The boarding check-in checklist: everything to collect before the owner leaves

Most boarding problems start at the front desk. A missing phone number, a vague feeding note or an unlabelled pill pouch turns into a stressful 2am question when the owner is on a flight. A consistent check-in routine protects the pet, your staff and your reputation.

Before arrival

Collect as much as possible at booking time so check-in takes ten minutes, not forty:

• Owner and pet details, including breed, age, weight and spay/neuter status
• Uploaded vaccination records
• Feeding and medication instructions
• Signed boarding terms and consent for emergency vet care

Send a reminder 48 hours before arrival listing what to bring.

At check-in: the checklist

1. Vaccinations and health

• Verify vaccine certificates against your policy (for dogs, typically rabies and the core combination vaccine; many facilities also require kennel cough). Check expiry dates, not just presence.
• Confirm tick and flea treatment is current.
• Do a quick nose-to-tail check with the owner present: lumps, wounds, ear condition, skin, limping. Note anything you find so it is not blamed on the stay later.
• Record current weight.

2. Feeding

• Brand and type of food, amount per meal, number of meals and times.
• Treats allowed? Any foods that are strictly off-limits?
• Has the owner brought enough food for the stay plus two extra days?
• What should staff do if the pet skips a meal — wait, add warm water, call the owner?

3. Medication

• Name, dose, timing and method (with food, pill pocket, by hand).
• Medicines must arrive in original labelled packaging.
• Ask what the medicine is for, and what side effects to watch for.
• Have a second staff member double-check the entry before the owner leaves.

4. Emergency contacts

• Owner's phone and WhatsApp, plus their time zone if travelling.
• A local backup contact who can make decisions if the owner cannot be reached.
• The pet's regular vet and clinic number.
• Agreed spending limit for emergency treatment without further approval.

5. Belongings

• List everything: bed, blanket, toys, bowls, leash, harness, coat.
• Label each item with the pet's name.
• Photograph belongings together so check-out is quick and disputes are rare.

6. Behaviour notes

• Comfortable with other dogs? Small dogs? Cats?
• Triggers: thunder, men in caps, being lifted, nail handling.
• Escape artist? Chewer? Resource guarder around food or toys?
• Usual walk routine and toilet habits.
• Comfort cues: a word, a toy, a way they like to be settled at night.

During the stay

Turn the check-in into a care plan staff can follow shift by shift: meals, medicines, walks and play time on a single timeline. A daily photo update on WhatsApp reassures owners and cuts anxious calls. In FurKisses, the check-in form feeds straight into the care log, so every feed and dose is ticked off with a time and staff name.

At check-out

1. 1Review the stay with the owner: eating, toileting, mood, any incidents.
2. 2Hand back belongings against the photo list.
3. 3Return unused food and medicines.
4. 4Note weight at departure if the stay was long.
5. 5Settle the invoice, including any add-ons like baths or extra walks.
6. 6Offer to book the next stay, and ask for a review while the experience is fresh.

Make it a template

Print this checklist or build it into your booking system so every staff member follows the same steps. See how check-in, kennel occupancy and care logs connect in boarding software, or book a demo.