- Dog daycare tools at a glance
- Nine dog daycare software options
- Daycare software by the kind of business
- What a dog day care licence asks for in England
- Daycare-first software or an all-in-one pet system?
- What to check in dog daycare software
- Signs your daycare needs better software
- My plain advice on dog daycare software
- Frequently asked questions
Dog daycare software handles bookings, check-ins, vaccine records, packages and payments for daycares, kennels and pet resorts. Some tools are built mainly for boarding and daycare, others cover grooming and training in the same system. Nine options follow in no particular order.
At eight in the morning a dog daycare is a car park full of owners in a hurry, a lobby full of excited dogs and one person at the desk trying to remember whose vaccines ran out.
Good software takes that pressure off the desk. The nine tools below are listed alphabetically and in no particular order, and every description comes from the vendor's own website, read this week. If you're also thinking about automating reminders, my piece on how vets and pet clinics automate reminders and reviews has ideas you can borrow.
Dog daycare tools at a glance
I checked the free plan column on each tool's own website, as of Oct 2026. Yes means the site names a free plan, a free version, a free account, a free edition or an open source release. Trial only means a time-limited trial. Not stated means the pages I read named neither, even where there's a button inviting you to try it, so check the vendor's page before you sign up.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| DaySmart Pet | Software for groomers and kennels | Mixed grooming and daycare businesses | Trial only |
| Gingr | Grooming, training, daycare and kennel software | Busy daycares with many dogs a day | Not stated |
| Kennel Connection | Boarding, daycare and grooming software | Long-running boarding kennels | Not stated |
| KennelBooker | Kennel booking system | Online bookings for small kennels | Not stated |
| MoeGo | All-in-one pet business software | Growing multi-service pet brands | Not stated |
| Pet Resort Pro | Boarding and daycare software | Resort-style boarding and daycare | Not stated |
| PetExec | Cloud software for pet businesses | Daycare packages and passes | Trial only |
| ProPet | Software for kennels, daycares and trainers | Daycares that also run training | Not stated |
| Revelation Pets | Pet-care software | Daycares outside the US | Not stated |
Nine dog daycare software options
DaySmart Pet
Best for: Pet businesses that combine grooming, kennels and daycare who want one booking system, with a free trial.
Gingr
Best for: Busy dog daycares and kennels who want bookings, check-ins, report cards and payments in one system.
Kennel Connection
Best for: Boarding kennels and daycares who want a long-established system for reservations and run assignments.
KennelBooker
Best for: Small kennels and catteries who want customers to book stays and daycare online without phone tag.
MoeGo
Best for: Growing pet businesses offering several services who want one app for bookings, payments and marketing.
Pet Resort Pro
Best for: Pet resorts who want software built around boarding suites, daycare packages and extra services.
PetExec
Best for: Daycares selling packages and passes who want cloud software for bookings and customer accounts, with a free trial.
ProPet
Best for: Dog daycares that also offer training or grooming who want those bookings kept in one place.
Revelation Pets
Best for: Daycare and boarding businesses, including many outside the US, who want pet-care software with online bookings.
Daycare software by the kind of business
- Busy daycares with many dogs: Gingr.
- Daycares selling packages and passes: PetExec.
- Grooming and daycare together: DaySmart Pet.
- Several services under one app: MoeGo.
- Daycare plus training: ProPet.
- Long-running boarding kennels: Kennel Connection.
- Resort-style boarding: Pet Resort Pro.
- Small kennels taking online bookings: KennelBooker.
- Businesses outside the US: Revelation Pets.
What a dog day care licence asks for in England
Defra's statutory guidance on dog day care licensing says keeping dogs overnight isn't permitted under a day care licence, and that all dogs must be screened before they're admitted to make sure they aren't afraid, anxious or stressed around other dogs or people and don't pose a danger. You must keep a record of each screening.
That screening record is a licence condition, not a nice extra. It belongs on each dog's profile, next to vaccines and owner notes, where staff can see it on the day and an inspector can see it at renewal.
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Daycare-first software or an all-in-one pet system?
Daycare-first tools are built around capacity, play groups, packages and quick check-ins. They suit businesses where most dogs come for the day and go home at night, which is the only way a day care licence allows anyway.
All-in-one systems add grooming, training and boarding to the same calendar. They suit businesses that sell several services to the same owners.
If grooming is a big part of your income, test how each tool handles both calendars at once before you decide. Ask the vendor to show you a groomer's day and a daycare day side by side, with the same dog booked into both.
What to check in dog daycare software
- Can owners book and pay online?
- Does it block check-in when vaccines expire?
- Can you record temperament screening for each dog?
- Does it handle packages, passes and memberships?
- Can staff see play groups and capacity at a glance?
- Does it send report cards or photos to owners?
If the phone rings while you're handling dogs, this list of AI receptionist services looks at tools that pick up for you.
Signs your daycare needs better software
- Check-ins cause a queue. Let owners check in online.
- Vaccine dates live on paper. Add automatic alerts.
- Screening notes go missing. Store them on each dog.
- Packages are tracked by hand. Automate passes.
Do you make dog daycare or kennel software? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on dog daycare software
Run your busiest morning through a trial: twenty check-ins, two expired vaccines and one owner who wants to add a nail trim. Whichever tool gets your desk through that fastest is the right one, whatever the feature list says.
If you're still planning the business, my list of small business ideas that pay includes pet care alongside other options.
Frequently asked questions
What is dog daycare software?
It's software for running a dog daycare, covering bookings, check-ins, vaccine records, packages, payments and updates to owners.
Do I need a licence to run a dog daycare in England?
Yes. Defra's statutory guidance covers dog day care licences, including that dogs can't stay overnight and must be screened before admission.
Can dog daycare software track vaccines?
Most tools store vaccine records and can warn staff, or block a booking, when a vaccine has expired.
Is there a free trial of dog daycare software?
Several tools offer a free trial. Check the free plan column above and confirm on each vendor's site.
Can owners book online?
Most daycare software includes an online booking page or app, so owners can book and pay without phoning.
What's the difference between kennel and daycare software?
Kennel software focuses on overnight boarding and runs, while daycare software focuses on daily capacity, play groups and packages. Many tools do both.
