Running a pet-care business is hard enough. Between managing staff, keeping pets safe, communicating with pet parents, and trying to grow your revenue, the last thing you need is outdated kennel management software slowing you down.
And yet… many boarding facilities are still relying on systems that were never built for the ways modern pet-care businesses operate today.
If your system feels clunky, limited, or frustrating, that’s not “just part of the job.” It’s a sign you’ve outgrown your current tools. Below are 10 clear signs it’s time to upgrade your kennel management software, plus what modern pet-care software should be doing for you instead.
If you’re still manually taking reservations via phone calls, emails, Facebook messages, or texts, your software is actively working against you.
Pet parents expect:
Outdated kennel software forces staff to act as human middlemen all day long.
Modern kennel management software allows pet parents to:
Scheduling in one tool, payments in another, texting somewhere else, reports in spreadsheets.... This patchwork approach leads to:
All-in-one kennel management software combines:
One login. One system. Fewer mistakes.
Paper agreements aren’t just annoying (and costly), they’re risky. Lost paperwork, outdated forms, and unsigned waivers can all turn into major issues no pet business owner wants to face down the road.
Modern kennel software includes:
This protects your business and improves the pet parent experience.
If your team is constantly:
Your software isn’t doing its job.
The best kennel management systems let pet parents:
Your staff stays focused on pets, not paperwork.
If feeding instructions are left on sticky notes, behavior warnings are locked in someone’s memory, and grooming preferences buried in old files.... you've got a disjointed mess and potential safety issues on your hands.
Upgraded kennel software centralizes:
With clear icons and alerts, staff never miss critical details on each pet in your care.
No-shows hurt your revenue, staffing efficiency, and sanity. If appointment reminders are manual — or nonexistent — you’re leaving money on the table.
Modern pet-care software includes:
The result: Fewer no-shows and a more predictable schedule.
If your kennel management software only works on-site or on a specific computer, it’s outdated. Pet-care business owners need visibility, even when they’re not physically at the facility.
Cloud-based kennel software allows you to:
Running a pet-care business chained to the front desk is impossible. Flexibility allows you to be out with the pups while still keeping tabs on reservations, capacity, client communication, and important pet details.
If reconciling payments requires detective work, your systems aren’t integrated properly.
Modern kennel management software should:
Clean data = smarter decisions and less end-of-day stress.
Add-ons like enrichment, grooming upgrades, or extra playtime shouldn’t rely on staff remembering to ask during busy check-ins.
Better kennel software:
This increases average tickets without pressure or awkward conversations.
If your kennel management software only helps you survive the day but offers zero insight into how to grow... that’s a problem.
Many older systems stop at basic scheduling and record-keeping. They don’t show you:
In other words, they store data… but don’t do anything useful with it.
Modern kennel management software should help you make smarter business decisions with:
Because running a successful pet-care business isn’t just about making it through today—it’s about setting yourself up for the next 6 months, the next year, and beyond.
If your software can’t grow with you, it’s already holding you back.
If your systems are slow, clunky, outdated, or unorganized, you're not only stuck with a roadblock in your routine, you're also limitingg your growth and revenue potential. Any new tool you adopt and implement should be designed to streamline your day and make it easier to focus on caring for pets, not scrambling with busywork.
Your kennel management software should:
Ready to upgrade your kennel management software and simplify your day-to-day operations? Book a demo and see what modern pet-care software can really do.