Doggy Day Care
from £20
A fun, kennel-free day of play, exercise and supervised socialisation. Drop your dog off in the morning and pick them up tired and happy.
South Hetton · County Durham
A home away from home, without the kennel.
Wild at Heart is a small award winning, family-run dog boarding retreat in County Durham. Six guests at a time, two resident golden retrievers, and plenty of fields.
About
Our commitment to your pet’s happiness.
Welcome to Wild at Heart, previously known as Hetton-le-Hill Farm Dog Boarding. We are dedicated to offering a distinctive dog boarding experience in South Hetton, County Durham.
Our services include tailored boarding, socialisation classes with our resident Golden Retrievers, and confidence walks, ensuring your pets receive exceptional care.
Our mission is to provide a secure and nurturing environment where your pets can flourish and fully enjoy their time with us.
Award-winning care
Prestige Business Awards winner.
Named 2025/26 New Dog Boarding Service of the Year for North England.
What we offer
Three ways to visit.
Home Boarding
from £40 / night
Sleep in the family kitchen, lounge on the sofa, walk twice a day. Your dog is treated like one of ours while you're away.
Confidence Session
from £50 / hour
Spend an hour walking alongside Bella and Daphne under David's guidance — for shy dogs, new rescues, or simply peace of mind.
Six guests at a time · Off-leash fields · Two resident Goldens
We don’t believe your dog should be confined to a kennel. Around here, they get the run of secure fields, the sofa, and a minimum of ninety minutes of proper exercise every single day.
Our New Home
Cosy corners, open fields.
Take a look around the new Wild at Heart. From the kitchen sofa to the secure fields out back, there's a lot to explore.
On Instagram
Life at Wild at Heart.
Home Boarding near Durham! Fully Insured. DBS Checked.
What owners say
Notes from recent stays.
I recently had the pleasure of leaving my two dogs in the care of Hetton-le-Hill Farm and we couldn’t be happier with the experience. Not only did they take excellent care of both my dogs, but they also worked wonders with my young dog’s behavior. My dog came home calmer and better-behaved. It was clear that David genuinely cares for the dogs and went above and beyond to make them feel at home. I highly recommend their services to anyone looking for a reliable, compassionate, and skilled dog boarder!
Besir Ozbek
★★★★★
Throughly recommend Dave , put my mind at ease looking after our 10 month old pup Miggy, sent pics while we were away, went for a walk him & his two dogs at first to see how they got along explained everything , absolutely first class service!!! Already booked in for next two holidays away!!
Karen Edwards
★★★★★
I had a fantastic experience with Hetton-le-Hill Farm Dog Boarding! They took excellent care of my dog, making sure she was happy and well-cared for. The pickup was smooth, and they provided consistent updates throughout her stay. She was fed regularly, walked twice a day, and came back happy and healthy. I couldn't have asked for better care highly recommend this service!
Lucy Hibbert
★★★★★
A first stay, together
We don’t take any booking before we’ve met your dog.
Your first visit is completely free. Come and explore our home and secure gardens, meet Bella and Daphne, and let your dog decide if Wild at Heart feels like the right home away from home.