Prepare your dog for boarding
- Check vaccines Confirm rabies, distemper/parvo and Bordetella are current through the last day of the stay. Canine influenza is recommended but not required.
- Send records Upload or email vaccine records and complete the boarding agreement.
- Write down care notes List food in cups and medication doses and times.
- Drop off calmly Leave your dog in the car at check-in and let staff walk your dog in.
Most of the work happens two to four weeks before the trip. The checklist below follows the order that avoids last-minute surprises, such as a flu booster that comes too late.
Three to four weeks out: vaccines and records
Happy Paws requires rabies, distemper/parvo and Bordetella for dogs, and records have to stay current until the day you collect your dog. The flu vaccine is recommended rather than required; if given, it is accepted after the first dose, but the booster comes three to four weeks later, so book that vet visit early. Leptospirosis, heartworm prevention and flea prevention are recommended.
Upload the records to your online account, email them, or bring a copy to the first drop-off. The vaccine readiness checker shows what is due for your dates.
Two weeks out: visit and practice
Tours run every day from 9 to 11 AM and 2 to 4 PM with no appointment, and a staff member walks with you. Seeing the runs and the field before the trip helps you choose the kennel size. The AKC suggests that a short trial can show how a dog handles being away, and a single day care visit ($38 for the day, or $7 an hour up to $38) is an easy way to practice a drop-off.
The week before: food, medication, paperwork
- Complete the boarding agreement once; having an online account does not replace it.
- Bring your own food in its original bag with the amounts written in cups, or use the house food at no charge.
- Write medication names, doses and times on a note. Medications are given at no extra charge.
- Check that your dog arrives free of fleas and ticks; a dog found with them is bathed at the owner's cost.
- Give an emergency contact who is not traveling with you.
Drop-off day
Leave your dog in the car while you check in. A staff member carries in belongings and walks your dog to the kennel, which prevents scuffles in the parking lot. Remove metal pinch (prong) collars before you arrive. Bring a slow-feeder bowl if your dog uses one. One toy is plenty, and it should not be the favorite, since toys can get lost or damaged.
What not to do
Skip the long goodbye; calm, brief departures are easier on most dogs. Do not change food in the days before the stay, and avoid a first bath or new medication right before drop-off so you can tell what is causing any change. See the full boarding checklist for a printable version.