How to Prepare Your Dog for Holiday Boarding

Holiday boarding spots in Kansas City fill up fast. Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s are the three busiest weeks of the year for pet care facilities, and the well-reviewed ones are typically reserved weeks (sometimes months) in advance. If you’re traveling this season and your dog needs a place to stay, the time to act is now, not the week before you leave.

The good news is that preparing your dog for a boarding stay isn’t complicated. It comes down to a short sequence: lock in your reservation, confirm vaccinations are current with enough lead time for immunity to build, and pack a kit that keeps your dog’s routine intact. At Camp Bow Wow, our certified Camp Counselors monitor every dog throughout the day, and live webcams let you check in from wherever the holidays take you. That kind of visibility makes a real difference when you’re far from home.

Reserve Your Holiday Spot Before Camp Fills Up

The best facilities book out well ahead of the holidays. Waiting until two weeks before Thanksgiving to call around is a gamble that usually doesn’t pay off. The earlier you reserve, the more options you have, and the less stress you carry into the season.

When you call to book, ask about holiday-specific policies. Many boarding facilities charge peak-season surcharges because demand for space and staff runs higher during these weeks. Knowing the full cost upfront prevents surprises at drop-off. If you’re combining multiple trips or planning one longer getaway, it’s worth asking about extended-stay pricing. We offer discounts for stays of 10 nights or more.

Confirm the Vaccines Camp Requires With Enough Lead Time

Vaccine requirements aren’t a formality. They’re how boarding facilities protect every dog in their care, including yours. At Camp Bow Wow, dogs must be current on the DHPP vaccine (which covers Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvovirus, and Parainfluenza), Rabies, and Bordetella, the vaccine that protects against kennel cough. We also strongly recommend the Leptospirosis vaccine annually. Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection that spreads through contaminated water and soil, is more common than many pet owners realize, and can be fatal.

Timing matters as much as the vaccines themselves. Most veterinarians recommend scheduling any booster at least one to two weeks before a kennel stay so your dog’s immune system has time to build meaningful protection. For puppies, the DHPP series starts at 6 to 8 weeks old, with additional doses every two to four weeks until about 16 weeks of age, followed by a booster one year later. Adult dogs typically need the Distemper and Parvovirus portions re-boosted every one to three years depending on their vet’s recommendation. If your dog’s Bordetella or DHPP is due for a refresh, schedule that vet appointment now, before you’ve booked your flights.

Canine Influenza vaccination isn’t universally required, but it’s worth asking your vet about if your dog spends time around other dogs regularly. Holiday boarding involves higher-than-usual dog density, and a dog who hasn’t been exposed to the virus has no natural immunity. Your vet can tell you whether the local risk level makes vaccination worthwhile before the season hits.

Pack a Kit That Keeps the Holidays Feeling Normal

Dogs are creatures of habit, and a disrupted routine is one of the biggest sources of boarding stress. A well-packed kit won’t eliminate the adjustment entirely, but it makes the environment feel less foreign. Think about what your dog encounters every day at home and bring as much of that as you reasonably can.

A good holiday boarding kit includes:

• Food for the full stay plus one or two extra days. Holiday weather can delay return travel, and a mid-stay diet change can upset a dog’s stomach. Bring more than you think you’ll need.
• Written feeding instructions. Note exactly how much to feed, at what times, and whether anything needs to be mixed in or given separately. Don’t rely on a verbal handoff during a busy check-in.
• Medications with a written schedule. If your dog takes daily medication, include the dose, timing, and any instructions about giving it with food.
• A familiar comfort item. A blanket or toy that smells like home can help a dog settle into a new space more quickly.
• Labels on everything. Every item you send should have your dog’s name on it. During peak holiday season, we’re managing many dogs at once, and labeled belongings don’t get mixed up.

Help an Anxious Dog Settle In Before the Big Trip

If your dog has never boarded before (or tends toward separation anxiety), a holiday week isn’t the ideal time for a first experience. The facility is busier, the staff has more dogs to manage, and you won’t be nearby if your dog needs extra reassurance. A trial stay well before the holidays changes that entirely.

Before any dog stays overnight at Camp Bow Wow, they go through a Camper interview. This isn’t just a paperwork check. We review health and vaccination records and introduce the dog gradually to our environment and the other dogs in camp while observing how they respond. It’s a careful process, and it’s how we work to make sure every dog who comes through our doors can thrive in a group setting, not just tolerate it. Passing the screening also means your dog has already been to camp before their holiday stay. They know the smells, the sounds, and the faces, which does a lot of work when drop-off day arrives.

A trial overnight or a few daycare visits before the holidays give your dog a chance to build comfort with the space at a lower-stress time of year. We encourage first-time boarders to come in for a visit before committing to an extended holiday stay.

Dogs read their owners’ emotional state with impressive accuracy. If you arrive at drop-off visibly anxious (lingering and over-reassuring), your dog picks up on that and carries the tension with them after you leave. A calm, matter-of-fact goodbye, short and confident, can help your dog settle faster. Trust our Camp Counselors to take it from there.

One Thing Left to Do Before You Leave

The difference between a stressful holiday drop-off and a smooth one is almost always timing. Dogs who are vaccinated on schedule, reserved early, and have spent at least a little time at camp before the big trip tend to arrive relaxed and ready to play. The ones who don’t tend to have owners who are just as stressed as they are.

If you’re traveling this holiday season and want your dog spending it running and romping instead of waiting in a crate, reach out to Camp Bow Wow at (877) 700-2275 to reserve their spot and ask about our Camper interview process. You’ll be able to watch them play on webcam from wherever your travels take you.