Boarding facilities require vaccines for a simple reason: dozens of dogs from different households share air, water bowls and play yards, and one contagious dog can shut a kennel down for weeks. So the list is short, it's consistent from one facility to the next, and it's enforced at the front desk. The dogs that get turned away almost never have an unvaccinated owner problem — they have a paperwork problem: a booster that quietly expired, or a rabies certificate sitting in a drawer at home.
Which vaccines do boarding kennels require?
| Vaccine | How common a requirement | Typical rule |
|---|---|---|
| Rabies | Universal — required by law, not just policy | Current per the certificate (1- or 3-year vaccine). The certificate itself is what they want to see; the collar tag doesn't count. |
| DHPP / DAPP (distemper, adenovirus/hepatitis, parainfluenza, parvovirus) | Universal | Current — puppies need the full series; adults are usually on a 1- or 3-year booster. |
| Bordetella (kennel cough) | Universal for boarding and daycare; most groomers too | Within the last 6 months at many facilities, 12 months at others. Often must be given ≥7 days before arrival. |
| Canine influenza (H3N2/H3N8) | Increasingly common, especially in cities and after local outbreaks | Two-dose initial series, then yearly. Ask early — the series takes 3–4 weeks to complete. |
| Leptospirosis | Sometimes — more often at facilities with outdoor play or rural settings | Two-dose series then yearly; frequently bundled into the DHPP shot as "DHLPP". |
| Fecal exam / parasite check | Common (daycare especially) | Negative stool test within the last 6–12 months. |
| Flea & tick prevention | Common | On a current preventive; some facilities apply one at your cost if not. |
Two things vary more than the vaccine list. Age minimums: most facilities won't take a puppy until the vaccine series is complete, typically around 16 weeks. Spay/neuter: many daycares require it for dogs over roughly 6–8 months, and some boarding kennels do too, so ask before you assume.
How far in advance do the shots need to be given?
This is where people get caught. A vaccine given the morning of drop-off doesn't count at most facilities, for two reasons: it hasn't had time to produce immunity, and some vaccines (the intranasal Bordetella especially) can cause mild sneezing or coughing for a few days that looks exactly like the disease the kennel is trying to keep out.
- Bordetella: most facilities want it at least 7 days before arrival; a few accept 72 hours for the intranasal version.
- Canine influenza: the first two doses are 2–4 weeks apart, and protection is counted from about 2 weeks after the second one — so start 6 weeks before a trip if your kennel requires it.
- Rabies and DHPP boosters: usually fine up to the day before, but don't cut it close — if the vet is booked, you're stuck.
The practical rule: send your dog's records to the facility two weeks before the stay. They'll tell you what's missing while there's still time to book the vet.
What paperwork do you need to bring?
Facilities want documents, not assurances. The standard set is:
- Rabies certificate — the signed form from the vet showing the date given and the expiration. This is the one document nearly every kennel insists on seeing in full.
- Vaccination history from the vet showing dates for DHPP, Bordetella and anything else they require. Most clinics will email a one-page summary on request.
- Medication instructions — drug, dose, timing, and whether it goes in food.
- Emergency contacts — you, a backup person, and your vet's name and phone number.
- Feeding instructions and any allergies or conditions the staff should know about.
Most facilities accept a photo or PDF on your phone, and many let you upload records to an online portal ahead of time. A few older kennels still want to see the original rabies certificate — worth a quick call if you're not sure.
What happens if a vaccine is expired at drop-off?
You'll be turned away, or asked to have the shot given on the spot at a partner vet (if they offer that) and charged for it. Neither is a good start to a trip. Boarding facilities rarely make exceptions on rabies because the law doesn't let them; on Bordetella and influenza some will board a dog in isolation from the play groups, but don't count on it. If a booster has lapsed by more than a few weeks, ask your vet whether the series needs to restart — for Bordetella and rabies it usually doesn't, but influenza and leptospirosis sometimes do.
Pre-boarding checklist
- Two weeks out: send the facility your dog's vaccine records and ask what's missing.
- Book any boosters so they're at least a week before the stay (six weeks for a new influenza series).
- Save a digital copy of the rabies certificate and vaccine summary where you can open it at the front desk.
- Write out meds, feeding and contacts once and keep them with the record — you'll reuse it for every sitter and groomer.
- Set a reminder for the next Bordetella due date; it's the one that expires fastest and gets people turned away most often.
🗓️ Not sure when your dog's boosters are due? Our free vaccine schedule generator turns a birthday into a dated schedule you can check against the kennel's list.
Frequently asked questions about boarding requirements
What vaccines are required for dog boarding?
How long before boarding does my dog need the Bordetella vaccine?
Do groomers require the same vaccines as boarding?
Is the rabies tag on my dog's collar proof of vaccination?
Can I board my puppy before the vaccine series is finished?
What if my dog can't be vaccinated for medical reasons?
Walk in with the records on your phone
DogTag keeps every vaccine date, the rabies certificate and your vet's contact in one place, with a reminder before a booster lapses — so boarding day is a scan, not a scramble. Free to start.
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