FREE GUIDE · BEFORE THE STAY

The first-stay
checklist.

A calm first stay starts a week or two before drop-off. Use this dog boarding checklist for daycare or boarding anywhere, including with us.

By Gina Wilt · October 2026 · Sources checked October 2026

Two weeks or more before

• Ask your host for their requirements in writing: vaccines, flea and tick prevention, and anything else they need.
• Check vaccines with your veterinarian. AAHA lists rabies, distemper, parvovirus, adenovirus, and leptospirosis as core vaccines, and recommends the Bordetella (kennel cough) vaccine for dogs in daycare, boarding, and other busy settings. [1]
• Give new vaccines time. AAHA suggests finishing travel vaccines at least two weeks before departure. [1]
• In Maricopa County, keep your dog’s rabies vaccine and license current. Both are required for dogs over three months old. [2]
• Book a meet-and-greet or a short trial stay, so the place and people are familiar. [3]
• Check the phone number on your dog’s ID tag and microchip record. [4]
• Traveling over the holidays? Stays fill early, so book ahead. [3]

The week before

• Fill in the “my dog” card below.
• Gather medications in their labeled containers, with written instructions for each one.
• Choose an emergency contact, and have your veterinarian’s name and number ready to share. [3]
• Practice calm goodbyes: keep departures and returns quiet and low-key. [3]

What to pack

• Food, portioned by meal. [3]
• Medications and their instructions.
• Leash and a well-fitted harness. [5]
• A familiar bed, blanket, or toy, labeled with your dog’s name. [3]
• A copy of vaccine records.

Flat-faced or short-legged dog? Also share

• What their breathing sounds like at rest and asleep, so your host knows their normal. [6][5]
• Heat limits: walk times, how long they can be outside, and what helps them cool down. [5]
• Harness, not collar, for walks. [5]
• Stairs, jumping, and furniture rules for long backs and short legs.

Drop-off day

• Keep the goodbye short and calm. [3]
• Hand over everything in one labeled bag.
• Confirm the pickup time and how updates will reach you.

Educational information, not an individual veterinary assessment. If your dog needs urgent help, contact a veterinarian or emergency veterinary service rather than waiting for a reply from Boss Dog Co.