Pet Boarding in Sydney: what to know
Check each host for yard space, shade and secure fencing, and how they handle heatwave days.
Getting around Sydney with a pet
Rules for dogs on Sydney’s trains, buses and ferries are restrictive and change from time to time, so check Transport for NSW before you travel. A pet taxi is simplest for the vet, the groomer or the airport.
Weather and seasons in Sydney
Sydney has warm to hot, humid summers with heatwave days well above 35°C, and mild winters. Bushfire smoke can affect air quality in some summers, and paralysis ticks are common in bushland along the east coast.
Before you book
Check each host's profile for space, other pets and whether they accept cats or puppies, and pack your pet's usual food for the stay.
Keep your pet's vaccinations and any local registration up to date and carry the records — providers may ask to see them before the first booking.
Pet Boarding in Sydney — FAQ
Is pet boarding available in Sydney?
Yes. OnlyPaw is available worldwide, including Sydney. Because it's a marketplace, the boarding hosts you can book depend on who has been approved near your address — the app shows who's available before you pay.
How much does pet boarding cost in Sydney?
Boarding hosts in Sydney set their own prices, so you see each provider's rate in the app before you book. At checkout OnlyPaw adds a service fee of 10% of the service price, with a minimum of USD 2 and a maximum of USD 20 (or the equivalent in your local currency), shown before you pay. Your payment is held and only released to the provider after the service is completed.
How are providers vetted?
Every provider submits a government ID and a selfie, passes a knowledge test with a 70% pass mark and uploads service-specific documents — home photos for sitting and boarding, driving licence and vehicle registration for pet taxi, certificates for grooming and training — before the OnlyPaw team approves them.
What if I need to cancel?
Each provider uses one of three cancellation policies. Under the default moderate policy you get a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start, 50% if you cancel at least 2 hours before, and nothing in the last 2 hours. The flexible policy refunds in full up to 2 hours before the start; the strict policy refunds in full from 48 hours and 50% from 24 hours before.
What happens in an emergency?
Every active booking has an SOS button in the app. It alerts the other party and the OnlyPaw team straight away. If your pet needs urgent medical care, contact a vet or emergency clinic first.
