How long has Hillcrest Kennel been boarding dogs in Nashville?

Hillcrest Kennel has operated on Dickerson Pike since the 1950s, making it Nashville's oldest remaining boarding facility with over 70 years of experience. The staff collectively brings nearly 60 years of combined pet care experience.

What should I look for when choosing a dog boarding kennel in Nashville?

You should evaluate the facility's experience level, staff qualifications in animal behavior, safety protocols, exercise programs, and monitoring capabilities rather than just focusing on convenience or price. A facility with decades of experience has handled medical emergencies, difficult temperaments, and separation anxiety cases that newer operations may not have encountered.

Why is experience important when selecting a dog boarding facility?

Experienced boarding facilities have handled diverse situations including medical emergencies, dogs with difficult temperaments, separation anxiety, and senior dog complications, allowing their staff to recognize patterns and provide better care. Staff at long-running kennels have practical knowledge that newer operations simply have not developed yet.

Does Hillcrest Kennel work with long-term boarding stays?

Yes, Hillcrest Kennel offers extended stay dog boarding for week-long trips and other longer durations, not just overnight boarding. You can contact them to discuss your specific boarding needs.

What experience do Hillcrest Kennel staff members have with different dog types?

Hillcrest Kennel's staff has over 70 years of combined facility experience handling dogs of every breed, size, and temperament, with many team members having worked with the same client families across multiple generations. This extensive background ensures they can manage virtually any dog's needs.

Should I choose a dog boarding facility based on price alone?

No, price should not be the primary factor when choosing a boarding kennel, as the facility's experience, staff qualifications, safety protocols, and care standards are more important to your dog's wellbeing. Choosing based solely on cost can put your dog at risk with inadequately trained or inexperienced caregivers.

What makes an established Nashville kennel better than newer boarding options?

Established kennels like Hillcrest have decades of real-world experience managing medical emergencies, behavioral issues, and complex care situations, while their long-term client relationships demonstrate consistent quality and trust. Newer operations lack the proven track record and pattern recognition that comes from handling thousands of dogs over many years.

What to Look for in a Nashville Dog Boarding Kennel

What Nashville Dog Owners Should Look for in a Boarding Kennel

Choosing the right dog boarding facility involves more than convenience or price. Nashville pet owners need to know their dog is safe, well-exercised, and monitored by people who understand animal behavior, not just someone with a spare room and a Rover profile. Whether you need overnight boarding or an extended stay dog kennel for a week-long trip, the facility you choose matters more than most owners realize until something goes wrong.

Here is what to evaluate before you book.

Decades of Experience in Nashville Dog Services

Experience is not just a marketing point in the boarding industry, it is a practical advantage. A facility that has operated for decades has handled medical emergencies, difficult temperaments, separation anxiety, senior dog complications, and everything in between. Staff at long-running kennels have seen patterns that newer operations simply have not encountered yet.

Hillcrest Kennel has operated on Dickerson Pike since the 1950s, making it Nashville's oldest remaining boarding facility. That is over 70 years of hands-on experience with dogs of every breed, size, and temperament. The staff collectively brings nearly 60 years of combined pet care experience, and many team members have worked with the same client families across multiple generations of dogs. That kind of continuity is rare, and it matters when your dog is staying somewhere for a week or more.

When evaluating any Nashville dog boarding kennel, ask how long they have been operating and whether the staff is stable. High turnover at a facility means your dog encounters unfamiliar faces every visit, which adds stress, especially during extended stays.

Kennel Design and Accommodations for Extended Stay Dog Kennel Stays

The physical setup of a kennel directly affects how your dog handles a longer stay. A dog confined to a small indoor-only run for ten days will not fare the same as one with access to both indoor and outdoor space throughout the day.

Hillcrest runs 46 kennel runs with capacity for up to 65 dogs. Each run uses an indoor/outdoor design with a doggie door in the middle, giving dogs the freedom to move between a 3x5 indoor space and a 3x7 outdoor run on their own schedule. Dogs are not waiting for a staff member to let them outside, they can move when they want to. This design reduces restlessness and stress during longer stays.

The facility also maintains a dedicated senior dog area. Older dogs have different needs during extended boarding: they may need slower-paced exercise, more frequent monitoring, and quieter surroundings. A kennel that houses seniors alongside high-energy young dogs in the same area is not thinking carefully about animal welfare. Ask any facility you consider whether they separate seniors or dogs with special needs.

Climate control is non-negotiable in Nashville, where summer temperatures regularly push past 90 degrees. Confirm that any kennel you consider maintains temperature-controlled indoor spaces year-round.

Exercise Frequency: A Key Factor in Extended Stay Dog Kennel Quality

Exercise frequency is one of the most important, and most commonly misrepresented, factors in dog boarding. Many facilities offer two or three outdoor visits per day and call it adequate. For a one-night stay, that may be tolerable. For a ten-day extended stay, it is not.

Hillcrest takes dogs to outdoor play yards more than ten times per day. That frequency keeps dogs physically active, mentally engaged, and behaviorally stable over longer stays. Dogs that do not get enough outdoor time during extended boarding often develop stress behaviors: excessive barking, pacing, loss of appetite, or aggression. These are not personality problems, they are the predictable result of under-exercised dogs in confined spaces.

When you tour a facility, ask specifically how many times per day dogs go outside and whether that number changes on weekends or holidays. The answer tells you a lot about how seriously the facility takes animal welfare versus operational convenience.

Health Protocols and Vaccination Requirements at Nashville Boarding Kennels

A boarding kennel that does not enforce vaccination requirements is a health risk to every dog in the facility. Kennel cough (Bordetella) spreads quickly in group settings, and an outbreak can move through an entire kennel population within days. Any reputable facility requires proof of current Bordetella vaccination before accepting a dog for boarding, this is standard practice, not optional.

Hillcrest requires vaccinations including Bordetella before any dog checks in. This protects your dog and every other animal in the facility. If a kennel you are considering does not ask for vaccination records, walk away.

For dogs on medication, confirm what the facility can and cannot administer. Hillcrest staff can handle oral and topical medications during a stay. If your dog requires injectable medication, that is a different situation that requires a different care arrangement, be upfront with any facility about your dog's medical needs before booking.

Proximity to veterinary care also matters for extended stays. Hillcrest sits on Dickerson Pike, 0.5 miles from Bellshire Family Vet (Animal Clinic of Bellshire) at 4021 Dickerson Pike. Having a full-service vet clinic within a half mile means that if something comes up during your dog's stay, professional veterinary care is close.

Feeding and Dietary Consistency During Extended Stays

Dietary consistency matters more during a week-long stay than it does overnight. Abrupt food changes during boarding are a common cause of digestive upset, and a dog that stops eating on day three of a ten-day stay is a problem for everyone.

The simplest solution is to bring your dog's regular food from home. Hillcrest accepts owner-provided food and follows your dog's normal feeding schedule. If you prefer not to bring food, facility-provided food is also available. Either way, communicate your dog's feeding routine clearly at drop-off: portion sizes, meal timing, and any dietary restrictions.

Water access should be continuous, not scheduled. Confirm that any facility you consider provides fresh water throughout the day, not just at mealtimes.

Transparent Pricing for Extended Dog Boarding in Nashville

Extended stays require budgeting, and pricing surprises at pickup are frustrating. Look for a Nashville boarding facility with straightforward, published rates and no hidden add-on fees for basic care.

Hillcrest uses weight-based pricing, which is fair for owners of smaller dogs who would otherwise subsidize the care costs of larger breeds under a flat-rate model. Rates are tiered by weight, and what you are quoted is what you pay. There are no surprise charges for standard care during your dog's stay.

When comparing facilities, ask what is included in the daily rate. At some kennels, outdoor time, feeding, and medication administration cost extra. At Hillcrest, standard care, including the 10+ daily yard visits, is part of the boarding rate.

Grooming Services: A Practical Add-On for Extended Stay Dog Boarding

A dog that has been boarding for a week or two often needs a bath before coming home. Combining a grooming appointment with the end of a boarding stay is a practical way to handle this without scheduling a separate trip.

Hillcrest offers full grooming services alongside boarding, including work on all breeds and Doodle breeds, which require specific coat knowledge to groom correctly. Booking a bath or full groom for the day before pickup means your dog comes home clean without any extra logistics on your end.

If grooming is important to you, ask any facility whether their grooming staff is on-site or contracted out. On-site groomers who know the boarding dogs personally handle the experience differently than outside contractors rotating through.

What to Ask When You Tour a Nashville Extended Stay Dog Kennel

A tour tells you more than any website will. Before committing to an extended stay dog kennel in Nashville, visit in person and ask direct questions. Here is what to cover:

How many times per day do dogs go outside, and for how long?
What vaccinations are required, and do you verify records at check-in?
What is the kennel run size, and is there indoor/outdoor access?
Do you have a separate area for senior dogs or dogs with special needs?
Can staff administer oral or topical medications?
Can I bring my dog's own food?
What is your protocol if a dog shows signs of illness during a stay?
How is pricing structured for stays longer than a week?
How do I make a reservation?

At Hillcrest, reservations are made by phone. That means you are talking to someone who knows the facility and can answer specific questions about your dog's stay before you book. Call (615) 865-4413 to check availability or ask questions before committing.

Why Facility Track Record Matters for Extended Dog Boarding

A one-night stay is low stakes. An extended stay of ten days or more is a different commitment. The facility you choose needs to have the experience, staffing, and physical setup to keep your dog healthy and behaviorally stable over that period, not just comfortable for the first 24 hours.

Hillcrest has been the choice for Nashville families planning extended travel since the 1950s. The facility's design, staffing model, and daily routines are built around dogs staying for real stretches of time, not just overnight. That operational focus shows in the details: the indoor/outdoor kennel design, the 10+ daily yard visits, the dedicated senior area, the medication administration capability, and the proximity to veterinary care on Dickerson Pike.

If you are planning a vacation, a relocation, or an extended work trip and need a boarding facility you can trust for the duration, those details are what separate a facility that will handle your dog well from one that will simply get through the stay.

Frequently Asked Questions: Nashville Dog Boarding

What vaccinations does Hillcrest require for boarding?
Bordetella (kennel cough) vaccination is required, along with other standard vaccinations. Bring current records at drop-off.

Can Hillcrest administer my dog's medication during a stay?
Yes. Staff can administer oral and topical medications. Injectable medications are not offered.

What size are the kennel runs?
Each run includes a 3x5 indoor space and a 3x7 outdoor run, connected by a doggie door so dogs can move freely between the two.

Do you have accommodations for senior dogs?
Yes. Hillcrest maintains a dedicated senior dog area with care tailored to older dogs' needs.

Can I bring my dog's own food?
Yes. Owner-provided food is accepted and preferred for dogs with specific dietary needs or sensitive stomachs.

How do I make a reservation?
Call (615) 865-4413 to reserve a boarding spot. Booking by phone lets you discuss your dog's specific needs before check-in.

Can I tour the facility before booking?
Yes. Tours are welcome. Seeing the kennel runs, play yards, and senior area in person is the best way to evaluate whether the facility is the right fit for your dog.

Planning travel? Reserve your pet's stay at Hillcrest.

Nashville's trusted dog and cat boarding and grooming since the 1950s. Climate-controlled, family-owned, on Dickerson Pike.

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