Here's a dog boarding checklist you can finish in ten minutes: paperwork, food, medication, and contacts, plus a few optional comforts. We think most first-timers pack too much and forget the boring things that actually matter, like vaccine records and a second emergency contact.
We'd pack light, and here's why. A good facility supplies the bed, so the things only you can provide are your dog's food, medications, and information.
What belongs on a dog boarding checklist?
A complete dog boarding checklist covers paperwork, food, medication, contacts, and one optional comfort item. The table below sorts everything into what to pack, what to ask about first, and what to leave home.
| Pack it | Ask first | Leave home |
|---|---|---|
| Vaccine records, if not already uploaded | Bedding or a blanket | Rawhide and long-lasting chews |
| Regular food, one baggie per meal | A leash | Valuables and irreplaceable items |
| Medication in its original container | Food and water bowls | Bulky bedding sets |
| Vet number and two emergency contacts | A worn T-shirt with your scent | Anything your dog guards at home |
One caveat: every facility has its own rules. Our examples come from our Mount Pleasant boarding page as of October 24, 2026, so call yours before you pack.
Which paperwork goes on your dog boarding checklist?
Vaccine records, your vet's contact details, and two emergency contacts are the paperwork every facility needs. For our facility, dogs need rabies, DA2PPV (distemper and parvo), Bordetella, and canine influenza vaccines, plus a regular flea and tick preventative.
Upload proof to your Goose profile or email it to us before you arrive. Our vaccination policy lists the timing windows, and our guide on how to prepare your dog for boarding walks through the four-week timeline.
Bordetella targets kennel cough, but vaccines lower the risk rather than erase it. Cornell's Riney Canine Health Center (opens in a new tab) says the shot reduces how severe the illness gets.
For contacts, pick someone local who isn't traveling with you, and warn them a call may come. Then check your dog's ID. The AVMA (opens in a new tab) says microchips work best alongside ID tags, and a chip holds only a number. Think of it like a library card number: it points to a record, and the record helps only if it's current.
How much food should you pack for dog boarding?
Pack your dog's regular food in one labeled baggie per meal, plus a day or two of spares. AKC Reunite (opens in a new tab) (July 2023) also suggests individual meals, and spares cover a delayed flight or a flat tire.
We strongly encourage guests to stay on the same diet. If you run short, we have house food available, so ask us about the per-meal charge.
Boarding week is a poor time to try a new brand. PetMD (opens in a new tab) (updated November 2025, veterinarian reviewed) says abrupt switches can cause diarrhea, vomiting, gas, or a refusal to eat, and recommends transitioning over about a week.
How do you pack medication and supplements for a boarding stay?
Send each medication in its original container with written directions: dose, timing, and how your dog takes it. Pack a few spare doses in case your return slips.
Tell us at reservation if your dog has a new diagnosis, a recent surgery, or a chronic condition. We review vet-recommended restrictions and medications, and dogs with medical needs can often be accommodated, so call ahead.
Which comfort items are worth packing?
Pack fewer comfort items than you think, and ask before you bring any bedding. Every suite comes with bedding (comfort bedding, a Kuranda orthopedic bed, or an orthopedic lounge couch, depending on the suite), and we provide freshly laundered blankets.
Facilities differ here. The AKC's long-standing kennel advice (republished by ABC11 (opens in a new tab) in 2017) says to bring a bed or favorite toys, but we already supply the bed, so check first.
Toys and treats are fine at your discretion with us. A worn T-shirt can help a dog settle, but ask first and choose one you won't miss, since items can get washed, chewed, or misplaced.
What should you leave at home when boarding your dog?
Leave home anything that is valuable, bulky, or likely to cause a standoff. Here's our advice (not a house rule):
- Rawhide and long-lasting chews: they're hard to supervise in a group.
- Valuables and irreplaceable items: a sentimental blanket is a bad bet.
- Bulky bedding sets: the suite already has a bed.
- Anything your dog guards: a toy your dog protects at home can become a problem around other dogs.
What should go on your dog's care sheet?
A care sheet is a one-page note covering how your dog eats, sleeps, and reacts. Picture the note you'd leave a babysitter: not everything you know, just what a stranger needs at 7 PM when the dog won't eat.
- Feeding: times, amounts, and any toppers.
- Medication: drug, dose, and schedule.
- Bathroom habits: staff watch eating, bathroom habits, and behavior, so tell us what's normal.
- Triggers: noises, objects, or situations that rattle your dog.
- Behavior notes: resource guarding, increased fearfulness, recent scuffles with other dogs, or any aggression, including bite risk.
- Contacts: your vet and both emergency contacts.
What should you do the night before drop-off?
Finish the checklist the night before, so the morning is only a handoff. Work through these five steps:
- Portion meals into labeled baggies and add spares.
- Pack medications with written directions.
- Confirm vaccine records are uploaded and flea and tick preventative is current.
- Fill out the care sheet and double-check emergency contacts.
- Check pickup times: after 12:00 PM boarding dogs incur an Extended Stay & Play fee, and any dog not picked up by 6:30 PM moves into overnight boarding.
Want your dog to come home fresh? Ask about a bath before pickup, and see our boarding suites for what each stay includes, from photos to report cards.
What else do first-time boarders ask?
Do I need to pack a leash or collar?
Send your dog in a collar with a current ID tag, and ask whether the facility wants a leash, since policies differ. Our boarding page doesn't list a leash requirement, so we'd call and confirm. Update your microchip registration before you travel, because a tag can fall off and a chip only helps if your contact details are current.
Is it okay to bring a toy my dog sleeps with?
Often, yes. At Bark Blvd, toys and treats may be packed at your discretion. Choose a low-value toy you can replace, and skip anything squeaky or shredded that could become a hazard. If your dog guards the toy at home, leave it behind and mention the guarding on the care sheet.
Should I bring paper copies of vaccine records?
Upload them to your Goose profile or email them ahead of time, then keep a copy on your phone anyway. If a vaccine is expiring soon, our vaccination policy explains the timing so you can book your vet early.
How much does boarding cost at Bark Blvd?
Rates depend on the suite, and daycare members pay a lower nightly rate. Each suite includes group play, and higher tiers add report cards, photos, video, and an in-suite camera. See the boarding page to compare suites and book.
Ready to book your dog's stay?
If you're in southeast Iowa, dog boarding in Mount Pleasant with us is easy to start online. Not sure what to pack? Contact our team and we'll talk through it.
