We could verify fourteen Northumberland dog boarding centres: each has its own website, a Google Maps listing with at least eight reviews and a licence we could see, either an entry on Northumberland County Council’s animal register or a licence number on its own site with the council named. Nine are kennels and five are licensed home boarders. We haven’t visited any of them, so treat this as a shortlist to meet, and ask to see the licence before you book. A daycare-only licence isn’t boarding evidence, so we’ve kept the two lists apart.
Boarding centres with a website, a licence we could see and a Google Maps listing
Hadrian Pet Hotel
★★★★☆ 3.9 · 188 Google reviews
Matfen, near Newcastle upon Tyne (NE20)
Licence: its website says “Hadrian Pet Hotel is licensed (NAL/302) by Northumberland county council” and shows no expiry date. The council’s register lists Hadrian Pet Hotel only under Boarding for Cats (West area, 5 star, 23 August 2025 to 22 August 2028), so ask which licence covers dogs
Kennels. It boards dogs and cats, and we judged it on the licence statement on its site. Its website also lists day boarding without details
Website · View on Google Maps
North Tyne Boarding Kennels
★★★★★ 5.0 · 93 Google reviews
Near Hexham (NE48)
Licence: the council’s register lists North Tyne Boarding Kennels/WL Beattie & Sons Ltd under Dog Boarding (commercial) in the West area (5 star, issued 15 July 2026, expires 14 July 2029). We matched it by name, as the register shows areas, not towns, and Google Maps agrees on Hexham. Its website blocks our reading tools, so we couldn’t read what it says about licensing
Kennels
Website · View on Google Maps
Frankham Fell Boarding Kennels & Cattery
★★★★★ 4.8 · 81 Google reviews
Fourstones, near Hexham (NE47)
Licence: its website footer shows “Northumberland County Council Licence Number: NAB/21” and “5 Star Licensed”, with no expiry date. The council’s register lists it only under Boarding for Cats (West area, 5 star, 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2027), so ask which licence covers dogs
Kennels. It boards dogs and cats, and we judged it on the licence statement on its site
Website · View on Google Maps
Togston Barns Kennels
★★★★★ 4.9 · 50 Google reviews
Togston, near Amble (NE65)
Licence: the council’s register lists Togston Barns Boarding Kennels under Dog Boarding (commercial) in the North area (5 star, issued 1 April 2026, expires 31 March 2029). Its website says “Licensed (licence number NAL/46)” and names no council. We matched the register entry by name
Kennels. Its website describes short and long term boarding and also offers day care, and says it closes over Christmas and New Year
Website · View on Google Maps
Patterson’s Cottage Boarding Kennels
★★★★★ 4.6 · 46 Google reviews
North Charlton, near Alnwick (NE66)
Licence: its website shows “Animal Boarding Licence NAB/24” and names no council. The council’s register lists Pattersons Cottage Boarding Kennels under Dog Boarding (commercial) in the North area (5 star, issued 1 January 2024, expires 31 December 2026). That is about seven weeks away, so ask about renewal and to see the new licence
Kennels. Its website describes daytime and overnight boarding
Website · View on Google Maps
Hounds to Horses Northumberland (home boarding)
★★★★★ 5.0 · 42 Google reviews
Morpeth area (NE65)
Licence: the council’s register lists Hounds to Horses under Home Boarding for Dogs in the North area (3 star, issued 25 November 2024, expires 24 November 2026). That is ten days away, so ask whether it has been renewed and to see the current licence. We matched it by name and place. Its website blocks our reading tools, so we couldn’t read what it says about licensing
A home boarder, so ask where your dog will sleep and who else will be in the house
Website · View on Google Maps
Bark & Stay (home boarding)
★★★★★ 5.0 · 41 Google reviews
Bedlington (NE22)
Licence: the council’s register lists Bark and Stay under Home Boarding for Dogs in the South East area (4 star, issued 30 June 2025, expires 29 June 2027). We matched it by name. Its website says “Licensed with Northumberland County Council” but shows no licence number, so ask for it
A home boarder, so ask where your dog will sleep and who else will be in the house. Its website also lists daycare, which isn’t covered by the boarding entry we saw
Website · View on Google Maps
Coopers Shop Kennels
★★★★★ 4.5 · 38 Google reviews
Ashington, near Morpeth (NE61)
Licence: the council’s register lists Coopers Shop Kennels under Dog Boarding (commercial) in the South East area (5 star, issued 2 March 2025, expires 1 March 2028). Its website footer shows “Licence Number: NAB/274” with a “Star Rating: 4 Stars” and names no council. The register says 5 star and the site says 4, so ask which is current. Google Maps lists it as Coopers Shop Boarding Kennels and its website address is bothalkennels.co.uk
Kennels. Its website shows per-day rates and says owners supply food
Website · View on Google Maps
Braldannich Kennels and Cattery
★★★★★ 4.7 · 36 Google reviews
Ford, near Berwick-upon-Tweed (TD15)
Licence: its website says “Fully Licensed by Northumberland County Council NAL/39” and shows no expiry date or activity. The council’s register lists it only under Boarding for Cats (North area, 3 star, 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2027), so ask which licence covers dogs
Kennels. It boards dogs and cats, its website lists dog kennels with fees per night, and we judged it on the licence statement on its site
Website · View on Google Maps
Swinhope Mill Home Boarding and Doggy Daycare (home boarding)
★★★★★ 4.9 · 30 Google reviews
Hexham area (NE47)
Licence: the council’s register lists Swinhope Mill Home Boarding and Doggy Day Care under Home Boarding for Dogs in the North area (3 star, issued 31 March 2025, expires 30 March 2027). We matched it by name. Its website says “license NAB/155” and names no council
A home boarder, so ask where your dog will sleep and who else will be in the house. Its website also offers day care, which isn’t covered by the boarding entry we saw
Website · View on Google Maps
Northumberland Dog Hotel
★★★★★ 5.0 · 22 Google reviews
Hexham area (NE48)
Licence: the council’s register lists The Dog Lady – Farm Stays/Northumberland Dog Hotel under Dog Boarding (commercial) in the West area (5 star, issued 25 July 2026, expires 24 July 2029). We matched it by name and place. Its website blocks our reading tools, so we couldn’t read what it says about licensing
Kennels
Website · View on Google Maps
Nodding-Dogs Home Boarding & Care Services (home boarding)
★★★★★ 4.7 · 15 Google reviews
Bedlington (NE22)
Licence: the council’s register lists Nodding-dogs under Home Boarding for Dogs in the South East area (5 star, issued 17 March 2025, expires 16 March 2028). We matched it by name and place. Its website blocks our reading tools, so we couldn’t read what it says about licensing
A home boarder, so ask where your dog will sleep and who else will be in the house
Website · View on Google Maps
Spotti Dog Home (home boarding)
★★★★★ 4.6 · 13 Google reviews
Morpeth (NE61)
Licence: the council’s register lists Spotti Dog Home under Home Boarding for Dogs in the Central area (3 star, issued 1 April 2025, expires 31 March 2027). We matched it by name and place. Its website says “Fully licensed caring home” but shows no licence number or council, so ask for the number
A home boarder, so ask where your dog will sleep and who else will be in the house
Website · View on Google Maps
Linnbank Boarding Kennels
★★★★★ 5.0 · 10 Google reviews
NE19 (Google Maps gives a Newcastle upon Tyne postal town, but the council’s register puts it in Northumberland’s West area)
Licence: the council’s register lists Linn Bank Boarding Kennels under Dog Boarding (commercial) in the West area (5 star, 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2027). We matched it by name, and its website shows no licence statement
Kennels. Only 10 reviews so far, so weigh that
Website · View on Google Maps
Ratings and review counts are from Google Maps on 14 November 2026 and come from the public. We haven’t checked them independently. Hounds to Horses shows a register expiry of 24 November 2026, and Patterson’s Cottage shows 31 December 2026, so ask both about renewal. For home boarders we give the area only.
Listings we left out, and why
These centres didn’t make the verified list. Being left out doesn’t mean a centre is unlicensed. It means we couldn’t tick every box, so ask it directly.
- No website we could use: Ridley Farm Kennels (5.0 from 8), Leafields Dogs (5.0 from 3) and Cozy Paws Dog Care (5.0 from 5) are on the council’s dog boarding list but show no website on Google Maps, and Pheasant Rise Boarding Kennels has no reviews, so none meets our own-website and eight-review rules. Tollfield Farm Kennels and Cattery (4.5 from 24) is on the register, but its Google Maps website is a Facebook page only.
- Website problem: Woof Around The Clock (5.0 from 20) is on the register (South East area, 5 star, expiring 13 June 2027) and its site quotes a Northumberland County Council licence number, but the page currently carries unrelated casino and betting text, so we’ve left it out until that is cleared up.
- Too few reviews: Garden Kennels (5.0 from 5), Whistletyne Labrador Kennels (1 review), The Dog House of Morpeth (2), I Love Pugs Boarding (1), The Big Dog Boarder (1, Facebook only), Tails of Stakeford (4.2 from 5) and East Wing Dog Sitting (4.7 from 7) have fewer than eight Google reviews.
- Franchises and carer networks: Barking Mad, Good Dog Walking, Pets, Poochez & Places and PetStay appear on the register as franchisees, and we leave out franchises and carer networks.
- Not a boarding centre: Berwick Animal Rescue Kennels is a rescue.
- On the register but not found on Google Maps: We searched Google Maps for Hazon Royale Hotel for Dogs, Baileys Dog Boarding & Daycare, Golden Oldies Dog Boarding, Snouts & Snuggles, Noahs Ark Walking & Home Boarding, Eachwick Dog Boarding Retreat, Northumberland Dog Care, K9 Homeboarding Berwick and Barkers Boarding, which are register entries by name, and found no matching listing with a website and reviews. The register has roughly ninety home boarders in all, many listed as private boarders, and we haven’t searched each one, so other licensed home boarders may exist. We didn’t search Rover.
Other options we could not licence-verify
These Northumberland businesses have their own website and a Google Maps listing with at least eight reviews, but we could not see a dog boarding licence for them. Several kennels-and-catteries appear on the council’s register only under Boarding for Cats, and their sites either show a number without naming the council or block our reading tools, so we do not recommend them as verified. Ratings are from Google Maps on 14 November 2026. We have not visited them. Ask each for its licence, what it covers, who issued it and its expiry date before booking.
Kind Care Kennels & Cattery
★★★★★ 4.8 · 106 Google reviews
Bothal, near Morpeth (NE61). Its website blocks our reading tools. The register lists Kind Care Kennels only under Boarding for Cats (South East area, 3 star, expiring 31 March 2027)
Website · View on Google Maps
A1 Kennels & Cattery
★★★★★ 4.8 · 86 Google reviews
Stannington, near Morpeth (NE61). Its website says “Animal License number NAB/182 and NAB/2” with no council and doesn’t say which covers dogs. The register lists it only under Boarding for Cats (Central area, 3 star, expiring 31 December 2026), so ask about renewal
Website · View on Google Maps
Grange Villa Kennels
★★★★☆ 3.9 · 54 Google reviews
Ulgham, near Morpeth (NE61). Its website shows “NAB3” with no council named. The register lists Grange Villa Kennels & Cattery only under Boarding for Cats (Central area, 5 star, 31 March 2025 to 30 March 2028)
Website · View on Google Maps
Coquetdale Kennels & Cattery
★★★★★ 5.0 · 31 Google reviews
Near Morpeth (NE65). Its website blocks our reading tools. The register lists it only under Boarding for Cats (North area, 5 star, 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2027)
Website · View on Google Maps
The Barkley Boutique Pet Hotel
★★★★★ 5.0 · 15 Google reviews
Cramlington (NE23). Its website says all pets are welcome, including dogs and cats, and shows no licence statement or number. We didn’t find it on the register by name
Website · View on Google Maps
Little Barks Home Boarding (home boarding)
★★★★★ 5.0 · 12 Google reviews
Bedlington (NE22). Its website blocks our reading tools, and we didn’t find it on the register by name
Website · View on Google Maps
East Woodburn Boarding Kennel
★★★★★ 5.0 · 10 Google reviews
East Woodburn, near Hexham (NE48). Its website shows no licence statement or number, and we didn’t find it on the register by name
Website · View on Google Maps
How to check a dog boarding licence in Northumberland
In England, dog boarding run as a business needs a licence from the local council under the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018, whether it’s kennels or home boarding. The licence holder’s name and number should appear on the business’s website, and a copy should be displayed at the premises. Northumberland has one licensing council, Northumberland County Council, which publishes an animal licensing register. On 14 November 2026 we read the register, a PDF headed November 2026, which lists dog boarding, home boarding for dogs, boarding for cats and day care for dogs separately, each with an area, issue date, expiry date and star rating but no licence numbers, towns or addresses. That is why we matched most entries by name. Many kennels-and-catteries are listed under cat boarding only, so ask them to show the licence that covers dogs. For any centre, ask the council’s licensing team to confirm the licence, or ask the centre to show you the licence and its expiry date. If a number or star rating on a website differs from the register, go by the register and ask the centre which is current.
What to ask before you book
Ask to see the licence, its number and its expiry date. Ask how many dogs are boarded at once, whether your dog will have their own kennel or room, who is on site overnight, how often dogs are walked or let out, and what happens if your dog is unwell, including which vet the centre uses. Check what vaccinations it asks for, which may include kennel cough, and read our guide to kennel cough in dogs. Ask for a visit first and whether your dog can have a trial day. For home boarders, ask where your dog will sleep, who else lives there and whether other dogs stay at the same time.
A kennel stay can unsettle a sensitive dog. A calming bite is a complementary feed some owners use around change, and if your dog struggles with being left, speak to your vet or a qualified behaviourist first.
More for Northumberland:
- Our Northumberland dog services hub
- Dog daycare in Northumberland for day visits
- Dog walkers in Northumberland
- Vets in Northumberland
- Dog trainers in Northumberland
Frequently Asked Questions
How did you choose these Northumberland dog boarding centres?
Each has its own website, a Google Maps listing with at least eight reviews and a licence we could see, either on Northumberland County Council’s animal register or quoted by number on its own site with the council named. We checked Google Maps and the register on 14 November 2026. We haven’t visited any of them, so meet any centre first.
Does a dog boarding kennel need a licence in Northumberland?
In England, boarding run as a business needs a council licence under the 2018 regulations, including home boarding. In Northumberland that is Northumberland County Council. Ask to see the licence, its number and its expiry date.
What should I ask a boarding kennel before booking?
Ask for the licence, how many dogs stay at once, whether your dog has their own kennel, who is on site overnight, and what happens if a dog is unwell. Ask to visit first.
Why are some well-reviewed Northumberland kennels in a separate section?
Several kennels-and-catteries appear on the council’s register only under cat boarding, and their own sites either don’t name the council or block our reading tools. A centre is verified only where we could see a dog boarding licence. Those with a website but no such evidence are in the ‘Other options we could not licence-verify’ section instead.
Written by Georgiana & Figo, who prefers his holidays to be properly licensed.
