn Your Dog's Style
Every dog gets a hands-on evaluation before joining a play group, so we can shape their care around how they actually act, not just how the paperwork describes them. You don’t need to schedule this in advance — it happens during their first day of daycare or boarding, and you’ll have a written report in hand before that day is over.
What's Actually Included in the Rate
Compare our rates to other boarding options near Leander and you’ll notice ours already folds in what many competitors charge for separately. Every dog gets outdoor group play at least 3–4 times daily; dogs who aren’t suited to group settings instead get one-on-one outdoor time with a staff member at least 4 times a day. Medication administration and feeding your dog’s own food come at no additional charge.
The Pack Plan for Social Dogs
If your dog does best surrounded by other dogs, this is the option built for them. Several times a day, they’ll head outside for group play — real exercise, mental engagement, and the social interaction a pack-oriented dog craves.
Group play isn’t a paid extra here — it’s simply how every social dog boards with us. A trained staff member stays embedded in each group the entire session, reading body language, intervening when needed, and treating safety as the non-negotiable. When play winds down, each dog returns to their own private room to rest before the next round.
This plan suits dogs that are naturally easygoing around other dogs and genuinely enjoy mixing with a group.
Standard
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Full day of group play, included
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3 daily play sessions
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Access to the pool
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Additional Dogs $45/dog/night*
Deluxe
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Full day of group play, included
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3 daily play sessions
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Access to the pool
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A bedtime treat before lights out
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One enrichment activity each day
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Additional Dogs $55/dog/night*
Luxury
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Full day of group play, included
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3 daily play sessions
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Access to the pool
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A bedtime treat before lights out
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One enrichment activity each day
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A more spacious room
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Elevated, comfort-cushioned bed
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Additional Dogs $65/dog/night*
* Additional dog discount is offered for dogs from the same owner sharing a room.
The Solo Plan for Dogs Who Prefer Space
Some dogs do better with quiet, space, and direct attention from one person rather than a crowd — this plan is built for them.
Instead of group play, dogs on this plan get four individual sessions daily, split between play and potty breaks, one-on-one with a staff member, plus extra bathroom breaks built into the schedule. The goal is calm, personalized attention that keeps them at ease.
This isn’t a step down from social boarding — for many dogs, it’s the safer, more attentive fit. Any dog who isn’t suited to group play is placed here automatically.
Standard
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Four individual sessions with a staff member each day
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Solo attention, no group setting
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Pool privileges included
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Additional Dogs $45/dog/night*
Deluxe
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Four individual sessions with a staff member each day
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Solo attention, no group setting
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Pool privileges included
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One enrichment activity daily
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A bedtime treat to end the day
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Additional Dogs $55/dog/night*
Luxury
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Four individual sessions with a staff member each day
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Solo attention, no group setting
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Pool privileges included
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One enrichment activity daily
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A bedtime treat to end the day
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A roomier space to stretch out
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Raised, cushioned bed for sleeping
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Additional Dogs $65/dog/night*
Breaking Down Room Options:
STANDARD
Group play comes standard, never as an upgrade. Dogs suited to group settings rotate through outdoor play together at least three times a day, each session running 30–45 minutes depending on weather. Staff monitors every group and brings dogs in early if conditions require it.
Deluxe
Deluxe adds two extras at no additional cost. The first is a daily enrichment activity — something many facilities bill around $15 for separately. What your dog gets varies with the day and season: a frozen seasonal treat, a stuffed Kong, a treat puzzle, or, for dogs with food sensitivities, a substitute like a solo walk, private pool time, or bubbles. The second is a bedtime treat as they settle into their room for the night.
Luxury
Luxury rooms offer more physical space than Standard, plus a raised bed for a more comfortable night’s sleep. Luxury dogs also receive the same two Deluxe perks — a seasonally rotating enrichment activity and a bedtime treat.
Puppy Boarding
Over the years we have found that puppies have specific needs in order to give them the best boarding experience.
Our Puppy Boarding provides extra potty breaks, more one on one care and attention from a staff member, and a dedicated space during their stay. In addition to standard outdoor play times, Puppy Boarding adds 3 additional potty breaks with a staff member.
Puppy Boarding is required for all puppies 6 months and younger. Puppy Boarding can be booked for dogs older than 6 months that need additional potty breaks or outside time. Only Puppy siblings share rooms, adult dogs board in their own rooms.
Puppy
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All Play Time Included
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3 Group Play or Breaks
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3 Extra Potty Breaks
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Pool Time
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Tuck In Treat
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Additional Puppy $55/dog/night*
* Additional dog discount is offered for dogs from the same owner sharing a room.
Spa Bathing
Includes Shampoo, Cream Rinse, Ears Wiped, Light Brushing, & Fragrance
Prices Based Upon Size & Hair Length
Small
Medium
Large
Extra LArge
1-20 lbs
21-60 lbs
61-80 lbs
80+ lbs
$25 Short
$35 Short
$40 Short
$50 Short
$30 Long
$40 Long
$45 Long
$55 Long
De-Shed Furminator Services Add $20-$80 Depending on coat and Size
Other Services
Nail GRind $20
Ears Cleaned $5
Blueberry Facial $5
Teeth Brushing $5
Pickup Day: What to Know
Boarding here works like a hotel stay — nightly, per-dog rates with checkout at 1 p.m. so rooms can be turned over for the next arrival. Dogs picked up after 1 p.m. are billed for a day of daycare, except on Sundays, when pickup runs 3–6 p.m. with no late fee.
Feeding & Medication, Handled
- Medications: no charge
- Your dog’s food, individually bagged per feeding: no charge
- Food sent unbagged: $25 bagging fee
- Kennel-provided food: $5/dog/day
Multi-Dog Households: Separate Feeding
If your dogs need to be separated at feeding time, we’ll set them up in a second room and keep meals apart. This service is $15/night to cover the extra room and staff time.
Reserving a Holiday Stay
Holiday spots fill quickly, so we require a 50% deposit to reserve one. Cancel 14+ days before your stay for a full refund; cancellations (including early pickups) inside that window are non-refundable.
Peak-Season Pricing Notes
Demand and staffing needs both rise during our busiest periods, adding a $7/night adjustment per dog during:
Peak Days
- Spring Break / SXSW – March 8-24
- Easter Weekend – March 29th-April 1
- Memorial Day Weekend – May 24-28
- Summer – June 1 – August 31
- Labor Day Weekend – August 30th-September 4
- ACL Festival – October 4-7 and 11-14
- Thanksgiving – November 21 – December 3
- Holiday Season – December 15 – January 5
Other services we offer
Leander dogs don’t need an overnight reservation to enjoy our shaded acreage. Half- and full-day supervised outdoor play is available for dogs who just need an active place to spend the day.
Bringing a cat too? We board cats in a quiet, separate space away from the dog play areas, with the same one-on-one attention.
Add a bath, de-shed treatment, or nail trim onto a boarding stay, or book it on its own.
Frequently Asked Questions
Our dogs spend most of the day in groups playing outside on 3 acres of shaded, fenced yard, not stuck in a kennel. Playtime, medication administration, and feeding of owner food (bagged per feeding) are all included in your boarding price — no extra charges.
All dogs must be current on:
- Rabies
- Distemper (DHPP / DA2PP)
- Bordetella (Canine Cough)
Vaccination records must be uploaded to your online profile, emailed by your veterinarian, or faxed prior to arrival.
Yes. Dogs over 8 months of age must be spayed or neutered for boarding and daycare.
No. We cannot board dogs showing signs of illness, including coughing, nasal discharge, diarrhea, vomiting, lethargy, or eye discharge. Dogs showing signs of illness may be transferred to their veterinarian at the owner’s expense.
Please bring:
- Collar, leash, or harness
- Individually bagged food (bagged per feeding)
- Packaged treats
- Supplements or medications in original packaging
We do not accept beds, blankets, toys, bowls, slow feeders, food containers, or clothing items.
Meals must be individually bagged for safety and accuracy.
Food sent from home that is non-bagged by feeding will carry a charge of $5 per dog per day
Kennel food (not grain-free) is $5 per dog per day.
Our check-out time is 1 p.m. All boarding dogs must be picked up by 1 p.m. to allow us to clean our rooms and prepare for incoming dogs.
If your dog needs to stay past 1 p.m., a late check-out fee of $25 will be charged. (We do not charge this fee on Sundays when pick-up is from 4-6 p.m.)
No. Medication administration is included at no charge, but prescription medications must be provided in original packaging and verified at feeding time. No loose pills are accepted.
OTC medications and supplements must be in original packaging or clearly labeled with names, quantities, and strengths in Ziplock bags.
We can administer medications in treats (cheese, peanut butter, etc.) if you provide us with these items. We will not accept medications already prepared in treats. We will also not accept any medications mixed with food.
No — all playtime is included. Pool access is included, and if you want reserved pool time every day, select a Deluxe or Luxury boarding option.
No — we do not have breed restrictions. All dogs who meet our health and vaccination requirements may be considered for boarding.
Why Leander Pet Parents Choose Shady Acres Pet Ranch
Leander dog owners already have some of the best outdoor access in the Austin metro. Devine Lake Park draws a steady stream of local dog walkers, Doghouse Drinkery Dog Park gives off-leash pups a place to socialize over a cold drink for their owners, and the San Gabriel River’s Dinosaur Trail is a favorite for dogs who’d rather explore than sit still. It’s a community built around getting outside with a dog — which is exactly why so many Leander families make the short drive to Shady Acres Pet Ranch instead of settling for the nearest kennel.
We’re a straightforward trip southeast via 183A Toll, close enough that a morning drop-off before a trip doesn’t derail your day, but far enough out that your dog gets three full acres of shaded pasture instead of a fenced-in backyard run. For families near Crystal Falls, Bryson, or the Old Town/Bagdad Historic District, boarding with us means your dog keeps having the same kind of active, outdoor day they get at home — just with a supervised pack and a pool to cool off in.
How to Get Here from Leander
Starting from town, head toward W South St, then take a quick left onto E South St, which becomes Ranch to Market Rd 2243 (Co Rd 2243). Stay on Ranch to Market Rd 2243 for about 3.2 miles, then turn right onto Co Rd 175 and follow it for roughly 5.3 miles as it carries you toward Round Rock. Co Rd 175 becomes Sam Bass Rd — keep going straight for another 0.7 mile, then take a final right turn. You’ll see us on the right in just over 100 feet: Shady Acres Pet Ranch, 3901 Sam Bass Rd, Round Rock, TX 78681.