Home-Based dog day care

Look after a few small-group dogs in your own home while their owners are at work.

Group of dogs playing together in a bright indoor daycare room.

Startup costC$1k to C$5k

Monthly revenueC$1.5k to C$6k

Time needed25+ h/week

First incomeWeeks

C$1k-5k
Part-time
From home
Licence or permit needed

Estimates for a small start in Canada, not guarantees.

What it is

A small, home-run day care where you look after a handful of dogs during working hours, with walks, play, meals and rest in a family-home setting.

Your first three steps

Check your municipality's rules on home-based businesses and the limit on dogs per household, and your lease or condo bylaws if you rent or own a condo
Set up a secure, separate space and fenced yard, write a simple intake process with vaccination checks and a trial day
Get pet business insurance and a pet first aid course, then offer trial days to neighbours and local dog owners

Who pays

Working owners, especially those with puppies, small dogs or anxious dogs who do better in a quieter setting than a big facility.

How it makes money

A daily rate per dog, with discounted packages for several days a week and extras such as pick-up and drop-off or a midday walk.

Skills that help

Confident reading of dog body language
Calm, reliable and patient
Basic pet first aid
Clear communication with owners

Watch out for

Municipal home-based business licence and animal or kennel bylaws, which vary widely, so check with your municipality
Limits on the number of dogs per property and noise complaints from neighbours
Commercial general liability and animal care, custody and control insurance
Dog fights and injuries: screen every dog and keep groups small
Winter weather means more indoor time, so plan your space and routines

Deep research report · Canada

Everything you need to start: home-based dog day care

Researched with live web search for Canada: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.

Startup costs with real prices
Licences, registration and rules
Pricing: what others charge
Break-even example
Finding your first customers
30-day launch plan
Risks and how to reduce them

Ready in about 2 minutes · one-off payment, tax included

See a full sample report

Questions people ask

How much does it cost to start a home-based dog day care in Canada?

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $1,000 to $5,000, depending on your space, equipment and insurance. Treat this as an estimate and price fencing, supplies and coverage for your own home before you begin.

How much can a home dog day care earn?

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $1,500 to $6,000, depending on how many dogs you take and your rates. The estimate assumes at least about 25 hours a week.

Do I need a licence to run a dog day care from home in Canada?

Things to check: your municipal home-based business licence, animal or kennel bylaws, limits on the number of dogs per property, noise complaints from neighbours, and commercial general liability plus animal care, custody and control insurance. Rules vary widely by municipality.