A missing vaccine record, a packed holiday schedule, or a dog who’s never spent a night away from home can turn travel planning into a last-minute scramble. The good news: most of the stress is avoidable. Knowing how to prepare your dog for overnight boarding starts well before the morning you load the car.

At our Camp, a first overnight stay requires a Camper Interview. This is an introductory evaluation that helps us understand how a dog responds to our environment and group play. We also need current vaccination records before boarding, so it’s worth confirming those details early rather than discovering a gap close to your departure date.

Every dog arrives with a different routine, comfort level, and set of care needs. A little planning gives our Camp Counselors the information they need while giving your dog time to get familiar with a new place.

Book Early & Confirm the Details That Apply to Your Stay

Reservations should be one of the first items on your travel checklist, particularly around holidays and school breaks. Availability fills up, and our Kansas City Westport location requires a $50 holiday reservation deposit.

Before booking, review the details specific to your stay. Hours, availability, pickup policies, and location-specific health requirements can vary, especially on holidays.

A Camper Interview is required before a dog’s first daycare or overnight stay at our Camp. This visit helps us assess whether a dog is comfortable in our open-play environment, where pups spend supervised time socializing and playing with compatible friends. For many first-time boarders, a trial daycare day is a useful next step. It lets your dog experience the sights, sounds, routine, and Camp Counselors before bedtime is added to the mix.

When you reach out about boarding, confirm your arrival and pickup dates, holiday hours, current vaccine requirements, and whether your return time affects checkout. It also helps to ask what your dog’s first day will look like. Understanding the check-in process, play schedule, meals, rest periods, and evening routine makes it easier to prepare both your dog and yourself.

Pull Together Health Records & Care Instructions

Health information is more than paperwork. It tells our team what your dog needs to stay comfortable and receive consistent care while you’re away.

Boarding dogs must be current on Rabies, Distemper or DHPP, and Bordetella vaccines. DHPP is a combination vaccine that protects against distemper, hepatitis, parainfluenza, and parvovirus, while Bordetella helps guard against a common cause of kennel cough. Requirements can vary by Camp, so confirm your dog’s status with your veterinarian and with us before the stay.

Bring or confirm these details:

Vaccination records showing current Rabies, DHPP or Distemper, and Bordetella vaccines
Emergency contact information for you and a backup who can make decisions if needed
Veterinary information including your regular vet and any relevant medical history
Feeding instructions with food type, portion size, meal timing, and treat guidance
Medication instructions with the medication name, dosage, timing, and administration notes
Health and behavior notes covering allergies, mobility concerns, sensitivities, or known stress signals

Write instructions down even if they seem obvious at home. Clear notes prevent confusion about whether a scoop means one cup, half a cup, or a particular scoop from your own container.

Give Your Dog a Head Start Before the First Night

A gradual introduction makes a new routine easier on your dog. A trial daycare day offers practice with the people, play areas, and daily transitions they’ll encounter during a longer stay. Keep home routines steady in the days before boarding. Stick to normal walks, meals, and sleep times rather than making several changes at once, and send the food your dog regularly eats if that’s part of your Camp’s boarding plan.

Tell us if your dog gets unsettled during separation, has trouble resting in new settings, reacts to particular handling, or needs extra time to warm up. Honest information helps us support your dog appropriately and decide whether a shorter introductory visit is a better starting point. Predictable preparation, gradual exposure, and an accurate picture of your dog’s behavior are what set a first boarding stay up for success.

Dogs take cues from their people. A calm arrival, a clear handoff, and a simple goodbye are easier on everyone than a long, emotional departure that signals something is off. If an approved comfort item will help your dog settle, bring something familiar and easy to identify. Confirm ahead of time what items we can safely accept in a group-play environment.

Pack the Essentials Without Overdoing It

A well-organized bag makes drop-off easier for everyone. Pack only what your dog needs, label everything clearly, and get it ready the day before rather than relying on a rushed morning.

Core boarding essentials:

Usual food portioned or labeled with clear feeding directions
Medications in their original containers with written dosing instructions
Current care information including emergency contacts and veterinary details
Approved comfort item if we permit one for your dog’s stay
Clear labels on every container, bag, and personal item

Toys, treats, bedding, and extra gear are often optional. Policies can depend on the Camp environment and your dog’s needs, so check before packing items that could be misplaced, damaged, or unsuitable during group activity. Don’t introduce a new food, unfamiliar supplement, or different medication routine right before boarding unless your veterinarian has advised it.

Set Up a Smooth Drop-Off & Pickup

We suggest dropping boarding dogs off before 4:00 p.m. so they have time for play, meals, and settling into the evening routine before bedtime. At drop-off, walk us through feeding instructions, medication handoff, emergency authorization, and the best way to reach you during your trip. Ask about webcam access if it’s available for your stay, then let our Camp Counselors take it from there.

Pickup deserves the same planning. Our Kansas City Westport location has an 11:00 a.m. boarding checkout time, with the option to extend your dog’s stay for continued play for an additional charge. Confirm our current checkout rules before you travel. Sunday and holiday pickup procedures can differ. Give yourself a little extra time when you return. Your dog will likely be excited to see you, and you’ll want a few minutes to collect care notes, gather belongings, and make the transition back home a calm one.

Your Day-Before & Drop-Off Checklist

Run through this before you leave:

Confirm reservation details including arrival date, pickup date, holiday hours, and checkout time
Verify vaccine records with your veterinarian and provide any required documentation
Label food and medication with portions, timing, and written instructions
Update emergency contacts with a reachable backup decision-maker
Pack an approved comfort item only after confirming our policy
Arrive before 4:00 p.m. to give your dog time to settle into the Camp routine

Getting ahead of the details (current records, a confirmed reservation, a dog who’s already visited once) makes the first boarding stay a lot smoother for everyone. If you’re planning a stay, our team at Camp Bow Wow Kansas City Westport is happy to walk you through the Camper Interview, boarding requirements, and checkout details. Give us a call at (816) 477-1954.