Booking dog boarding is stressful enough without last minute surprises about vaccinations. This guide explains what most UK dog boarders ask for, how often boosters are usually due, and how to read your dog’s vaccination record properly.
If you are ever unsure, your vet is the right place for personalised advice. This post is here to help you check the basics and avoid common admin mistakes.
The short answer: what vaccinations are usually needed for boarding?
Most UK boarding services expect dogs to be up to date with the core vaccinations that are commonly required to meet licensing expectations around disease control:
- DHP (distemper, infectious hepatitis, parvovirus)
- Leptospirosis (often shown as L2 or L4, or written as Lepto)
Many services also ask for:
- Kennel cough (often recorded as Bordetella and parainfluenza)
Kennel cough is often a business preference and risk decision rather than a strict licensing requirement. Some boarders require it for all dogs, others only in higher-mixing situations, and some do not require it at all.
Your dog’s record might show brand names like Nobivac or Canigen. The brand does not matter as much as the protection and that it is in date.
Booster timing: what “up to date” normally looks like
Your vet sets the schedule for your individual dog, but these are common UK patterns:
- Leptospirosis: usually boosted every 12 months
- Kennel cough: often 12 monthly if your dog mixes with others
- DHP: often every 3 years after the first year booster
Do not rely on memory or assume it is “roughly yearly”. Check the record and confirm the due dates.
Do not confuse the sticker expiry date with your dog’s protection
Vaccination pages often have stickers that show:
- vaccine name
- lot or batch number
- an EXP date
That EXP date is the expiry date of the vaccine vial, not the date your dog is protected until.
For boarding, what matters is:
- the date the vaccine was given
- a vet stamp or signature
- the booster due date, if it is written in the book
If your record has stickers but the dates are unclear, ask your vet to update the book or print a vaccination history.
Important: do not let vaccines lapse if you have boarding coming up
This is the bit that catches people out.
If a vaccine lapses, some vets may recommend restarting part of the course rather than giving a single booster. Leptospirosis is the most common issue because it is often treated as a primary course when it has lapsed.
A typical lepto course is two injections with a gap between them (often around 4 weeks, depending on the product and your vet’s advice). That can mean boarding is delayed for weeks.
If you have dates in mind, book boosters early and keep lepto in date.
How to check your dog’s vaccination record in 60 seconds
Grab the vaccination book or the vet printout and do this:
- Find the entries for DHP and Lepto (L2 or L4).
- Confirm the date given is written clearly.
- Confirm there is a vet stamp or signature.
- Check the booster due date or calculate whether it is within the normal window:
- Lepto within the last 12 months
- DHP within the last 3 years (unless your vet has advised differently)
- If your boarder requires kennel cough, check the date for that too.
If anything looks missing or messy, ring the vet. It is a quick fix when you do it early, and a nightmare when you do it the week before boarding.
Kennel cough: do you need it?
Kennel cough is a common name for contagious respiratory infections that spread where dogs mix.
Some boarding providers require kennel cough for every dog. Others assess it based on how dogs are managed and whether there will be close contact. This is usually down to the boarder’s setup and risk tolerance, rather than a universal rule.
If your chosen boarder requires it, ask your vet about the best timing before the stay. Do not leave it to the last minute.
What to send your dog boarder
To avoid delays, send clear photos that show:
- your dog’s details page (name and ideally microchip number if shown)
- the vaccination pages showing date given for DHP and lepto
- the vet stamp or signature
- booster due dates if written
Most issues come from blurry photos or pages where the sticker is visible but the date given is not.
Owner checklist before boarding
- Book booster appointments early, especially if lepto is close to expiring.
- Check you have DHP and Lepto (L2 or L4) recorded with dates and vet stamp.
- If kennel cough is required, get it done in good time.
- If your dog has missed vaccines, speak to your vet straight away because restarting a course can take weeks.
- Send your records to the boarder as soon as you book.
Photo captions and alt text for your vaccination record images
If you add vaccination record photos to this post, use captions that explain what owners are looking at. These are ready to paste.
Vaccination record images
Examples of the details to check on your dog’s vaccination record before boarding.
Quick FAQ
My dog is due a booster next week. Can they still board?
Most boarders will want vaccines in date at the time of boarding. If your booster is due during the stay, get it done before the booking where possible.
My dog had a vaccine yesterday. Are they covered immediately?
Not always. Your vet will advise when protection is expected, especially if your dog is restarting a course.
I have lost the vaccination book. What can I do?
Ask your vet for a printout of the vaccination history or a signed confirmation.
Dog boarding vaccinations in the UK: what your dog needs before they stay
Booking dog boarding is stressful enough without last minute surprises about vaccinations. This guide explains what most UK dog boarders ask for, how often boosters are usually due, and how to read your dog’s vaccination record properly.
If you are ever unsure, your vet is the right place for personalised advice. This post is here to help you check the basics and avoid common admin mistakes.
The short answer: what vaccinations are usually needed for boarding?
Most UK boarding services expect dogs to be up to date with the core vaccinations that are commonly required to meet licensing expectations around disease control:
- DHP (distemper, infectious hepatitis, parvovirus)
- Leptospirosis (often shown as L2 or L4, or written as Lepto)
Many services also ask for:
- Kennel cough (often recorded as Bordetella and parainfluenza)
Kennel cough is often a business preference and risk decision rather than a strict licensing requirement. Some boarders require it for all dogs, others only in higher-mixing situations, and some do not require it at all.
Your dog’s record might show brand names like Nobivac or Canigen strong>. The brand does not matter as much as the protection and that it is in date.
Booster timing: what “up to date” normally looks like
Your vet sets the schedule for your individual dog, but these are common UK patterns:
- Leptospirosis: usually boosted every 12 months
- Kennel cough: often 12 monthly if your dog mixes with others
- DHP: often every 3 years after the first year booster
Do not rely on memory or assume it is “roughly yearly”. Check the record and confirm the due dates.
Do not confuse the sticker expiry date with your dog’s protection
Vaccination pages often have stickers that show:
- vaccine name
- lot or batch number
- an EXP date
That EXP date is the expiry date of the vaccine vial, not the date your dog is protected until.
For boarding, what matters is:
- the date the vaccine was given
- a vet stamp or signature
- the booster due date, if it is written in the book
If your record has stickers but the dates are unclear, ask your vet to update the book or print a vaccination history.
Important: do not let vaccines lapse if you have boarding coming up
This is the bit that catches people out.
If a vaccine lapses, some vets may recommend restarting part of the course rather than giving a single booster. Leptospirosis is the most common issue because it is often treated as a primary course when it has lapsed.
A typical lepto course is two injections with a gap between them (often around 4 weeks, depending on the product and your vet’s advice). That can mean boarding is delayed for weeks.
If you have dates in mind, book boosters early and keep lepto in date.
How to check your dog’s vaccination record in 60 seconds
Grab the vaccination book or the vet printout and do this:
- Find the entries for DHP and Lepto (L2 or L4).
- Confirm the date given is written clearly.
- Confirm there is a vet stamp or signature.
- Check the booster due date or calculate whether it is within the normal
window:
- Lepto within the last 12 months
- DHP within the last 3 years (unless your vet has advised differently) li>
- If your boarder requires kennel cough, check the date for that too.
If anything looks missing or messy, ring the vet. It is a quick fix when you do it early, and a nightmare when you do it the week before boarding.
Kennel cough: do you need it?
Kennel cough is a common name for contagious respiratory infections that spread where dogs mix.
Some boarding providers require kennel cough for every dog. Others assess it based on how dogs are managed and whether there will be close contact. This is usually down to the boarder’s setup and risk tolerance, rather than a universal rule.
If your chosen boarder requires it, ask your vet about the best timing before the stay. Do not leave it to the last minute.
What to send your dog boarder
To avoid delays, send clear photos that show:
- your dog’s details page (name and ideally microchip number if shown)
- the vaccination pages showing date given for DHP and lepto
- the vet stamp or signature
- booster due dates if written
Most issues come from blurry photos or pages where the sticker is visible but the date given is not.
Owner checklist before boarding
- Book booster appointments early, especially if lepto is close to expiring.
- Check you have DHP and Lepto (L2 or L4) recorded with dates and vet stamp.
- If kennel cough is required, get it done in good time.
- If your dog has missed vaccines, speak to your vet straight away because restarting a course can take weeks.
- Send your records to the boarder as soon as you book.
Quick FAQ
My dog is due a booster next week. Can they still board?
Most boarders will want vaccines in date at the time of boarding. If your booster is due during the stay, get it done before the booking where possible.
My dog had a vaccine yesterday. Are they covered immediately?
Not always. Your vet will advise when protection is expected, especially if your dog is restarting a course.
I have lost the vaccination book. What can I do?
Ask your vet for a printout of the vaccination history or a signed confirmation.
