How to Prepare Your Dog for Boarding: Packing List & Tips

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It’s never easy to leave your pet when you’re headed out of town. But with the right preparation, you can feel confident that your canine companion will have everything they need to be well taken care of while you’re away.

Here, we’ll walk you through how to prepare your dog for boarding and what to pack for the best experience possible. Let your pet’s vacation begin!

The Takeaways

1. To prepare your dog for boarding, see a vet beforehand, visit different boarding facilities, get your pup around other dogs, practice crate training, and stay calm when dropping them off.

2. Pack important information, something with your scent on it, your dog’s favorite toys, their usual food, their preferred treats, and any necessary medications.

3. For the best results, do a trial run with your preferred boarding facility before leaving your dog there for one or more nights.

   
   

Table of Contents

• How to Prepare Your Dog for Boarding: Tips

• How to Prepare Your Dog for Boarding: What to Pack

• The Trial Run

  
  

How to Prepare Your Dog for Boarding: Tips

You want your pup to feel safe and have lots of fun while they’re at the boarding facility. These tips can help achieve exactly that. Let’s take a look!

See a Veterinarian Before the Trip

Most pet boarding facilities require pets to meet certain criteria before they’ll allow them to stay.

You’ll want to visit your veterinarian to make sure your dog is up to date on their vaccinations, heartworm medication, and flea and tick prevention. You’ll likely also need to have your dog spayed or neutered before boarding them.

All of this is for your dog’s well-being as well as the well-being of the other dogs they’ll be playing with. Diseases can spread fast when multiple pets from different homes get together!

With that in mind, always check your preferred boarding facility’s specific stay requirements and other rules.

Visit Different Boarding Facilities

You’d never choose a daycare for your child without first seeing it in person. The same should be true of boarding facilities! Taking a look around in real life instead of just online gives you a chance to see how well-maintained the place is.

Of course, kennels that hold several animals at once probably won’t be spic-and-span clean, but reputable boarding facilities should have regular cleaning practices in place. And when you walk in, the whole area should look and smell pretty clean.

Get Your Pup Around Other Dogs

If your dog has never been around other dogs, you have no way of knowing how they’ll react to their new playmates. Socialization is important for all dogs, but it’s especially crucial when you’re getting ready to board your canine pal.

Consider giving your dog a few different opportunities to interact with other dogs before your trip. You could take them to a dog park, let them visit family with dogs, or even put them in doggy daycare for a week or so.

Practice Crate Training

On a similar note, if your pup’s not used to being crated overnight, they might have a hard time adjusting while they’re at the boarding facility. If possible, work on crate training your dog well in advance of when you’ll need to board them.

This helps to ensure that your furry friend won’t be overly stressed or anxious while you’re away.

Stay Calm When You Drop Your Dog Off

We don’t have to tell you how smart dogs are! They can pick up on their favorite humans’ emotions pretty easily, meaning they’ll sense if you’re stressed, anxious, or sad.

When you drop your pup off, try to stay calm and avoid overly long or emotional goodbyes. If you’re stressed, they’ll likely be stressed, too, and will have a harder time calming down once you’re gone.

Keep goodbyes short and positive!

How to Prepare Your Dog for Boarding: What to Pack

Photo by Jimmy Conover on Unsplash

Now that you know a bit more about how to prepare your dog for boarding, let’s talk about what to pack for your pup.

As you read through this list, keep in mind that some boarding facilities don’t allow blankets or other items from home. It’s always a good idea to check the facility’s guidelines before packing.

Important Information

The first thing to pack is any important information. The boarding facility will need all of this info for your dog’s daily activities and in case of an emergency.

Here’s what to include:

• Identification (your dog’s and yours)

• Emergency contact names and numbers

• Any allergies or medical conditions

• Your dog’s habits, fears, etc.

You’ll be able to relax much more knowing the people caring for your dog have all this information on hand.

Something with Your Scent

Dogs recognize people and places by scent. This is because smell is your dog’s primary sense, and it’s linked not only to identity but also to memories and emotions.

Leaving your dog something with your scent on it, like a t-shirt or blanket, can help ease any anxiety they might feel with you being gone. Your scent brings them comfort!

Your Dog’s Favorite Toys

Similarly, packing your dog’s favorite toys for their stay is another way to leave them with a bit of comfort. After all, they’ll be in an unfamiliar place, surrounded by strange humans and animals. Every little thing helps!

Their Usual Food

Abruptly switching your dog’s food can cause digestive problems or even prevent them from eating. While some boarding facilities provide dog food for an extra cost, it’s always a good idea to pack the food your pup’s used to.

Additionally, sticking to their usual food is another way to help them maintain their routine. And that’s just one less thing to worry about.

Important note: Certain boarding facilities require you to bring your dog’s food from home with it already portioned out for each feeding (and might even charge an extra fee if it's not!). Again, check guidelines and requirements before choosing where to board your dog.

Preferred Treats

Your dog probably has a favorite treat, or at least a favorite flavor. Just like with their main meal, packing their usual treats can help them feel more at home while they’re, well, not.

Again, boarding facilities might provide treats, but making sure your dog has their favorites is always a good idea.

Any Necessary Medications

If your dog needs medication, be sure to pack it for their boarding stay. Even just a day or two without their medicine can have serious health consequences. And remember to leave instructions for the people who will be taking care of your pet.

The Trial Run

It’s always helpful to do a trial run with your preferred boarding facility before leaving your pet there for one or more nights.

During this trial, your canine companion will spend a full day at the facility. This allows your dog to get to know the staff members, gets them comfortable with the space, and makes you feel more at ease with the arrangement as well.

While many boarding facilities require a trial run before they’ll accept your dog for a longer stay, that may not always be the case. Either way, we recommend giving your pup (and yourself!) the chance to test out the experience.

Pro tip: Check out the First Time Day Trip service we offer at Around the World Pet Resort. With this special one-day adventure, your dog will have a chance to experience our luxury spaces, interact with our team members, and group play with other dogs.

Give Your Dog a Stay to Remember!

A great stay starts with the boarding facility you choose. At Around the World Pet Resort, your dog will have a vacation experience like no other.

They’ll get extensive playtime, spacious accommodations, no upcharges for meal preparation or medication administration, and extensively trained staff who provide lots of love while you’re gone.

Boarding your dog can be stressful, especially if it’s your or their first time. But with the tips above, you can prepare your dog for boarding with confidence.

Ready to give your canine companion the best stay ever? Reach out today to let us take extra special care of your best friend!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it stressful for a dog to be boarded?

Yes, it can definitely be stressful for a dog to be boarded, especially if that dog already suffers from separation anxiety.

To keep stress levels low and help your dog have a good boarding experience, be sure to prepare them in advance and let them take a day trip to the facility so they can meet the staff and get used to the space.

Do dogs miss their owners when boarded?

Some dogs definitely miss their owners when they’re away from them, whether that’s at a boarding facility, a friend or family member’s house, or even at home alone.

To help with this, leave a blanket or piece of clothing with your scent on it that your dog can sniff whenever they want. This can help your furry friend feel more at ease while you’re away.

Can I board my dog if they have a health condition?

The short answer? It depends. If the health condition is something that’s easily managed (for instance, your dog just needs one pill a day) and the facility is willing to take it on, then yes.

On the other hand, if your dog is contagious, you might not be able to board them. Always check with the boarding facility and discuss any health or behavior issues upfront.