The Ultimate Dog Boarding Checklist For Stress-Free Pet Care

As a pet owner, it’s not enough to plan your itinerary for the perfect vacation. You must also arrange care for your furry family members while away. Pet boarding is more than just picking the right facility. It’s all about ensuring your dog has a safe, comfortable environment and keeping the transition as stress-free as possible. This guide will give you a helpful checklist of everything your pet needs for a joyful and healthy pet boarding experience. In this article, we’ll explore the following about creating the perfect dog boarding checklist template: 

• Why a Checklist Matters for Dog Boarding
• What to Include in Your Dog Boarding Checklist
• Preparing for Dog Daycare vs. Overnight Boarding
• Understanding the Dog Boarding Report Checklist
• Tracking Eating and Drinking During Boarding
• Final Tips for a Smooth Boarding Experience

Why a Dog Boarding Checklist Template Matters

Being a responsible pet owner requires plenty of planning, especially when boarding your pet for a vacation. For instance, you must ensure your pets are up-to-date on their vaccinations and ongoing medications. However, planning is not only crucial but also offers significant benefits. Knowing your pet’s likes and dislikes and adjusting around them can help maximize your pet’s comfort and encourage positive behaviour.  More importantly, it provides peace of mind for you and the dog daycare staff. Having the necessary information on your dog’s behaviour, medical history, and so on can save plenty of time. 

What to Include in Your Dog Boarding Checklist Template

As a responsible pet owner, making comprehensive preparations before planning your vacation is especially important. If you're not sure what to include, here's a basic checklist template for boarding your pet:

Essentials

Here are the essentials you need to prepare before boarding your pet: 

Food - While many facilities provide food and water bowls, your pet might be a picky eater or have specific dietary needs. 

Grooming Items - The basic pet grooming products for your dog, such as brushes and nail clippers, have your scent. Bringing them along can make your dog feel more comfortable while you're away.

Medication - You should prepare your dog's specific medications before boarding your pet for daycare, if any.

Vaccination Records - The pet boarding business of your choice may require your dog's complete vaccination records. 

Emergency Contact Info - If anything goes wrong or your pet is ready for pickup, the staff can contact you immediately. 

Comfort Items

Next, your dog boarding checklist should include your pet's favourite toys, blankets, and bedding. Familiar scents provide a sense of security and help ensure restful sleep during their stay. You can also include a regularly used shirt for that added sense of familiarity and comfort. 

Treats

A sense of comfort and familiarity can help dogs adjust to new environments. Treats, in addition to packing items like blankets and toys, are another way to help them adjust.

Preparing Your Checklist for Boarding a Dog: The Difference Between Daycare vs Overnight Boarding

Whether facing an emergency or travelling, you will eventually need someone to care for your dog. Without a trusted dog sitter, your next bet is a reputable dog boarding facility. Simply making a reservation and dropping off your pet isn't enough. Proper preparation before boarding can go a long way in making your dog feel at ease while you're away. When creating your dog daycare or dog overnight boarding checklist, it's essential to know the differences between the two:  

Daycare

Dog daycare is like daycare for humans. One or more dogs are dropped off in the morning, spend the day playing and socialising, and then are picked up. Dog daycare is generally for people who work all day or can't spend plenty of time with their pets. If you have a busy schedule, packing lightly for daycare may be beneficial. 

Overnight/Boarding

Overnight stays are the main difference between pet daycare and pet boarding. If you need to leave your dog overnight or for a few days, pet boarding might be for you. Pet boarding is a hotel for pets. They stay overnight at a facility supervised by staff 24/7 with balanced meals, exercise, and various activities. When packing for pet boarding, you should include your basic checklist for boarding a dog: food, toys, blankets, etc. On top of that, providing detailed information and your pet's vaccination history ensures a smooth stay.

Understanding the Dog Boarding Report Checklist

Dog owners want their furry friends to receive the best care and training. However, as a responsible pet owner, you also want to know if your dog behaved well while you were away. Report cards help you and the boarding staff understand your dog better. They are instrumental in identifying noteworthy or concerning behaviours, as well as in identifying separation anxiety. 

Here are the things that pet boarding facilities often include in their dog boarding report checklist: 

Behaviour

Dog boarding report cards log your pet's behaviour when you're away. Staff can tell you if your dog is adapting well, responding to training, or socializing with other dogs. 

Bathroom Habits

Dog sitters and daycare staff include whether the dog used the bathroom. Pet boarding facilities will also include this information since it can indicate any potential dietary, health, or behavioural issues.

Meals and Hydration

Your dog's eating habits matter; some may refuse to eat out of separation anxiety. Staff can note this and recommend strategies for the next time your pet refuses to eat.

Mood and Energy Levels

Many pet boarding facilities today use specialised Pet Boarding Software to log everything from behaviour to meals and medications. Staff members can note your pet's behaviour and give you real-time updates for peace of mind.  

Exercises and Training Techniques

Whether for a dog daycare boarding checklist or an overnight one, staff members will note any exercises practised and progress made during obedience training. 

How Do Pet Boarding Facilities Track Eating and Drinking?

To get you started before pet boarding, here's a basic dog boarding report checklist: eat, drink, sleep, bathroom, and play. Keep in mind that eating and drinking are essential. Appetite and hydration are crucial indicators to ensure your dog's health. You want to make sure your pet keeps a healthy appetite and stays hydrated even before you book a reservation. While it can be stressful, pet boarding facilities can help track meal times accurately with the help of boarding software. It also helps them manage fussy eaters or dogs that skip meals. 

Using this data, they can notify pet owners in real time if their pet is exhibiting worrisome changes in appetite. For instance, dogs might start eating less because of separation anxiety or other underlying factors.

Final Tips for a Smooth Pet Boarding Experience

Once you've chosen your preferred pet boarding facility, it's time to start preparing. Here are a few final tips to ensure a smooth experience and complete your checklist for boarding a dog: 

Tour the Facility in Advance

Visiting the dog boarding facility beforehand will give you a better idea of how they treat clients' pets. While kennels can't be kept fully sterile, high-quality facilities will still generally look and smell clean.  

Understand the Boarding Facility's Policies

Always ask the staff about their policies when it comes to boarding pets. These include the kind of food they feed pets, toys and blankets you can bring, and their emergency procedures. 

Schedule a Trial Daycare Visit

Before you start your dog's overnight boarding checklist, consider scheduling a trial daycare visit. Doing so can help your pet adjust before you decide to make a reservation. 

Keep Your Dog Relaxed Before Drop-off

Giving your dog a relaxing bath before boarding can help them feel fresh and confident. It will also help them be less anxious and more amiable, allowing them to adjust and socialize more easily. 

Stay Calm During Drop-off

Your dog can be pretty sensitive to your emotions and can pick up on anxiety. If you get anxious, your dog will also likely be nervous. Keeping things short, simple, and positive can make it easier for your pet to relax once you leave.

A Well-Planned Checklist Means Happy Pets and Peace of Mind

It can be nerve-wracking to leave your pet in someone else's care. However, being organized makes the experience better for you and your pet. Sticking to a proper dog boarding checklist template ensures consistent pet care before and after your trip. Starting your checklist early, before considering going away for work, vacation, or emergencies, can give you peace of mind.