--- title: How to Read Your Dog's Vaccine Certificate | Happy Paws url: https://happypawskennels.com/guides/how-to-read-a-vaccine-certificate/ 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/) - How to read your dog's vaccine certificate before you upload it # How to read your dog's vaccine certificate before you upload it Check four things on the certificate: your dog's name, the date each vaccine was given, the date each one expires, and that none of those dates falls before pick-up day. Happy Paws Kennels needs records that stay current through the end of the stay, and you upload them to your ProPetware account. [Book a stay](https://happypawskennels.propetware.com/customerLogin)[Call 707-678-6600](tel:+17076786600) Most delays at check-in come from a record that is fine today and expires next week. A two-minute read of the certificate prevents that. ## The four-point check - Name and owner: the pet's name and your name should match the booking. - Vaccine names: look for rabies, distemper/parvo (often written DHPP or DAPP) and Bordetella, plus canine influenza if your dog has it. - Date given: each line should show when the vaccine was given. - Due or expiration date: each line should show when it runs out. Compare every one to your pick-up day. ## Rabies: one year or three The American Animal Hospital Association explains that licensed rabies vaccines for dogs come in one-year and three-year formulations, that puppies are first vaccinated at 3 months or older, and that a booster is recommended one year after the first dose. So a young dog's certificate often shows a one-year date even if the product label says three. The California Department of Public Health states that all dogs in California must be vaccinated against rabies. If the rabies line has no expiration date, ask the clinic to add one, because the kennel needs to see that each vaccine stays current through the stay. ## Bordetella and flu are separate lines AAHA guidelines treat Bordetella and canine influenza as vaccines chosen by lifestyle, and they protect against different germs. Look for each on its own line. Note that AAHA says protection from Bordetella may last as short as about six months in some dogs and suggests dosing before boarding more often than once a year, so ask your veterinarian about the timing for your dog. Canine influenza is a two-part series. Happy Paws accepts it after the first dose, with the booster due 3 to 4 weeks later, then yearly. The certificate should show both dates once the booster is given. Send the updated record after the booster. The [canine influenza page](https://happypawskennels.com/vaccines/canine-influenza/) has more. ## A worked example Say your dog stays from a Friday to the following Sunday, and the rabies line expires on the Saturday between them. That record would lapse during the stay, so the kennel needs a new certificate first. The same is true for a Bordetella dose due mid-stay. Check every line, not only the first. When the certificate is clear, upload it with the booking request. Step-by-step upload and email options are on the [sending records page](https://happypawskennels.com/vaccines/sending-vaccine-records/), and the full list is in the [vaccination requirements](https://happypawskennels.com/vaccination-requirements/). If your clinic gave you a titer result instead, see [titer tests](https://happypawskennels.com/vaccines/titer-tests/) and call 707-678-6600. ### Sources (checked October 19, 2026) - [AAHA 2022 Canine Vaccination Guidelines: Rabies](https://www.aaha.org/resources/2022-aaha-canine-vaccination-guidelines/rabies/) - [AAHA 2022 Canine Vaccination Guidelines: Bordetella, Canine Parainfluenza and Canine Influenza](https://www.aaha.org/resources/2022-aaha-canine-vaccination-guidelines/bordetella-canine-parainfluenza-and-canine-influenza/) - [California Department of Public Health: Rabies](https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/Rabies.aspx) - [Happy Paws Kennels vaccination requirements](https://happypawskennels.com/vaccination-requirements/) ### 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/) - [How to send vaccine records](https://happypawskennels.com/vaccines/sending-vaccine-records/) - [How far ahead to vaccinate before a stay](https://happypawskennels.com/vaccines/timing-before-boarding/) - [Rabies vaccine for dogs](https://happypawskennels.com/vaccines/rabies-dogs/) - [Canine influenza](https://happypawskennels.com/vaccines/canine-influenza/) - [Book a stay](https://happypawskennels.com/book/) ## Read next - [Kennel cough vs canine flu](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/kennel-cough-vs-canine-flu/) - [Indoor cats and boarding vaccines](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/cats/indoor-cats-and-boarding-vaccines/) - [Boarding a shy cat](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/cats/boarding-a-shy-cat/) - [Cat hotel or cattery](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/cats/cat-hotel-vs-cattery/) - [Car rides with a cat](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/cats/car-rides-with-a-cat/) - [Boarding a kitten](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/cats/boarding-a-kitten/) - [Boarding your cat and your dog on the same trip](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/cats/boarding-cats-and-dogs-from-the-same-home/) - [Cat boarding checklist](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/cats/cat-boarding-checklist/) 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 if my dog's certificate has no expiration dates? Ask the clinic for an updated printout that lists the date given and the due date for each vaccine. ### Is a rabies tag enough? No. The kennel needs a record showing the vaccine and its dates. ### Does the record have to be good for the whole stay? Yes. Every required vaccine must stay current through the last day of the stay. ### Where do I upload the certificate? Upload it to your ProPetware account from the booking page, or email it. See the sending records page.