For many dog owners, the first boarding stay causes more anxiety for the human than for the dog. Preparing well ahead of the drop-off date solves most of that. The short version: book early, get vaccination records submitted well in advance, pack, and keep the goodbye calm. Everything below expands on those points so you can walk in on day one knowing exactly what happens next.

Why Preparation Makes Boarding Easier for Your Dog

A rushed drop-off with missing paperwork and visible stress is a harder start than a calm handoff with everything already in order. Preparation is mostly about removing the friction that creates that stress in the first place.

The practical side matters as much. Vaccination requirements and reservation lead times have deadlines attached, and discovering one of them the day before you leave is not fun (we’ve all been there). Working through the requirements two or three weeks out gives you room to fix anything that turns out to be missing.

What to Bring (and What to Leave at Home)

General speaking, less is best. The core packing list is short:

• Your dog, with collar and leash
• Enough food for the full stay plus extra meals in case travel delays your return, either as an unopened bag or portioned into sealed bags
• A raised or slow feeder if your dog normally eats from one
• Any medication in its original labeled container, with dosage instructions
• A towel or blanket, if you want to send something familiar
• Training tools, if your dog previously trained at Kasten’s, since daily refresher training is included with the stay

What to leave home is a shorter list but worth reading twice. Stuffed bedding is not accepted, and chew items made from organic material such as antlers, bones, or rawhide should stay behind. Bowls and toys are provided, so you don’t need to pack them. If you are unsure about a specific item, the boarding services page covers most of the questions owners ask, and a quick phone call handles the rest.

Health and Vaccination Requirements to Have Ready

Kasten’s requires distemper, parvo, and rabies (for dogs four months and older), each administered at least 72 hours before arrival. 

Bordetella is also required, and the advance notice it needs depends on your dog’s vaccination history and the vaccine used. Confirm the current requirement with the office before you book rather than assuming your dog’s most recent shot clears it. Records should reach the facility ahead of the stay, ideally ten or more days out, and you can drop them off, email them, upload them through the online reservation portal, or ask your veterinarian’s office to send them directly.

There is one requirement first-time boarders often miss. Kasten’s asks owners to practice “Doggie Social Distancing” for the ten days before arrival, which means avoiding the groomer, pet stores, dog parks, other kennels, and visits with friends’ or neighbors’ dogs. Vaccinated dogs can still pick up and carry a strain of kennel cough, and the ten-day window protects everyone staying at the facility.

How Do I Help a Nervous Dog Feel More Comfortable?

The most useful preparation happens weeks before boarding, not at the door. A kennel stay asks a dog to be confined and away from you, so if either of those is unfamiliar territory, it is worth working on in advance. Crate training is a reasonable place to start, and dogs who show real distress when left alone benefit from addressing separation anxiety well before you book any travel.

Two smaller things help on the day itself. Schedule a tour before you book, since walking the facility yourself tends to resolve more worry than any amount of reading, and Kasten’s encourages visits. Then keep the actual goodbye brief and low-key. A drawn-out, emotional farewell is more for the owner than the dog, and a calm handoff is the easier way to start the stay.

What a Typical Boarding Day Looks Like

Your dog goes out to the bathroom first thing in the morning and last thing at night, with several additional potty breaks throughout the day, each one escorted on a leash by kennel care staff. They are fed their own food, whether that is once, twice, or three times a day, with fresh water available and bowls washed after every use.

Each full boarding day also includes an activity. That may be refresher training and playtime, a walk and playtime, snuggles and playtime, or a daycare play session, though daycare sessions run only on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. The choice depends on weather and your dog’s needs, and drop-off day is deliberately activity-free so your dog has time to settle in first. If you are weighing whether to add a group play session, it helps to understand the difference between a well-socialized dog and an overstimulated one, because more play is not automatically better for every dog.

FAQ

How far in advance should I book boarding?

For ordinary off-peak dates, one to three weeks is usually enough. Weekend and summer stays call for about a month. Major holidays and spring break book up far earlier, and Kasten’s recommends calling at least four months ahead for those, with a deposit required to hold peak-period dates.

What information does a boarding facility need from me?

Current vaccination records, feeding instructions with amounts and timing, medication details with dosages, emergency contact information, and your veterinarian’s information. Also mention anything unusual about your dog’s habits or temperament.

Will my dog be okay at boarding for the first time?

Dogs vary. Some settle quickly, while others eat less or seem subdued at first, which is a common response to an unfamiliar environment rather than a sign something is wrong. If your dog has a history of severe distress when left alone, talk it through with the staff in advance so we can plan the stay around it.

Can my dogs from the same household stay together?

Often, yes. Kasten’s asks about this before the stay, with the condition that dogs sharing a kennel need to be able to eat their meals together. The facility reserves the right to separate them if any issue comes up during the stay.

Should my dog have training before boarding?

It is not required. Dogs previously trained at Kasten’s can receive refresher training as their daily activity, which is a nice bonus but not a reason to delay a stay. If your dog is uncomfortable being crated or confined, that is worth raising with the office when you book.

Book Your Dog’s Stay

Holiday weeks and school break periods fill up well in advance, so it is worth checking dates as soon as your plans firm up. Contact Kasten’s Dog Training to check availability, schedule a tour, or ask further questions!