Cage-Free Dog Boarding in Port St. Lucie, FL
When you travel, your dog stays in a real home, not a kennel. Cousins sleep inside, spend the day in a small supervised pack, and are never left alone. You get photos and videos every day, so you always know how your dog is doing.
- Dogs sleep inside
- Small supervised pack
- Never left alone
- Daily photos and videos
What an overnight stay looks like
Cousin Haven is a home in Port St. Lucie with a fenced backyard we call the Cousin Yard. Boarding dogs live the stay the way a family dog would: they eat in the kitchen, play in the yard, nap on the couch and sleep inside at night, close to me.
We're in southwest Port St. Lucie, minutes from I-95 at Gatlin Blvd, so drop-off fits easily on your way out of town. Exact address shared after your Meet & Greet is booked.
A typical day starts early with a potty break and a walk or yard time, followed by breakfast on your dog's usual schedule. Late morning and afternoon mix supervised play, sniffing and exploring the yard with calm rest periods indoors, because a balanced dog needs recovery as much as exercise. Evenings slow down: dinner, a last walk, a wind-down routine, and then lights out inside the home.
Through the day I send photos and videos so you can see your dog playing, resting and making new cousins. At pickup you get a short summary of how your dog ate, slept and got along with the pack.
Boarding rates
Nights 1 to 3
Adult
$55
Puppy (under 1 yr)
$60
Per night, per dog.
Night 4 onward
Adult
$50
Puppy (under 1 yr)
$55
Every night from the 4th night of the same stay.
2nd dog, same family
Adult
$45
Puppy (under 1 yr)
$50
Per night, every night of the stay.
Holiday nights
Adult
+$10
Puppy (under 1 yr)
+$10
Only on nights inside a holiday window.
Deposits and balance
- Stays of $200 or less are paid in full at booking.
- Stays over $200: a $200 non-refundable deposit at booking, and the balance at drop-off.
- Holiday stays: the balance is due 14 days before check-in.
- Extended Time by prior approval only: up to 4 hours for $20.
Payment: Cash, Zelle, card via Square (+3.3% + $0.30), or check payable to “Cousin Haven by Nia Matos”.
Cancellation and credit rules are in our policies. Want to add a bath before going home? See Cousin Shine Bath & Brush.
Boarding a puppy
Dogs under 1 year old are billed at the puppy rate for boarding. Puppies join the same small pack as everyone else, so introductions happen gradually and at your puppy's pace: short, supervised first contacts, plenty of rest breaks, and more time with the group only when they are comfortable.
Please bring your puppy's vaccine records to the Meet & Greet so we can confirm they are ready to join the cousins.
If your puppy comes during the day too, take a look at daycare and half-day as a way to get used to the home before a first overnight stay.
The COUSIN Method
Every stay follows the same six steps, so your dog arrives to a plan instead of a guess.
- C
Connect
We start with a free, 30-minute Meet & Greet on a Saturday. You see the home and the yard, your dog meets the pack, and you ask anything.
- O
Outline
We build your dog's profile: feeding times and amounts, medications, health notes, vet of record, habits and anything that worries them.
- U
Unite
On arrival day your dog joins the pack gradually, with supervised introductions and quiet time to settle before the first night.
- S
Share
Photos and videos every day of the stay, without you having to ask.
- I
Inform
At pickup you hear how your dog ate, slept and got along, plus anything I noticed that you should know.
- N
Next
We note what worked for the next stay, so every visit starts where the last one left off.
What paw-rents say
From our Google reviews — read them all“Cooper did not eat the first 24 hours. Armando offered to cook for him some chicken and sweet potatoes. In no time Cooper was trusting his kind chef and back to eating like normal.”
“Armando consistently sent me pictures and videos of Bodhi to keep me updated on how he was doing.”
Frequently asked questions
Where does my dog sleep?
Inside the home, with the rest of the pack. Boarding is cage-free: there are no kennel rows and no crates as part of the routine. Dogs settle in the same rooms they spend time in during the day, close to me.
Is my dog ever left alone?
No. Boarding dogs are supervised during the day and are never left alone in the home. That is one of the reasons we keep the pack small.
How does the multi-night rate work?
Nights 1 to 3 are billed at the base rate ($55 adult, $60 puppy). From night 4 onward, each night is $50 adult or $55 puppy. A second dog from the same family is $45 adult or $50 puppy every night of the stay.
Do I need to pay a deposit?
If your stay totals $200 or less, it is paid in full at booking. If it is over $200, a $200 non-refundable deposit is due at booking and the balance at drop-off. For holiday stays, the balance is due 14 days before check-in.
Are there holiday rates?
Yes. A $10 surcharge is added to each night that falls inside a holiday window. Nights outside the window are billed at the normal rate.
What if I can't pick up on time?
Extended Time is available by prior approval only: up to 4 extra hours for $20. Please ask before your stay so we can plan around it.
How will I know how my dog is doing?
You'll receive photos and videos every day of the stay, without having to ask, and a short summary at pickup of how your dog ate, rested and got along with the pack.
More from Cousin Haven
Daycare & Half-Day6 AM to 6 PM in a small, supervised pack. $45/day.
Cousin Club PassMonthly daycare for regulars. From $245/month.
Cousin Shine Bath & BrushPaid add-on priced by size. From $25.Compare everything side by side on our services and rates page.
Family is who you sniff with
Every new cousin starts with a free, 30-minute Meet & Greet on a Saturday. Come see the home and the yard, meet the pack, and ask anything before you book.
Or call (772) 206-0816