What to Pack for Your Dog's Boarding Holiday

Packing for your dog is mostly about continuity. The aim is not to bring everything they own, it is to bring the handful of things that make a strange place feel recognisable, plus the practical items we need to run their day exactly as you would.

Food

Bring your dog's usual food, already portioned for the stay, with a little extra in case plans change. We ask for this because we do not believe in changing a dog's diet at the same time as a major change of environment. We feed at set times, and where a dog has a particular requirement, such as three meals a day, we can accommodate that where appropriate.

• Enough of their usual food for the full stay, plus a couple of spare days
• Portions measured out for each meal, or clear instructions on quantity
• Any particular feeding requirement, such as three meals a day
• Any topper, mixer or way of serving that they expect
• Any food they must not have, including anything they react to

Bedding and comfort items

Smell is the shortcut to settling, so send bedding unwashed. It will come home smelling of woodland and that is a fair trade.

• Their own bed or blanket, recently used and not freshly laundered
• An unwashed t shirt or pillowcase of yours
• One or two familiar toys, particularly anything they self soothe with
• Their usual chew or long lasting item if they have one

Walking kit

Keep this simple. We have our own leads, which the team use during your dog's stay, and there is an abundance of towels on site, so there is no need to bring spare leads, towels or other equipment.

• Their usual lead, not a new one
• A collar or harness a lead can be clipped to securely
• An identification tag with your current contact details

Medication and health items

We can give suitable medication as part of a stay. We cannot take dogs that require injectable medication, so please tell us about anything of that kind before you book.

• Medication in its original packaging, clearly labelled
• Written dosage, timing and how your dog prefers to take it
• Enough for the full stay plus a small margin
• Any supplement they have daily

Paperwork

Have these ready in advance rather than on the day, so nothing is chased while you are trying to leave calmly.

• A copy of your dog's vaccination record, or valid titre test evidence showing immunity
• Evidence of leptospirosis vaccination where our policy requires it, since titre testing does not cover it
• If your dog has had a live kennel cough vaccine, the date, so we can confirm at least 14 full days before the first day of the stay
• The date of the most recent flea and worming treatment and the product used
• Your vet's details
• Contact details for you and for a second person while you are away

The notes that matter most

The most valuable thing in the bag is not an object. It is a page in your handwriting describing your dog as you know them.

• How they like to be greeted, and whether they would rather not be
• The words they know, including the family ones nobody else would guess
• What they find fun and what they only tolerate
• Their early signs of having had enough
• What helps them recover when they are unsettled
• Any habit that would worry a stranger but is completely normal for them

What to leave at home

• Brand new equipment your dog has not worn before
• New food, treats or supplements being introduced for the first time
• Anything precious that you would be upset to see chewed
• Toys that your dog guards or becomes tense around

If you are unsure about anything, ask us at the meet and greet. We would far rather answer a long list of small questions in advance than have you wondering while you are away.