Getting Your Dog Ready for Boarding: A Checklist From My Home

Most boarding problems I could name start long before the dog arrives. A missing vet record. A rabies shot that expired last spring. A trip booked for next week. I board dogs at my own home in Elkton, and I'd rather help you get ready early than turn you away at the door. So here's the full checklist, in plain English.

Boarding is $35 per day per dog. It's an all-inclusive price, and your dog stays in my home with me and my own dogs.

Why I need a month's notice

I ask for a month in advance notice for boarding. It isn't me being fussy. Boarding happens in my house, around my own dogs and my own routine, so I plan each stay ahead of time instead of squeezing it in. A month also gives us room to do the things that have to happen first: a meet and greet, your vet records, and any shots that are due.

Holiday weeks get requested early, so the sooner you tell me your dates, the better. If you're booking around Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Year's, don't wait.

The four vaccines I require

Every boarding dog must be current on DHPP, Bordetella, Rabies and Lepto. Here's what those generally cover, in everyday terms. Your vet is the one to ask about timing and what's right for your dog.

• DHPP is a combination vaccine that covers distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus and parainfluenza.
• Bordetella is the vaccine most people link to kennel cough, which spreads easily wherever dogs share air.
• Rabies is the one most owners already know about, and it is a core vaccine for a reason.
• Lepto protects against leptospirosis, a bacterial infection dogs can pick up from contaminated water or soil.

I can only say what I require. Which vaccines your dog should have, and when, is a conversation for your vet.

Tags, Heartguard, flea and tick prevention

Your dog also needs to be wearing tags, and to be on Heartguard and flea and tick prevention. A tag with your phone number on it is the cheapest insurance in dog ownership, and a loose collar and a busy yard have a way of finding each other. Heartworm and flea and tick prevention matter for the whole house, because dogs in my home share space.

Dogs must also be spayed or neutered. That is a firm rule for boarding and daycare both.

Get your vet records early

I need updated shot records from your vet before the first stay. This is the step people leave until the last minute, and it's the one that causes the most trouble. Vet offices can take a few days to send a record, and if a vaccine turns out to be overdue, your dog may need an appointment before boarding can happen.

A good habit: when you book, ask your vet's office to email the records right then. Then glance at the dates. If anything expires before your trip ends, deal with it now.

I'll be honest about the other side of this. A dog who isn't up to date will be declined for boarding and daycare. I don't make exceptions, because the other dogs in my home depend on everyone following the same rules.

The meet and greet

Before any boarding stay, we do a meet and greet. You bring your dog, I meet both of you, and we see how she reacts to my house and my dogs. It's also your chance to look around, ask questions and decide if you're comfortable leaving her here. If you have any hesitation, this is the moment to say it.

A few things that help a stay go well

Keep her food the same. A sudden switch right before a trip is an easy way to cause an upset stomach. Tell me about anything that affects her day: a medication, a fear of thunder, a habit of slipping out of her collar. Small details I know ahead of time are details I can plan for.

Make the goodbye short and calm. Dogs read our mood, and a long dramatic farewell makes the whole thing feel bigger than it is. Hand over the leash, say a cheerful goodbye and go.

One last practical note. I take Visa, Master Card, American Express and Discover. Late payments carry a $20 charge per day, and there are no refunds. I'd rather you hear that now than discover it later.

Planning a trip? Call me at 443-406-6694 to book a meet and greet, and let's get your dog's paperwork sorted a month ahead of time.