--- title: Why Is My Dog So Tired After Boarding? | Happy Paws Kennels url: https://happypawskennels.com/guides/why-is-my-dog-tired-after-boarding/ business: Happy Paws Kennels address: 6677 Midway Road, Dixon, CA 95620 phone: 707-678-6600 hours: drop-off and pick-up every day 7:30-11:30 AM and 2:00-5:00 PM type: Dog and cat boarding kennel on about 10 country acres; caring for pets in Dixon since 1971 rates: 2026 rates, effective for reservations made on or after Jan 1, 2026 (dogs from $52 a night, cats $35 a night) --- - [Home](https://happypawskennels.com/) - [Guides](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/) - Why is my dog so tired after boarding? # Why is my dog so tired after boarding? Most dogs sleep a lot for a day or two after boarding because the stay was busier than home: new smells, neighbors, walks and a country field to run in. Call your vet if tiredness comes with a cough, vomiting, diarrhea, refusing water or no interest in food. [Book a stay](https://happypawskennels.propetware.com/customerLogin)[Call 707-678-6600](tel:+17076786600) The kennel's own advice is to think of a stay as summer camp. Campers come home worn out, and so do dogs. ## Why a good stay leaves a tired dog A kennel day has more going on than a typical day at home. Dogs walk, explore the grass, hear neighbors through the fence, and keep watch. At Happy Paws each dog can choose a run's inside space or the outside space, and the property is about 10 country acres with a grass field and fenced play areas. All that activity adds up. The AKC's boarding tips list "a tired dog" among the signs of a good fit, along with a dog that is happy to see you and shows no new cuts or excessive panting. ## How long it lasts Expect the sleepiest stretch on the drive home and the first evening. By the second day most dogs are back to their routine, eating normally and wanting to play. A dog who was very anxious at the start of the stay may sleep longer, because stress is tiring too. ## Signs that tiredness is something else Any of these is a reason to phone your own veterinarian, and please let the kennel know as well. - A cough, gagging or a honking sound. Kennel cough usually shows up 2 to 14 days after exposure, according to the AKC, so watch for it in the following two weeks. - Vomiting or diarrhea that continues for more than a day. - Refusing water, or no appetite for more than a day or two. - Limping or an obviously sore spot. - A dog who is hard to wake or does not respond as usual. ## What to do at home Offer water, then a normal-size meal. Keep walks short and calm for the first day, and let your dog sleep. A country stay often ends with a dirty coat, so a bath at pick-up or at home is common; see the [boarder baths page](https://happypawskennels.com/baths/) for how to ask. Then [the coming-home guide](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/dog-coming-home-after-boarding/) covers the first week in more detail. ### Sources (checked October 19, 2026) - [American Kennel Club, boarding tips](https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/home-living/dog-boarding-tips/) - [American Kennel Club, kennel cough in dogs](https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/kennel-cough-in-dogs/) - [Happy Paws Kennels, things to know](https://happypawskennels.com/things-to-know/) ### 2026 nightly rates - First Class kennel $72 - Business Class kennel $59 - Economy Class kennel $52 - Cat condo $35 All-inclusive: food, medications and walks. 2026 rates, effective for reservations made on or after Jan 1, 2026. [All 2026 rates](https://happypawskennels.com/rates/) ### Visit or call 6677 Midway Road, Dixon, CA 95620 [707-678-6600](tel:+17076786600) | Drop-off and pick-up, every day | 7:30 to 11:30 AM and 2:00 to 5:00 PM | | --- | --- | | Tours, every day (no appointment) | 9:00 to 11:00 AM and 2:00 to 4:00 PM | [Book a stay](https://happypawskennels.propetware.com/customerLogin) ### Related - [Will my dog be tired when I pick up?](https://happypawskennels.com/questions/will-my-dog-be-tired-when-i-pick-up/) - [Bringing your dog home after boarding](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/dog-coming-home-after-boarding/) - [Boarder baths](https://happypawskennels.com/baths/) - [Is boarding stressful for dogs?](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/is-boarding-stressful-for-dogs/) - [Kennel cough symptoms](https://happypawskennels.com/vaccines/kennel-cough-symptoms/) - [Tour the facility](https://happypawskennels.com/touring-the-facility/) ## Read next - [My dog won't eat the first day at boarding](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/dog-not-eating-at-boarding/) - [Is boarding stressful for dogs?](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/is-boarding-stressful-for-dogs/) - [Boarding a dog with separation anxiety](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/boarding-and-separation-anxiety/) - [Boarding an anxious or shy dog](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/boarding-an-anxious-dog/) - [Questions to ask a boarding kennel](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/questions-to-ask-a-boarding-kennel/) - [How to choose a dog kennel](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/how-to-choose-a-dog-kennel/) - [Kennel or pet sitter? An honest comparison](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/kennel-vs-pet-sitter/) - [Twelve boarding tips from the kennel side of the counter](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/dog-boarding-tips/) Answers ## Questions people ask Still have a question? Call [707-678-6600](tel:+17076786600) (every day 7:30-11:30 AM and 2-5 PM) or see the [boarding FAQ](https://happypawskennels.com/faq/). ### Is it normal for a dog to sleep all day after boarding? Yes, for a day or two. If your dog is also coughing, vomiting or refusing food and water, call your vet. ### Should I worry if my dog is clingy after boarding? A little clinginess is common. It usually fades within a day or two as the routine returns. ### Will a bath help my dog settle? A bath helps with the dust and grass of a country stay. Rest matters more than anything else for the first day.