Boarding
How to prove your pet's vaccinations for boarding
What kennels and groomers actually check, which shots they ask for, and how to have the paperwork ready before drop-off day, even on short notice.
The short answer
Bring a vaccination certificate from your vet showing your pet's name, the vaccine given, the date, and the clinic's signature or stamp. A rabies tag alone is not accepted, because staff cannot look the tag number up. Most kennels want rabies, DHPP, and Bordetella for dogs, and rabies and FVRCP for cats.
Here's the frustrating part: most boarding refusals have nothing to do with the shots. Your pet is vaccinated. You know it. What's missing is the piece of paper that proves it, and you're finding that out at 7am on the morning of your flight.
Let's fix that ahead of time.
What does a kennel actually check?
They want a vaccination certificate. Not your word for it, and not the tag on the collar.
A certificate they can accept names four things:
- Your pet, usually name plus species and breed, often the microchip number
- The vaccine, by its actual name, not "annual shots"
- The date it was given
- The clinic, with a signature or stamp
Why isn't the rabies tag enough? Because it's just a number. It links back to a record at a clinic, and the person at the desk has no way to look it up. They're not being difficult. They genuinely can't verify it.
Which vaccines will they ask for?
This varies by facility and by country, so the only list that truly counts is the one on your kennel's website. That said, here's what you'll usually see.
Dogs: rabies, DHPP or DA2PP (that's distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus, parainfluenza), and Bordetella for kennel cough. Some places also want canine influenza, especially after a local outbreak.
Cats: rabies and FVRCP (rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, panleukopenia). Cat boarding usually asks for less than dog boarding.
Why do dogs get turned away even when they're vaccinated?
Nine times out of ten, it's Bordetella timing.
Lots of kennels want that one given more than a few days before arrival, so immunity has time to kick in, and within the last six or twelve months rather than three years. So your dog can be completely up to date on paper and still get refused because the dose was given two days ago.
Two things follow from that:
- Read the facility's rules when you book, not the week you leave.
- If a booster is needed, get it done a week or two ahead.
How do I get the certificate from my vet?
Just ask, and ask early. Most clinics will email one over happily, but reception is busy and requests can sit for a few days. Do it when you book the stay.
One tip: ask for a "vaccination certificate" or "vaccination history" specifically. If you ask for "my records" you might get the full clinical file, which is pages of notes the kennel doesn't want or need. (If you do want the whole thing, here's how to ask for it properly.)
Where should I keep it?
On your phone, in something that opens without internet.
Picture the actual moment: you're at the counter, the certificate is in an email from four months ago, and the building has one bar of signal. That's the failure everyone hits.
So here's the test. Put your phone in airplane mode and try to produce proof of vaccination in ten seconds. A photo in a dedicated album passes. A PDF saved for offline access passes. Searching your inbox on their guest wifi does not.
What if I'm already out of time?
Options, best first:
- Call the clinic and ask them to email the certificate straight to the facility. Most will do this.
- Ask if a photo works. Plenty of places accept a clear one.
- Ask about provisional check-in, with records to follow. Some allow it, entirely at their discretion.
The one that usually can't be rescued is a genuinely overdue vaccine, because of that waiting period. That's the scenario worth heading off two weeks early.
Is travel the same thing?
No, and this trips people up.
Boarding is a private business making its own rules. Crossing a border is not. International travel normally needs an official health certificate, issued and signed by an accredited vet, sometimes with government endorsement, inside a specific window before you fly. The requirements differ by destination and change regularly.
Your own records help you prep for that appointment. They don't replace the certificate. Start from the destination country's official guidance, and give yourself weeks.
The short version
- Bring the certificate, not the tag
- Check your facility's specific list when you book
- Watch the Bordetella window
- Keep a copy that opens with no signal
- Treat international travel as a separate, slower job
Quick questions
Is a rabies tag enough proof for boarding?
No. The tag is just a number that links to a clinic's record, and the kennel has no way to look it up. You need the vaccination certificate that names the pet, the vaccine, the date, and the clinic.
How far in advance does Bordetella need to be given?
Many kennels require it more than a few days before arrival so immunity has time to develop, and within the last six or twelve months. A dose given two days before drop-off is a common reason dogs get turned away, so book it a week or two ahead.
Will a photo of the certificate work?
Often yes. Many facilities accept a clear photo or PDF, especially if it is legible and shows the clinic details. Call ahead to check, and make sure the file opens without internet in case there is no signal at the counter.