Weekend Dog Boarding — A Home Away From Home
Weekends in Auburn move fast — road trips, football games, family visits, weddings, reunions. If you've got plans that don't include your dog, Kiesel Bark Pet Resort has you covered Friday through Sunday. We've been handling weekend dog boarding for Auburn families since 2014, and we know the rhythm of this town. Drop off Friday morning, pick up Sunday afternoon — your dog has a great weekend and so do you.
Weekend Dog Boarding in Auburn, AL
Weekend boarding is probably our most common booking type. Auburn is a town where things happen on weekends — home games at Jordan-Hare, away game road trips, weddings over in Birmingham or Atlanta, family gatherings in Montgomery or Tuscaloosa. Pet parents need somewhere reliable to leave their dog for two or three nights, and they need to be able to drop off Saturday morning and know everything is handled.
That's exactly what we do. Weekend stays get the same quality of care as any other boarding stay — climate-controlled kennels, large fenced outdoor play areas, experienced staff, and a team that keeps an eye on every dog throughout the day. There's no reduced service on weekends, no skeleton crew, no cutting corners because it's Saturday. Your dog's care doesn't change because it's not a weekday.
We're a local, family-owned operation. Justin and Brittany Alexander opened Kiesel Bark in 2014 and it's been a community fixture ever since. When you drop your dog off for a weekend, you're leaving them with people who've been doing this for over 11 years — not a rotating staff of part-timers.
Weekend Boarding Hours
Our weekend hours are built around how Auburn families actually move:
- Friday: Drop-off and pickup 7am – 6pm
- Saturday: Drop-off and pickup 7am – 12pm
- Sunday: Pickup only — 8–8:30am and 4–5pm
Saturday drop-off window closes at noon. If you're heading out Saturday for a game or event, plan to drop off before 12pm. Sunday drop-off is not available — Sunday is pickup only. If you need to drop off Sunday, reach out in advance and we'll see what we can work out, but don't count on it.
Auburn Football Weekends
Auburn home game weekends are in a category of their own. Jordan-Hare Stadium holds close to 90,000 people, and the city fills up from Thursday night through Sunday morning. Traffic is chaotic, parking is a nightmare, and your house might be full of guests who aren't dog people — or your dog might not be great with the noise and crowds of a full-scale tailgate.
Boarding over a home game weekend solves all of that. Your dog is somewhere safe and calm while you enjoy the game without worrying about what's happening at home. We've been the go-to solution for Auburn game day boarding for years, and the one thing we'll tell you every time is the same: book early. Game weekends fill up faster than anything else we do. Sometimes we're at capacity two weeks before kickoff.
2025-2026 Auburn home game weekends: If you know your Auburn football schedule, book your dog's boarding the same day you buy your tickets. Seriously — waiting until the week of the game is a gamble. Call us at (334) 734-2650 to lock in your dates.
Holiday Pet Boarding on Weekends
Holiday weekends — Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Fourth of July, Memorial Day — are the second fastest-filling weekend category after Auburn home games. These are exactly the times families are traveling, and they're also the times every boarding facility in Auburn is fielding the most calls.
We don't do anything special for holiday weekends — same rates, same care, same staff. We just ask that you book early. Holiday weekend spots are genuinely limited, and once they're gone, they're gone. The families who've been with us longest know to book holiday weekends as soon as their travel plans are set.
What a Weekend Stay Looks Like for Your Dog
A typical weekend boarding stay at Kiesel Bark runs Friday drop-off through Sunday pickup. Here's what your dog's weekend looks like:
Friday drop-off
Drop off anytime between 7am and 6pm Friday. Your dog gets settled into their kennel, meets the staff, and starts getting comfortable with the environment. Most dogs are relaxed by Friday evening.
Saturday
Full day of outdoor play, rest, and staff interaction. Dogs rotate through the play yard throughout the day. Saturday is usually when boarding dogs hit their groove — the newness has worn off and they're into the routine.
Saturday night
Dogs settle in for the night in their climate-controlled kennels. Clean, comfortable, temperature-controlled regardless of what the Alabama weather is doing outside.
Sunday pickup
Pick up Sunday morning from 8–8:30am or Sunday afternoon from 4–5pm. Your dog comes home tired, happy, and ready to crash on the couch with you — which is usually exactly what everyone wants after a weekend away.
Boarding Rates for Weekend Stays
No weekend surcharge, no holiday premium, no special rates for game weekends. What you see is what you pay.
Nightly Boarding
no weekend surcharge
Additional Dog
max 3 dogs per kennel
Medication
per administration
Example: 2 nights
straightforward pricing
What to Bring for a Weekend Boarding Stay
Weekend stays are short, which means prep is simple. Here's what you need:
- Proof of current vaccinations — Rabies, Bordetella, and DHPP required for all boarding dogs
- Your dog's food for the weekend, clearly labeled with their name and feeding instructions
- Any medications with dosage and schedule written out ($1 per dose to administer)
- Your contact number for the weekend — even if you're at a game, keep your phone handy
- A familiar item from home if your dog is boarding for the first time — a blanket or toy helps them settle faster
The AKC recommends packing extra food beyond what you think your dog needs in case travel plans change and the stay runs longer than expected. For game weekends especially, that's smart advice — Auburn traffic and travel delays are real.
What Auburn Weekend Boarders Ask Us
Yes, Saturday drop-off is available from 7am to noon. If you're heading to a noon kickoff, plan to drop off as early as possible — 7am or 8am works great and gets your dog settled before the day gets hectic. Don't leave it until 11:45am if you can help it.
Sunday pickup is available from 8–8:30am and 4–5pm. Those are the only Sunday windows — we are not open for pickup outside those times. If neither window works for your schedule, you may need to arrange a Monday pickup instead, which is available from 7am to 6pm.
No. Boarding is $26 per night regardless of what weekend it is. Game weekends, holiday weekends, regular weekends — same rate. We do not charge a premium for high-demand dates.
As early as possible — ideally when your travel plans are confirmed. For big home games, we can be fully booked two weeks out. If you're thinking about it, call and reserve the spot now. You can always cancel if plans change, but you can't create availability that isn't there.
First-time boarders can take a day to settle in, which is normal. For a two-night weekend stay, most dogs are comfortable by Saturday afternoon. If you're worried, a short one-night trial stay on a quieter weekend before a big game weekend is a great way to get your dog familiar with us first. Makes the actual game weekend go much smoother.
Yes. Dogs from the same household can share a kennel — first dog is $26 per night, each additional dog from the same family is $15 per night, up to 3 dogs per kennel. Multi-dog weekend spots go fast around game weekends, so book early if you've got more than one dog.
What Auburn Families Say
"They keep our 4 pack when we leave town."
"My husband and I had to travel for work for a couple of months, and I cannot say enough good things about this place! Our dog had the BEST time, and I would 100% trust them again without hesitation. They took such amazing care of Coda, and it was so obvious he was happy, comfortable, and having a blast."
"Only doggie daycare place my dogs seem to enjoy and like going in the door with tails wagging."
"So glad to have this so close to home. He ran in excited to see me, but then tried to go back out to play. I was so relieved to see he wasn't dying to leave."
Weekend Dog Boarding Near Kiesel Park in Auburn
We're at 633 Chadwick Lane in Auburn, right across from Kiesel Park. Easy to find from anywhere in Auburn or Opelika — take South College Street and turn onto Chadwick Lane. On-site parking, quick drop-off, and a staff that's ready when you arrive. If you're rushing to make a game or beat traffic out of town, we make the drop-off process as fast and smooth as possible.
Kiesel Park is right across the street, which is a nice bonus — plenty of Auburn families do a quick walk in the park before drop-off to burn off a little energy before the stay. It's one of those small things that makes the whole experience easier on the dog and on you.
Book Your Weekend Stay
Game weekend, holiday weekend, or just a regular getaway — call to check availability or book online. Weekend spots go fast around Auburn home games and holidays.
Phone: (334) 734-2650
Address: 633 Chadwick Lane, Auburn, AL 36832
Reserve Your Spot Now
🏆 Convenient Location
Right across from Kiesel Park
🏆 Experienced Team
Staff who genuinely love and understand animals
🏆 Flexible Hours
We work around your Auburn/Opelika schedule
