Leaving your dog with someone else — a boarding kennel, a vet clinic, or a pet sitter who visits your home — is one of those tasks owners tend to leave too late. The good news: a little preparation, started two to three weeks before you travel, turns the whole experience from nerve-wracking into routine. Here is a calm, practical plan.
Choose the Right Option Early
Boarding facilities suit social dogs who cope with noise and other animals. In-home sitters suit anxious dogs, seniors, and dogs who guard their territory. Neither is better — the right answer depends on your dog’s temperament. Once you have picked a provider, ask exactly what they require: vaccination records, parasite prevention proof, medication forms, and whether they want a trial visit. Rules differ between providers, so never assume what worked last time applies now.
Get the Paperwork in Order
Most facilities will refuse entry without current records. Check off this list at least a week before drop-off:
- Core vaccinations — rabies, distemper and parvovirus kept up to date.
- Bordetella (kennel cough) — many kennels require proof of protection; some want it administered two weeks ahead.
- Flea, tick and heartworm prevention — applied recently, with the date noted.
- Medication in original packaging — with a written schedule: product name, dose, time, and how it is given. Never send loose pills in an unlabelled bag.
- Emergency contacts — your mobile number, a local backup contact, and your vet’s details, in that call order.
Pack a Familiar Bag
Sudden diet changes upset stomachs, so pack enough of your dog’s regular food for the whole stay plus two spare days, pre-portioned into labelled bags. Add their own bowls, a familiar bed or blanket, a worn unwashed T-shirt that smells like you, and two or three durable toys. Skip anything irreplaceable — it will get lost. A short written routine note helps staff enormously: meal amounts and times, walk length and triggers, sleep habits, and honest quirks (“needs a quiet minute before the harness goes on” beats “sometimes acts up”).
Practice Before the Real Thing
If your dog has never boarded, ask for a trial day or single overnight a couple of weeks ahead. At home, practice short absences that gradually lengthen, so your dog learns you always come back. Keep departures and drop-offs matter-of-fact — long emotional goodbyes raise anxiety rather than soothe it. A good walk before handoff helps too: a tired dog settles faster.
The Final Handoff Checklist
| Item | Detail to Leave Behind |
|---|---|
| Feeding | Food brand, scoop size, times, approved treats |
| Medication | Name, dose, timing, storage, last dose given |
| Walks | Harness or collar, duration, reactivity triggers |
| Health | Allergies, chronic conditions, vet and emergency clinic numbers |
| Decision authority | What the facility may approve if treatment is needed |
Confirm the receiving staff member has everything, ask them to read the medication schedule back to you, then leave with a smile. Dogs read our faces — a calm goodbye tells them this is just another adventure. One last tip: when you collect your dog afterwards, expect a big drink of water and a long nap. Most dogs sleep deeply for a day or two after boarding, which is exhaustion and relief rather than illness — but call your vet if vomiting, diarrhoea or a cough appears within the following week, since kennel environments occasionally pass around mild respiratory bugs even with vaccination in place.