--- title: Is Kennel Cough Vaccine Required in California? | Happy Paws url: https://happypawskennels.com/questions/is-the-kennel-cough-vaccine-required-by-california-law/ 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/) - [FAQ](https://happypawskennels.com/faq/) - Is the kennel cough vaccine required by California law? # Is the kennel cough vaccine required by California law? No. California law requires dogs to be vaccinated against rabies and licensed, and it does not require the Bordetella (kennel cough) vaccine. Happy Paws Kennels requires Bordetella for every boarding dog as its own house rule. [Book a stay](https://happypawskennels.propetware.com/customerLogin)[Call 707-678-6600](tel:+17076786600) Knowing which rule comes from where helps when you ask your vet for the right paperwork. ## What the state requires Health and Safety Code section 121690 covers rabies vaccination and dog licensing. The Bordetella vaccine is not part of it. That is why a dog can be perfectly legal on a walk and still be one shot short of what a boarding kennel asks for. ## What the kennel requires For dogs, Happy Paws asks for four vaccines: rabies, distemper/parvo, Bordetella and canine influenza. Bordetella can be given by injection, nasal drops or by mouth, and the kennel accepts any of them. How often it is boosted follows your veterinarian's schedule, so read the date on the certificate. The [intranasal and oral comparison](https://happypawskennels.com/vaccines/intranasal-vs-oral-bordetella/) explains the options. ## What the vaccine does not do Kennel cough is caused by several airborne viruses and bacteria, and the vaccine covers only some of them. So a dog with a current Bordetella shot can still pick up a cough, and that usually clears in a few days. The kennel says this plainly in its vaccination notes. The [boarding and kennel cough risk guide](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/boarding-and-kennel-cough-risk/) covers what to watch for after pick-up. ## Timing the shot Records must show the vaccine is current through the last day of the stay. If your dog is due, ask your vet to give the Bordetella booster early enough to be on file before you arrive. Upload the certificate to your ProPetware account, email it, or bring a copy to the first check-in. ### Sources (checked October 19, 2026) - [California Health and Safety Code section 121690 (leginfo)](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=121690.&lawCode=HSC) - [Happy Paws Kennels vaccination requirements](https://happypawskennels.com/vaccination-requirements/) - [AVMA, kennel cough (infectious tracheobronchitis)](https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/pet-owners/petcare/kennel-cough) ### 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 - [Bordetella vaccine](https://happypawskennels.com/vaccines/bordetella/) - [Kennel cough](https://happypawskennels.com/vaccines/kennel-cough/) - [Intranasal vs oral bordetella](https://happypawskennels.com/vaccines/intranasal-vs-oral-bordetella/) - [Boarding and kennel cough risk](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/boarding-and-kennel-cough-risk/) - [Which vaccines do you require?](https://happypawskennels.com/questions/which-vaccines-do-you-require/) - [FAQ](https://happypawskennels.com/faq/) ## Read next - [Is a rabies tag enough proof of vaccination?](https://happypawskennels.com/questions/is-a-rabies-tag-enough-proof-of-vaccination/) - [How much does it cost to board a dog for a week?](https://happypawskennels.com/questions/how-much-does-it-cost-to-board-a-dog-for-a-week/) - [How much does it cost to board a cat for two weeks?](https://happypawskennels.com/questions/how-much-does-it-cost-to-board-a-cat-for-two-weeks/) - [How much does it cost to board a dog for a month?](https://happypawskennels.com/questions/how-much-does-it-cost-to-board-a-dog-for-a-month/) - [How much does it cost to board two dogs?](https://happypawskennels.com/questions/how-much-does-it-cost-to-board-two-dogs/) - [How much is dog day care for a week?](https://happypawskennels.com/questions/how-much-is-dog-day-care-for-a-week/) - [How much does a weekend stay cost?](https://happypawskennels.com/questions/how-much-does-a-weekend-stay-cost/) - [Do you charge by the night or by the day?](https://happypawskennels.com/questions/do-you-charge-by-the-night-or-by-the-day/) 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/). ### Is Bordetella the same as the kennel cough vaccine? Yes. Bordetella is the vaccine most often called the kennel cough shot. ### Can my dog get kennel cough even if vaccinated? It is possible, because the vaccine does not cover every cause of kennel cough.