Arch City Dog Boarding

Arch City Dog Boarding is a small-scale boarding facility in St. Louis, Missouri, run by owner Shelly, who lives on site. Guest reviews at 5.0 stars across 179 ratings tell a consistent story: owners who describe themselves as anxious or over-protective found relief here. One reviewer wrote that she "toured and interrogated every dog boarding facility in the area" before choosing Arch City. Another, whose dog had anxiety issues and a bad experience at a previous boarder, described the facility as "lifesavers." Staff model. Shelly owns and operates the facility and lives on the premises, so dogs are not left unattended overnight. The facility limits capacity to approximately 12 dogs at a time, with over 1,000 square feet of indoor play space and nearly 3,000 square feet outdoors. The team uses Composure calming chews and Pet Honesty Hemp Calming chews for dogs showing significant anxiety, with an opt-out available on request. Daily routine. Boarding dogs have access to small-group play in indoor and outdoor areas. Add-on enrichments include 15-minute one-on-one activities ($5), photo updates ($7), or both ($10). Dogs who cannot safely join group play are classified as Fireball or Zodiac guests ($5/night additional) for individual attention. A separate Zodiac+ category ($12/night extra, two-night maximum) accommodates dogs with bite histories during emergencies. Boarding hours are Monday through Friday 9:00–11:45 am and 3:00–5:45 pm, Sunday 9:00–11:00 am and 5:00–6:45 pm; the facility is closed daily from noon to 3:00 pm and all day Saturday. Intake. All new dogs must complete a meet-and-greet evaluation covering behavior at home, interactions with humans and other dogs, and play style. Required vaccinations are DHPP/DAPP, Bordetella, and rabies. Owners must bring their dog's food; beds and up to two hard toys are welcome, but bowls, rawhides, rope toys, and food scoops cannot be accepted. Any dog diagnosed with a contagious illness within seven days of a stay will have the reservation canceled or be charged an elevated rate. Who it suits and doesn't. An especially strong fit for owners who are anxious about leaving their dog — the reviews are dominated by self-described worried dog parents who came away reassured. Also well-suited to dogs with mild anxiety or temperament sensitivities, given the repeated success stories with nervous dogs and the lived-on-site overnight model. Less suited to owners needing Saturday drop-off or pickup and to those seeking large-group socialization — the operation is intentionally small and personal.