Before you board your dog: a checklist

Confirm before you book

• The nightly rate for your dog's size, and whether a night means a calendar night or 24 hours.
• Check-in and check-out times, and the charge for early drop-off or late pick-up.
• Holiday surcharges and any minimum stay.
• Which vaccines are required and how far in advance.
• Whether your dog will be in a private room or in a group, and whether staff stay overnight.

Bring

• Vaccine records, or send them ahead.
• Food for the whole stay plus one extra day, in portion bags.
• Medication with written dosing times.
• Your vet's phone number and an emergency contact.

Leave at home

Large containers, favorite toys and anything you would mind losing. Most kennels say the same thing: it gets lost.

First time boarding?

A trial daycare day before an overnight stay lets the kennel see how your dog handles the group and lets you see the place. Many kennels require it for group boarding.