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Preparing your dog for their first boarding stay

4 min read · 28 March 2026

A little preparation makes a huge difference to how your dog settles in. Here's a simple checklist used by experienced carers.

Before the stay

Arrange a short meet-and-greet first. Keep vaccinations up to date. Pack their own food, bed and a couple of unwashed items that smell of home.

Share the details

Write down feeding times, medication, vet details, recall words and quirks. A PawStay Pet Passport stores all of this so you can share it with any carer in one tap.

At drop-off

Keep goodbyes short and upbeat — dogs read our anxiety. A calm handover sets the tone for the whole stay.

Find a licensed carer near you

Every boarding carer on Rogers Pets is council-licence verified.

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