Whether it is your pet's first time boarding or their tenth, a little organization goes a long way. Rushed drop-offs with missing paperwork, forgotten food, or unclear instructions can create stress for you, your pet, and the boarding staff. Use this checklist to make sure you arrive prepared.
Documents to Bring
- Current vaccination records — Rabies, DHPP, Bordetella, plus any others the specific facility requires
- Your veterinarian's name, clinic address, and phone number
- Your contact information for the entire duration of your trip, including where you will be staying
- A secondary emergency contact who has authority to make medical decisions for your pet if you are unreachable
- Any completed intake forms the facility sent in advance
- A copy of your pet's health insurance information if applicable
Food and Medications
- Your pet's regular food, pre-portioned by meal if possible, labeled with your pet's name and feeding instructions
- Enough food for the full stay plus one or two extra days in case your return is delayed
- All medications clearly labeled with the pet's name, medication name, dose, and administration schedule
- Any supplements your pet takes regularly
- A note about your pet's typical appetite so staff know if they are suddenly not eating
Comfort Items
- A worn T-shirt, pillowcase, or small blanket that smells like home
- One or two favorite toys — nothing irreplaceable
- A familiar bed or mat if the facility allows it, confirmed in advance
Label everything. Use a permanent marker to put your pet's name on all bags, bowls, toys, and medication containers. Items can and do get mixed up in busy facilities.
Information to Communicate at Drop-Off
- Feeding schedule and exact portion sizes
- Known behavioral triggers — types of dogs, strangers reaching over them, loud noises
- Any history of aggression or resource guarding
- Health conditions or symptoms to monitor
- Your pet's typical bathroom schedule
- Commands and words your pet knows and responds to
- Cues that your pet is stressed and what usually helps calm them
- Any restrictions — dogs they should not be paired with in play, foods they cannot have
Before You Leave Home
- 1Confirm your booking and drop-off and pick-up times
- 2Exercise your pet that morning to help them arrive calmer and more settled
- 3Feed a regular meal — do not skip it, but do not overfeed either
- 4Pack the bag the night before, not the morning of
- 5Update your emergency contact that they may be called if needed
- 6Set a reminder to pick up your pet on time — late pickups sometimes incur extra fees
After Pick-Up
Give your pet a calm, quiet evening to decompress. Skip the immediate dog park visit, the excited crowd of friends, and the big reunion celebration. Your pet needs rest after the social and sensory stimulation of boarding. Most pets are back to their full selves within 24 to 48 hours.
If you notice anything concerning — lethargy beyond the first day, loss of appetite beyond 24 hours, unusual stools, coughing, or visible injury — contact your vet. These can occasionally indicate kennel cough, which has an incubation period of 3 to 10 days, or other issues worth addressing early.