What's Included in the Nightly Rate at Hillcrest Kennel in NashvilleBoarding prices here are set by weight because a 20-pound dog costs less to house and feed than an 80-pound dog. That's the actual reason, not a tiered pricing strategy. What doesn't change by weight is what your dog gets during the stay. Every dog boards in an indoor/outdoor kennel run with a doggie door. Every dog gets more than 10 outdoor play yard visits per day. Medication administration, whether oral or topical, is included. So is feeding, whether you bring your dog's own food or use ours. None of those are add-ons. Standard stay includes:
Some facilities advertise a low nightly rate and charge separately for yard time, feedings, or basic handling. A "$30/night" stay can run $60 or more once those line items appear at checkout. That's worth knowing before you book, not after you pick up your dog. Nashville's boarding market has grown alongside the city, particularly in Madison, Goodlettsville, and Hendersonville. More options doesn't mean better value. Newer facilities in Williamson County often position themselves as luxury alternatives with rates to match. Pet owners in Davidson County who compare those rates against what we charge at 3541 Dickerson Pike generally find they're paying more for aesthetics, not better care. Hillcrest has been operating for over 70 years. The facility runs 46 kennel runs with capacity for up to 65 dogs. There's no franchise fee in the rate, no investor return to cover. It's a family operation, and the pricing reflects what it actually costs to run a well-staffed, properly maintained kennel. Repeat clients from North Nashville, East Nashville, and across Davidson County are how the business works. The rate is what it is. What you see when you book is what you pay when you pick up. Why Nashville Dog Boarding Rates at Hillcrest Stay Consistent Year-RoundHillcrest Kennel and Grooming has operated on Dickerson Pike since the 1950s. The facility is paid for. The routines are refined. None of those startup costs get passed on to you, because there are no startup costs left. That matters in a practical way. Competitors have opened and closed across Nashville while Hillcrest kept running. Steady demand across a 10-mile service radius, drawing from East Nashville, Inglewood, Donelson, Old Hickory, Lakewood, and Hermitage, keeps volume consistent, which keeps pricing stable. The kennel layout is part of the cost equation. Every run includes a 3x5 indoor space connected by a doggie door to a 3x7 outdoor run. Dogs move between the two on their own. That design means there's no "outdoor access package" to upsell or "quality run upgrade" to pitch. Every dog gets the same setup. We have 5 dedicated staff members whose only job is the dogs in our care. No app-based strangers cycling through. No rotating part-timers. The same people who know your dog's routine on Monday are there on Friday. That consistency reduces errors, which reduces costs. With 46 kennel runs and capacity for 65 dogs, we operate at a scale that supports volume-based pricing without crowding. Dogs still get 10-plus play yard visits per day. Many facilities offer 2 to 3. The Dickerson Pike location also works in your favor. Bellshire Family Vet is 0.5 miles north at 4021 Dickerson Pike. Davidson Farmers Co-op is next door at 3511 Dickerson Pike. If you need to coordinate vet care or pick up supplies, neither requires a separate trip across town. Affordable boarding doesn't require cutting corners. It requires doing the same thing well for a long time. How Nashville Pet Owners Can Board Their Dogs Without Overpaying or Overcomplicating ItNot every boarding need looks the same. Some dogs need one night while their owner attends a work event. Others need three weeks while their family takes a summer trip. We offer overnight stays, extended weekly and monthly boarding, and $20/day daycare for dogs who just need somewhere to spend the day. Daycare is straightforward: drop off in the morning, pick up in the evening. It works well for owners who work long hours, have a repair crew at the house, or just need a structured day for a high-energy dog. No overnight commitment required. For longer trips, our extended-stay options are built for families who need more than a few nights. Families in Hendersonville, Old Hickory, and Hermitage heading out for summer vacations frequently book week-long or month-long stays. The pricing structure stays consistent, so there are no surprise rate changes mid-stay. Weight-based pricing is one of the more practical things we do for multi-dog households. Rates are tiered by size:
That matters if you have two or three dogs of different sizes. Owners in East Nashville and Inglewood boarding a 20-pound dog alongside a 75-pound dog pay based on each dog's actual size. No flat household rate that charges the same for a Chihuahua and a Great Dane. Music City's boarding calendar has predictable pressure points. Holiday travel, summer family vacations, and large local event weekends fill runs fast. January, February, and early March are consistently slower months. Booking during that window for an upcoming spring or summer trip costs the same rate but removes the last-minute scramble. Two included services worth knowing about: we accept your dog's own food or provide facility food at no extra charge, and we administer oral and topical medications as part of the standard stay. Neither is an add-on. If your dog is on a daily supplement or a short-term medication, that's handled without additional fees or paperwork headaches. Hillcrest Kennel and Grooming has been operating on Dickerson Pike since the 1950s. The range of options we offer today reflects 70+ years of working with Nashville pet owners who have real schedules, real budgets, and dogs that need consistent, competent care. How to Compare Dog Kennels in Nashville Without Getting BurnedNashville's growing pet-friendly culture has added boarding options across Davidson and surrounding counties. More choices is good. But more choices also means more variation in quality, and the differences between facilities are not always obvious from a website. Start with outdoor exercise frequency. This is the single most telling indicator of how a facility actually operates day-to-day. Many kennels offer two to three yard visits per day. Hillcrest Kennel and Grooming runs 10+ outdoor play yard visits daily. That gap matters enormously for a dog spending five or seven days in a boarding facility. A dog that goes outside twice a day is not getting the same stay as one that goes outside ten times. Pricing transparency is the next filter. Ask directly: is the quoted rate all-inclusive, or is it a base rate with add-ons for feeding, medication, extra walks, or late pickup? Facilities that advertise low daily rates sometimes build revenue back through itemized charges. A slightly higher flat rate with no surprises is almost always the better deal. App-based sitters through Rover or Wag can look cheaper upfront. They are not always cheaper when you account for what is missing. A private home sitter typically cannot offer:
For owners in East Nashville, Hendersonville, or Madison, the drive to a licensed facility is worth it. A sitter with a spare room and a five-star Rover profile is not the same as a facility with 70+ years of continuous operation and the infrastructure to back it up. Tennessee requires licensed boarding facilities to meet specific standards for sanitation, space, and animal welfare. Facilities that comply have real infrastructure costs built into their pricing. A kennel advertising unusually low rates may be cutting corners on the things you cannot see during a quick tour. Before you book anywhere, ask these questions directly:
A facility that answers these questions clearly and specifically is one worth trusting. Vague answers or redirects to a website are worth noting. Longevity is also a credible signal. A kennel that has operated continuously since the 1950s has adapted to changing regulations, shifting pet care standards, and decades of real-world experience. That is not something a newer facility or an app-based sitter can replicate. Dog Boarding in Nashville: Your Questions AnsweredThese are the questions we hear most often from Nashville pet owners before their first stay. The answers are straightforward. How much does dog boarding cost in Nashville, and what's a fair price for quality care?Pricing at Hillcrest Kennel and Grooming is weight-based, which is the most honest structure in this industry. Smaller dogs cost less than large breeds because the care requirements genuinely differ. What matters is what's included: 10+ play yard visits per day, feeding flexibility, and medication administration come with every stay. Watch for facilities advertising low base rates, then charging separately for exercise, meals, or basic handling. All-in pricing tells you more about a kennel than a headline number does. What's the difference between a dog kennel and a pet hotel in Nashville?A professional kennel focuses on structured daily care: consistent routines, climate-controlled indoor/outdoor runs, experienced staff, and real exercise time. Pet hotels often charge significantly more for aesthetic upgrades like themed suites or decorative finishes. Those features don't improve your dog's day. What does improve it is getting outside regularly, eating on schedule, and being handled by staff who know dog behavior. Our 46 kennel runs are built around function, not appearance. Can I board my senior dog or a dog that needs medication at an affordable Nashville kennel?Yes to both. We maintain a dedicated senior dog area with the same kennel dimensions and yard access as the main facility. Oral and topical medications are administered as part of standard boarding. Specialized needs don't require luxury pricing. Owners from Donelson, Hermitage, and Madison bring senior dogs to us regularly because the care is consistent and the staff knows what older dogs actually need. How far in advance should I book dog boarding in Nashville?For holiday travel and summer vacations, book as early as possible. Nashville's peak travel periods fill our 65-dog capacity faster than most owners expect, particularly around Thanksgiving, Christmas, and July Fourth. Families across our service area, from Goodlettsville down to Hermitage, are all planning travel on the same calendar. Contact us at 3541 Dickerson Pike to check availability before you finalize your travel dates, not after. Finding quality dog boarding in Nashville doesn't have to mean choosing between your budget and your pet's well-being. Whether you're traveling for work, heading out of town for the holidays, or simply need a safe place for your dog while you handle life's demands, affordable options exist right here in the local area, and they don't sacrifice the care your pet deserves. Hillcrest Kennel and Grooming has been a trusted name in Nashville boarding for over 70 years, offering attentive, hands-on care at rates that work for real families. Your dog will be in good hands while you're away, without the stress of overpaying or settling for less. Nashville Dog Boarding Indoor/outdoor kennel runs with climate control and 10+ outdoor play yard visits per day. Nashville's most experienced boarding facility since the 1950s. Ready to book or just have a few questions? Call Hillcrest Kennel and Grooming directly at 615-865-4413 to check availability and find the right fit for your dog and your budget. Comments are closed.
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