--- title: CA Dog Vaccine Law vs Kennel Rules | Happy Paws url: https://happypawskennels.com/guides/california-dog-vaccine-laws-vs-kennel-requirements/ business: Happy Paws Kennels address: 6677 Midway Road, Dixon, CA 95620 phone: 707-678-6600 hours: drop-off and pick-up every day 7:30-11:30 AM and 2:00-5:00 PM type: Dog and cat boarding kennel on about 10 country acres; caring for pets in Dixon since 1971 rates: 2026 rates, effective for reservations made on or after Jan 1, 2026 (dogs from $52 a night, cats $35 a night) --- - [Home](https://happypawskennels.com/) - [Guides](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/) - California dog vaccine law vs what a boarding kennel requires # California dog vaccine law vs what a boarding kennel requires California law requires one vaccine for dogs, rabies, starting at three months of age. Happy Paws Kennels requires three for boarding: rabies, distemper/parvo and Bordetella, and recommends canine influenza. [Book a stay](https://happypawskennels.propetware.com/customerLogin)[Call 707-678-6600](tel:+17076786600) Owners are sometimes surprised that a boarding kennel asks for more shots than the state does. The difference is the law sets a floor for public health, and a kennel adds protection for dogs sharing the same airspace. ## What the state requires Health and Safety Code section 121690 requires every dog three months or older to be vaccinated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian with an approved vaccine. A veterinarian can certify an annual medical exemption, but an exempt dog is treated as unvaccinated. The same section requires a dog license by four months of age under the local ordinance, and keeps dogs under four months on the owner's premises or under physical restraint. The state does not require distemper, parvo, Bordetella or influenza vaccines for a pet dog. ## What a vet usually recommends The American Animal Hospital Association's canine vaccination guidelines treat distemper, adenovirus, parvovirus and rabies as core vaccines for every dog. Bordetella (kennel cough) and canine influenza are listed as noncore, which means a veterinarian adds them based on the dog's lifestyle and exposure. Your own vet is the person to decide what suits your dog. ## What Happy Paws requires, and why the list is longer A boarding stay puts dogs near each other, and respiratory illness spreads through the air. So Happy Paws requires current proof of rabies, distemper/parvo and Bordetella. The influenza vaccine is recommended rather than required; if given, it is accepted after the first dose, with the booster due three to four weeks later and then yearly. Leptospirosis, heartworm prevention and flea prevention are recommended. Records must stay good through the last day of the stay, and pets must be 16 weeks old before the first day. Cats need rabies and FVRCP. The full list and the records process are on the [vaccination requirements](https://happypawskennels.com/vaccination-requirements/) page, and the [vaccine readiness checker](https://happypawskennels.com/tools/vaccine-readiness-checker/) tells you whether your dates work. ## Putting it together Think of three layers. The state requires rabies. Your vet may recommend more based on how your dog lives. A kennel then sets a house standard for the group. If your dog has a medical reason to skip a vaccine, talk to the kennel before booking, because the vet's note and the kennel's requirement have to be reconciled in advance, not at the front desk. ### Sources (checked October 19, 2026) - [California Health and Safety Code section 121690, dog rabies vaccination and licensing](https://california.public.law/codes/health_and_safety_code_section_121690) - [AAHA Canine Vaccination Guidelines](https://www.aaha.org/aaha-guidelines/2022-aaha-canine-vaccination-guidelines/) - [Happy Paws Kennels 2026 rate sheet (PDF)](https://happypawskennels.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/2026-Rates-EFFECTIVE-1-1-26.pdf) ### 2026 nightly rates - First Class kennel $72 - Business Class kennel $59 - Economy Class kennel $52 - Cat condo $35 All-inclusive: food, medications and walks. 2026 rates, effective for reservations made on or after Jan 1, 2026. [All 2026 rates](https://happypawskennels.com/rates/) ### Visit or call 6677 Midway Road, Dixon, CA 95620 [707-678-6600](tel:+17076786600) | Drop-off and pick-up, every day | 7:30 to 11:30 AM and 2:00 to 5:00 PM | | --- | --- | | Tours, every day (no appointment) | 9:00 to 11:00 AM and 2:00 to 4:00 PM | [Book a stay](https://happypawskennels.propetware.com/customerLogin) ### Related - [Vaccination requirements](https://happypawskennels.com/vaccination-requirements/) - [Vaccines](https://happypawskennels.com/vaccines/) - [Rabies vaccine for dogs](https://happypawskennels.com/vaccines/rabies-dogs/) - [Vaccine readiness checker](https://happypawskennels.com/tools/vaccine-readiness-checker/) - [Vaccines](https://happypawskennels.com/faq/vaccines/) ## Read next - [Can day care help a dog lose weight?](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/can-day-care-help-a-dog-lose-weight/) - [Wildfire smoke and dogs](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/wildfire-smoke-and-dogs/) - [Boarding a dog with arthritis or stiff joints](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/boarding-a-dog-with-arthritis/) - [Boarding a dog with food allergies or a prescription diet](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/boarding-a-dog-with-food-allergies/) - [Puppy socialization before the first boarding stay](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/puppy-socialization-before-the-first-stay/) - [Ticks on dogs in Solano and Yolo counties](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/ticks-on-dogs-in-solano-and-yolo/) - [Hot cars and dogs](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/hot-cars-and-dogs-at-drop-off/) - [How to weigh your dog at home](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/how-to-weigh-your-dog/) Answers ## Questions people ask Still have a question? Call [707-678-6600](tel:+17076786600) (every day 7:30-11:30 AM and 2-5 PM) or see the [boarding FAQ](https://happypawskennels.com/faq/). ### What vaccines does California require for dogs? California law requires rabies vaccination for dogs three months and older, under Health and Safety Code section 121690. ### Why does Happy Paws require more than the state? Dogs share air during a stay, so Happy Paws requires rabies, distemper/parvo and Bordetella. Canine influenza is recommended but not required. ### Is the canine flu booster required before the stay? No. The vaccine itself is recommended, not required. If your dog has started the series, the first dose is accepted, with the booster due three to four weeks later and then yearly. ### How old must my dog be? Dogs must be 16 weeks old before the first day of the stay and have the vaccines recommended for their age.