Most boarding mishaps aren't the host's fault. They're the result of something the pet parent forgot — a medication, a trigger word, a "she won't drink from anything but her blue bowl" — that never made it into the handover conversation. This guide is the checklist we wish every client showed up with.
Use it for home boarding, licensed facilities, or a neighbour watching your dog for a weekend. Print it, fill it out, hand a copy to your host.
What to pack (the physical stuff)
Food and water
- Pre-measured meals in labeled bags (breakfast, dinner). Do not dump a bag of kibble and say "figure it out."
- One or two extra days of food in case of travel delays.
- Any supplements, probiotics, or toppers with dosing instructions.
- Treats — but specify which are for training and which are for free-feeding, and what's off-limits.
Medications
- Original packaging with labels. Pill organizers are fine but should travel with the box.
- Written schedule: what, how much, when, with or without food.
- A note on what to do if a dose is missed or thrown up.
- Prescribing vet's name and phone number.
Comfort items
- A blanket or T-shirt that smells like home (do not wash it before dropping off).
- 1–2 familiar toys. Avoid bringing the irreplaceable favourite.
- Their own bowl if they're particular.
- Crate pad or orthopedic bed for senior dogs.
Gear
- Collar with up-to-date ID tag (boarding is the single most common time for a pet to escape).
- Harness or leash the dog is used to.
- Poop bags — always provide your own.
- Jacket, boots, or cooling vest depending on Canada's mood that week.
What to print (or email)
Your host should not have to text you at 11pm to ask if it's okay to give benadryl. Print a one-page info sheet with:
- Your pet's name, age, breed, weight, and microchip number.
- Your full contact info — mobile, email, and a secondary emergency contact (not travelling with you).
- Your regular vet — name, clinic, phone number, address.
- A 24/7 emergency vet near the boarding location (not near your home).
- Insurance provider and policy number, plus the claims phone number.
- Known medical conditions, allergies, and medications.
- Behavior notes: triggers, fears, recall word, preferred leash style, dog/cat/kid compatibility.
- Feeding schedule: when, how much, from what bowl, any food aggression.
- Bathroom schedule: last-out time, first-out time, typical frequency.
- Written permission to seek veterinary care up to a dollar limit without calling you.
If your pet uses a prescription diet, write "No human food, no other brands" in bold at the top. Guests assume a little cheese is fine. For dogs on gastrointestinal or allergy diets, it is not.
What to plan (the softer stuff)
A meet-and-greet before the first stay
Never drop off a pet for a multi-night stay without an in-person meet first. 20 minutes in the host's home or facility tells you more than any review. Watch for: how your dog reads the space, how the host moves around your dog, whether other pets in the home are a good fit.
A trial night if you can
Book a single overnight stay a week or two before your real trip. If something's going to go sideways, you want to learn about it when you're in town, not from a hotel in Portugal.
Vaccinations and flea/tick prevention
Most Canadian boarders require proof of rabies, DHPP, and bordetella (kennel cough). Some also require leptospirosis and canine influenza. Send digital copies of vet records at least 48 hours before drop-off.
A check-in cadence you actually want
Tell the host how much communication you want. "Daily photo" is different from "only if something's wrong" — both are reasonable. Unclear expectations are the #1 source of friction.
Drop-off and pickup windows
Don't arrive 45 minutes early. Don't show up at 10pm. Agree on a window and stick to it. Facilities especially run on tight staffing schedules.
The departure routine
Dogs pick up on your energy. A long, emotional goodbye tells your dog something is wrong. Instead:
- Arrive calm. Let your dog sniff the environment.
- Hand over the leash, food, and paperwork in a matter-of-fact way.
- Give a brief, cheerful "goodbye, see you soon" — no repeated hugs.
- Leave. Don't linger at the door watching them.
Most dogs settle within 20 minutes of the owner leaving. The dogs who struggle hardest are the ones whose owners made the departure feel dramatic.
Coming home — what to expect
Your dog may be tired, thirsty, and a little clingy for a day or two. That's normal. Watch for anything lasting more than 48 hours:
- Diarrhea that doesn't resolve (stress colitis is common and treatable).
- A cough (bordetella despite vaccination is possible).
- Limping or sore muscles (especially after facility stays with lots of play).
- Behavior changes — guarding, reactivity, anxiety — which suggest something stressful happened.
If anything feels off, go back to your host with specific questions. Good hosts welcome the feedback loop; great ones are already expecting the call.
A final word
Boarding is a trust exercise. You can't control everything, but you can remove almost every source of surprise. Pack well, print the sheet, plan the meet, and trust the host you chose. And when you come home, thank them the way you'd want to be thanked for taking care of a family member — because that's what they did.