A first overnight stay is often decided long before a dog reaches the front desk. The smoothest stays begin with current records, an honest conversation about behavior, and enough time for a dog to settle into a new routine before the trip even starts.
Preparing your dog for boarding means thinking beyond food and a leash. At Camp Bow Wow North Durham, every new Camper completes a free Camper Interview and temperament assessment before joining daycare or boarding, giving us a chance to understand how that dog fits into the Camp environment before the first overnight.
Start Preparing Several Weeks Ahead
Reservations, health requirements, and screening steps take time, especially before holiday travel. Confirm boarding dates, arrival policies, vaccination requirements, and any forms we need before you make nonrefundable plans.
For dog boarding in Durham, Camp Bow Wow North Durham requires every dog to complete the Camper Interview before their first stay. This assessment helps us understand how a dog responds to people, handling, activity, and other dogs, and gives you a chance to share details we’d want to know before an overnight reservation.
Get Vaccine Records in Order Early
Gather vaccination records several weeks ahead rather than discovering a missing document the day before departure. Our boarding requirements generally include current Rabies, Distemper, and Bordetella vaccines. Bordetella helps protect against kennel cough, one of the most common illnesses in group dog care settings. Confirm current expectations when you book, since requirements can vary.
Use a Trial Daycare Visit to Your Advantage
A trial daycare visit can make a first overnight feel far less unfamiliar. Your dog gets to meet our Camp Counselors, experience the play environment, practice transitions, and learn that you come back after pickup, which matters most for dogs that haven’t spent much time away from home.
Not every dog thrives in group play the same way. Puppies need more rest, senior dogs may have mobility or comfort needs, and nervous or reactive dogs may need a slower introduction. Bring those concerns to the assessment rather than hoping they won’t come up.
Write Down Your Dog’s Routine & Care Instructions
Clear instructions help our team maintain the parts of home life that matter most to your dog. Write down meal portions, feeding times, medication details, bathroom habits, sleep preferences, familiar cues, and anything that tends to cause stress. Don’t skip the less obvious details: let us know if your dog guards food or toys, has allergies, had a recent illness, is sensitive to noise or storms, or has mobility limitations. An honest, accurate note is more useful than one that makes your dog sound easier to manage than they are.
Keep the days before the stay ordinary. Don’t change food, start a new intense exercise routine, or dramatically shift meal times right before arrival. Fewer adjustments at once means a calmer first day.
Pack Only What the Stay Requires
Ask what we provide before adding bowls, bedding, blankets, treats, or toys to your bag.
Bring these essentials:
- Current Records: Vaccination records, required forms, and your veterinarian’s contact information.
- Contact Details: Your phone number, travel information if relevant, and an emergency contact who can make decisions if needed.
- Food Instructions: Clearly portioned food or written feeding instructions, including the amount and timing for each meal.
- Medications: The original medication, dosage, timing, storage instructions, and the date and time of the last dose.
- Requested Comfort Items: Only items we’ve approved for your dog’s stay.
Label every food container and medication package with your dog’s name. If a medication must be given with food, at a specific hour, or kept refrigerated, write it down. Verbal instructions can get lost during a busy handoff, and a labeled package gives our team something concrete to verify.
Arrive with Time to Spare
Plan to arrive with enough time for registration. Rushing through paperwork, medication handoff, and last-minute questions makes an already unfamiliar moment harder for both of you.
At check-in, give us a quick update if anything has changed since you booked: skipped meals, new symptoms, medication adjustments, soreness, or an unusual behavior at home. Small changes can affect how we approach that day’s care.
Once your dog has been welcomed by a Camp Counselor, keep the goodbye warm but brief. Lingering or coming back after you’ve left can make the transition harder. A calm departure signals that this is a normal, safe part of the routine.
What to Expect During the Stay and After
At Camp Bow Wow North Durham, boarding includes daytime play in indoor and outdoor areas, followed by rest in individual overnight cabins. Our Live Camper Cams let you check in while you’re away. For questions about eating, medication, behavior, or a health concern, our Camp Counselors are your best source of direct information about your dog’s stay.
Plan for Pickup & the Days After
Check pickup details before you head home. We list an 11:00 a.m. boarding checkout time, though Sunday and holiday timing can vary. Confirm the schedule for your reservation so pickup doesn’t become an unnecessary source of stress.
After an active stay, some dogs sleep more than usual, want extra closeness, or need a day or two to settle back into their home rhythm. Let your dog rest, return to familiar routines, and keep an eye out for anything that seems unusual or persistent. If you have a medical concern after pickup, contact your veterinarian.
A Quick First-Stay Checklist
The best preparation happens before travel day. Confirm our requirements, complete the Camper Interview, share honest routine and health information, pack only what’s been requested, and build in enough time for a calm arrival and pickup.
To discuss an upcoming stay or schedule a Camper Interview, contact us at (984) 384-6257.