Dog Boarding Checklist: What to Bring and Tell the Facility
Prepare your dog for boarding with a practical checklist covering records, food, medication instructions, routines, contacts, and the final handoff.
TL;DR
What should I pack for dog boarding?
Start with the facility’s own requirements, then prepare the food and routine instructions, current medication in its labelled container, vaccination or health documents, identification details, veterinary and emergency contacts, and a backup caregiver contact. Confirm the final list before drop-off because boarding rules vary.
Boarding is easier for everyone when the handoff is short, specific, and written down. “He eats normally” is not a feeding instruction. “One level scoop of this food at 7 a.m. and 6 p.m., with water refreshed at each meal” is.
The facility’s rules come first. Ask what it requires before you book, then use the checklist below to prepare the information staff will need to care for your dog consistently.
Ask the facility before you reserve
Requirements vary between kennels, daycare-and-boarding providers, in-home boarders, and veterinary boarding services. Ask about:
- vaccination and health-document requirements
- parasite-control requirements
- medication administration and fees
- food, treats, bedding, and toy policies
- drop-off and pick-up windows
- emergency authorization and after-hours contacts
- how the facility handles illness or a missed meal
- whether it wants a trial day or temperament assessment
Do not assume a document accepted by one provider will be accepted by another. The AVMA travel guide is a useful reminder to check destination, carrier, and care-provider requirements rather than relying on a universal checklist.
Pack the core documents
Prepare copies of the documents that apply to this stay:
- required vaccination or health records
- current medication instructions
- allergies or previous medication reactions
- veterinary clinic and emergency clinic details
- microchip or identification information
- your contact details and a local backup caregiver
- insurance information, if the facility requests it
- any authorization form the facility provides
Keep your own copies at home. Give the boarding team what it needs in the format it requests, and ask where the records will be stored during the stay.
Label food and write the routine
If the facility allows you to bring food, leave it in its original bag or a clearly labelled container. Write down:
| Routine | Details to include |
|---|---|
| Meals | Food, amount, time window, measuring scoop, and approved treats |
| Water | Bowl location and any normal refill routine |
| Walks | Leash or harness, timing, duration, and triggers |
| Sleep | Crate, bed, lights, and settling routine |
| Comfort | Familiar blanket, toy, cue words, and calming habits |
Be honest about quirks. “Needs a quiet minute before the harness goes on” gives staff something they can use. “Sometimes acts up” does not.
Handle medication as a separate handoff
Use the facility’s medication form and copy the current written instruction exactly. Include the product name, strength, prescribed amount, route, timing, start or end date, storage requirements, and the time of the last dose.
The FDA’s questions for pet medications explain why owners should confirm how a medicine is given, how often, how it is stored, and what to do if a problem occurs. Ask the prescribing clinic about any detail the label or facility form does not answer.
Do not send loose pills in an unlabelled bag. Do not change a dose because your dog is in a different environment. If the facility cannot administer a medication as written, contact the veterinary team and make another care plan.
Write the emergency plan
Leave a clear sequence:
- Call me at the primary number.
- Call the backup caregiver if I cannot answer.
- Call the regular veterinary clinic for non-emergency questions.
- Use the emergency clinic for an urgent situation.
- Follow the facility’s authorization process for treatment decisions.
Ask the facility what it considers an emergency and how it communicates updates. You are giving staff permission and contacts, not asking them to diagnose your dog from a checklist.
Do a calm final handoff
Arrive with enough time to answer questions. Confirm the staff member receiving your dog has the food, medication, documents, emergency contacts, and pick-up details. Ask them to repeat the medication schedule and the best number to use if they need clarification.
If your dog has a significant fear response, separation issue, or previous boarding problem, say so plainly. Staff can plan around information they know. They cannot plan around a surprise.
How Petio fits
Petio can keep your dog’s profile, documents, medication reminders, notes, and emergency contacts together before the trip. Use it to prepare the handoff and keep the current information easy to find, then follow the facility’s own forms and procedures.
Petio does not replace the boarding provider’s requirements, official veterinary documents, or written medication instructions. Keep an offline copy for the day of drop-off in case you cannot access the app.
Safety note
This article is general preparation guidance, not veterinary or emergency advice. Follow the boarding provider’s requirements and contact a veterinarian for health or medication questions.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
What should I bring when boarding my dog?
Bring the items and documents the facility requires, usually food, feeding instructions, medication in its original labelled container, veterinary and emergency contacts, identification details, and any required vaccination or health documents. Confirm the exact list with the facility before arrival.
Does a boarding facility require proof of vaccination?
Many facilities set their own vaccination, health, and parasite-control requirements, but the rules differ by location and facility. Ask the boarding provider what it requires and how recent each document must be.
How should I give a boarding facility my dog’s medication instructions?
Provide the current written veterinary instructions, the medication in its original labelled container when possible, the last dose time, and the clinic contact for questions. Do not ask staff to guess a dose or change the plan.
Can Petio help me prepare a boarding handoff?
Petio can keep your dog’s profile, documents, reminders, notes, and emergency contacts together. Use it as an organizing layer, then provide the facility with the copies and forms it specifically requests.
