Dog Boarding Checklist: What to Pack and What to Tell the Kennel

Leaving your dog at a boarding facility is easier when the kennel does not have to guess about food, medication, behaviour or emergency decisions. A useful dog boarding checklist therefore covers more than what goes into the overnight bag. It also includes choosing an appropriate facility, checking its health policies and giving staff clear information about your dog’s normal routine.

Prepare early enough to confirm vaccination records, medication arrangements and any special-care needs. Pack the food your dog already eats rather than introducing an unnecessary diet change immediately before the stay, and make sure identification and emergency contacts are current. AAHA similarly recommends usual food, clearly labelled medication, routine information and up-to-date identification when preparing a pet for boarding.

Quick Answer

For dog boarding, pack your dog’s usual food plus a reasonable extra supply, approved treats, prescribed medication, identification, lead or harness, veterinary information and any permitted familiar belongings. Give the kennel written feeding, medical, behaviour and emergency instructions. Before arrival, confirm the facility’s own vaccination, medication, bedding, toy and health requirements rather than assuming every kennel follows the same policies.

Choosing a Boarding Facility

A good boarding stay begins before you pack anything. Ask to see where dogs sleep, exercise and spend their day, and find out how staff supervise them.

Consider whether the facility can actually meet your dog’s needs. A young sociable dog accustomed to group play may require different arrangements from an older dog with mobility problems, a dog requiring medication or one that needs space from unfamiliar dogs.

VCA recommends asking about accommodation, daily activity, group supervision, special-needs care, medication administration and what happens if an animal becomes ill or injured.

Questions to Ask Before Booking

Ask the facility:

• What vaccinations or health records do you require?
• How far in advance must those requirements be completed?
• What happens if my dog becomes sick or injured?
• Which veterinary clinic or emergency hospital do you use?
• Can staff administer my dog’s specific medication?
• Do you accept prescription or refrigerated medication?
• Can I bring my dog’s regular food?
• Are personal beds, blankets and toys allowed?
• How are dogs selected and supervised for group activities?
• Can my dog be kept separate from unfamiliar dogs?
• How often are dogs taken outside?
• How do you handle dogs that refuse food?
• How will you contact me if there is a problem?
• Can I tour the boarding area beforehand?

Do not assume an attractive reception area tells you how dogs are managed behind the scenes.

Vaccination Requirements

There is no single vaccination checklist that applies to every boarding facility in every location.

Individual kennels may request different vaccines, documentation, parasite testing or waiting periods. Your dog’s appropriate vaccination plan also depends on factors such as health, lifestyle, exposure risk and local disease concerns.

AAHA’s canine vaccination guidance uses individual risk assessment, while the AVMA notes that vaccines against respiratory pathogens such as Bordetella and canine influenza may be recommended for dogs that spend time in boarding, daycare and other settings where dogs gather.

Contact your chosen kennel directly and ask exactly what it requires and by what date. If something needs updating, discuss the schedule with your veterinarian rather than arranging a last-minute vaccine based only on a generic internet checklist.

Medication Policy and Emergency Procedures

If your dog takes medication, verify the facility’s policy before making the reservation. Staff capabilities differ, particularly when medication requires refrigeration, precise timing, injections or other specialised administration.

VCA specifically recommends checking whether staff are trained to administer the medication a pet requires.

Also ask what happens when:

• a dose is refused or vomited
• your dog will not eat the food used to give medication
• symptoms worsen
• veterinary treatment is required
• you cannot be reached

Do not leave staff to decide independently whether a prescription should be skipped, doubled or altered. Provide instructions from the prescribing veterinarian for situations likely to arise.

Trial Visit for a First Boarding Stay

If you are boarding your dog for the first time, ask whether the facility offers an introductory visit, meet-and-greet, daycare session or short trial stay.

A short introduction may help you learn how your dog responds to the environment before relying on the kennel for several nights. PDSA recommends a meet-and-greet or trial ahead of holiday care when a pet is staying with someone new, while VCA encourages owners to tour boarding facilities before booking.

A trial is particularly useful for gathering information. Ask staff whether your dog rested, ate, toileted and tolerated handling appropriately rather than judging success simply by how excited or tired the dog appears afterwards.

Identification

Check identification before departure.

Your dog should have current identification appropriate for your location and circumstances. Confirm that phone numbers associated with identification tags and microchip registration are still correct.

AAHA recommends current collar identification and microchip registration information with working contact numbers before boarding.

Give the kennel a recent photograph as an additional practical reference.

What to Pack for Dog Boarding

Facility rules come first. Some kennels provide bowls, beds and leads and prefer that personal belongings stay home; others encourage familiar items.

Confirm the rules before filling the bag.

Food

Pack the food your dog already eats unless the kennel has agreed to another medically appropriate arrangement.

Keeping the normal diet avoids adding an unnecessary dietary change to an already different environment. VCA and AAHA both recommend bringing a pet’s regular food when the facility permits it.

Label it with:

• dog’s name
• food name
• amount per meal
• meal times
• preparation instructions

If you were already planning to change diets, complete an appropriate transition separately rather than suddenly introducing a new food immediately before boarding. Pawnium’s guide to switching dog food safely covers that process in more detail.

Extra Food

Pack enough for the planned stay plus a modest additional amount in case your return is unexpectedly delayed.

AAHA specifically recommends providing the usual food for the duration of boarding with some extra for unforeseen circumstances.

Avoid sending an enormous unlabelled bag when individually portioned or clearly measured meals would make instructions easier to follow.

Treats

Bring only treats the kennel permits and your dog already tolerates.

Tell staff:

• which treats can be given
• approximate daily allowance
• whether treats contain known allergens
• whether a particular treat is used with medication

Boarding is not the best time to test several unfamiliar snacks.

Medication

Send prescription medication according to the facility’s packaging policy. Keep it clearly identifiable and provide written administration instructions.

Include:

• medication name
• prescribed amount
• scheduled time
• administration method
• whether it is given with food
• storage requirements
• prescribing veterinary clinic
• instructions for a refused or missed dose from your veterinary team

AAHA recommends clearly labelled medication with dosage instructions and administration times.

Bedding and Familiar Items

If allowed, a familiar blanket or bed may make the sleeping area more recognisable. AAHA suggests familiar blankets or toys as possible comfort items during boarding.

Choose something washable and replaceable. Do not send an irreplaceable blanket or sentimental object that would be difficult to replace if damaged.

Toys

Ask which toys are permitted.

Some facilities restrict personal toys because of chewing, guarding, sanitation or group-management concerns. If the kennel accepts them, choose durable items your dog already uses safely.

Tell staff if your dog guards toys or becomes over-aroused around particular games.

Harness and Leash

Bring the walking equipment requested by the facility, clearly labelled with your contact information where appropriate.

Check the fit before leaving home. Tell staff if your dog:

• backs out of collars
• slips harnesses
• lunges at wildlife
• reacts to other dogs
• should not use off-leash areas

Do not assume staff will discover an escape risk safely through experience.

What to Tell the Kennel

The best dog boarding instructions describe the dog staff will actually be caring for, rather than an idealised version.

For a more detailed handover template, Pawnium’s dog sitter checklist covers routine, medication and emergency information that also applies when someone else is responsible for your dog.

Written Instructions

Provide a concise written sheet that can be understood without calling you.

Use exact instructions rather than phrases such as “feed normally” or “he’s usually fine with dogs.”

Veterinary Information

Include:

• regular veterinarian
• clinic telephone number
• relevant medical history
• current medications
• emergency veterinary hospital if appropriate

Emergency Contact

Provide your own reachable contact details and a backup person who can make decisions if you cannot be contacted.

Clarify what authority that person has and ask your veterinary clinic beforehand how treatment authorisation works when you are away.

Behaviour Information

Tell staff about:

• fear triggers
• handling sensitivities
• resource guarding
• escape attempts
• noise sensitivity
• previous bite or aggression concerns
• separation-related distress
• reactions to unfamiliar people

Do not hide difficult behaviour because you are worried the kennel may refuse the booking. Staff need accurate information to decide whether they can provide appropriate care.

If absence from you causes significant panic, review Pawnium’s guide to separation anxiety in dogs when deciding whether a conventional kennel environment is suitable.

Feeding Routine

Write down the actual amount and timing of each meal.

For broader portion and feeding questions, Pawnium’s dog feeding guide explains how feeding needs vary with body weight, life stage, activity and food calorie density.

The boarding facility’s job is normally to continue the established feeding plan, not redesign it.

Toilet Routine

Explain:

• usual toilet times
• signals your dog gives
• whether late-night or early-morning access is normally needed
• whether stress sometimes changes the routine

This can be especially important for puppies, older dogs and dogs with medical conditions.

Dog-Dog Interaction

“Friendly” is not detailed enough.

Tell the facility whether your dog:

• enjoys group play
• prefers individual exercise
• dislikes face-to-face greetings
• guards food or toys
• becomes overwhelmed by energetic dogs
• has size or play-style preferences
• should not interact directly with unfamiliar dogs

The kennel should use this information together with its own assessment and safety procedures.

Medical Conditions

Report existing medical conditions even when they currently appear stable.

Confirm beforehand that the facility has the staffing, equipment and policies necessary for your dog’s needs. A veterinary boarding facility or another care arrangement may be more appropriate when medical monitoring is complex.

Allergy Information

Document known allergies and dietary restrictions prominently.

Specify what must be avoided instead of simply writing “has allergies.”

Include relevant reactions to food, medication or environmental exposures that kennel staff need to know about.

Pick-Up Plan

Confirm collection times and what happens if travel delays you.

Identify who is permitted to pick up the dog and whether the facility requires identification or advance authorisation for someone other than the owner.

Ask the kennel to tell you about anything unusual during the stay, including changes in appetite, stool, medication administration, injuries or veterinary care.

What Should Stay at Home?

Unless the facility requests them, consider leaving behind:

• expensive or sentimental belongings
• fragile toys
• items your dog destroys or swallows
• unapproved chews
• excessive bedding
• unlabelled medication or supplements
• unfamiliar foods and treats
• anything prohibited by the facility

The goal is not to reproduce your entire home inside the kennel. Bring useful, permitted items that have a clear purpose.

After Boarding

When your dog comes home, return to the familiar household routine and observe rather than immediately making several changes.

A quick dog health check at home can help you compare appetite, drinking, stool, skin, movement and behaviour with your dog’s usual baseline.

Appetite and Stool

Pay attention to whether your dog resumes normal eating and how stools look over the next few days.

Stress associated with boarding can contribute to diarrhoea, but diarrhoea also has many infectious, dietary and medical causes. It should not automatically be dismissed as “boarding stress.”

Ask the kennel whether your dog ate normally during the stay and whether staff noticed vomiting, diarrhoea or other symptoms.

Fatigue

A dog may want more quiet time after a stimulating change in environment, but marked lethargy is different from simply choosing to rest.

Watch whether your dog is responsive, drinking, moving comfortably and gradually returning to its normal routine. Decreased appetite and lethargy are nonspecific signs that can occur with stress but also occur with many medical problems.

When Veterinary Advice May Be Needed

Contact your veterinarian if your dog’s condition concerns you, particularly when there is:

• persistent or repeated vomiting
• severe or bloody diarrhoea
• significant weakness or unusual unresponsiveness
• abdominal pain or swelling
• difficulty breathing
• collapse
• refusal of food accompanied by lethargy or other illness signs
• symptoms that are worsening rather than improving

VCA advises veterinary attention for repeated or persistent vomiting or diarrhoea, especially when blood, weakness or reduced responsiveness is present; breathing difficulty, collapse and repeated unsuccessful attempts to vomit require urgent attention.

Do not assume that a new symptom is harmless solely because it appeared after a kennel stay.

FAQs

How early should I prepare my dog for boarding?

Start as soon as you choose the facility. Health documentation, veterinary appointments, medication arrangements and introductory visits may require advance planning. Ask the kennel for its exact check-in requirements and deadlines rather than waiting until departure day.

Should I bring my dog’s own food to the kennel?

Usually, bringing the food your dog already eats is sensible when the kennel permits it. Keeping the diet familiar avoids introducing an unnecessary food change during boarding. Confirm how the facility wants meals packaged and labelled.

What vaccinations does my dog need before boarding?

There is no universal list for every kennel or location. Requirements vary, and vaccination recommendations also depend on the dog’s individual risks. Ask the boarding facility exactly what documentation it requires, then discuss your dog’s vaccination plan with your veterinarian.

Can I send my dog’s bed and toys?

Possibly. Some kennels welcome familiar bedding and toys while others restrict personal belongings. Ask first and send only items that are safe, washable and replaceable.

What should I tell a kennel about my dog’s behaviour?

Describe specific behaviour staff can act on: fear triggers, dog-dog interactions, guarding, escape risks, handling sensitivities, separation distress and any aggression history. Accurate information is more useful than broad labels such as “friendly” or “nervous.”

Is diarrhoea normal after dog boarding?

Stress associated with boarding can contribute to diarrhoea, but it is only one possible explanation. Infection, dietary changes and other health problems can cause similar signs. Severe, bloody, persistent or worsening diarrhoea, particularly with vomiting, weakness or appetite loss, warrants veterinary advice.