A Bernese Mountain Dog usually needs proof of current rabies vaccination, distemper and parvovirus cover, and kennel cough vaccination to board, with some facilities also asking about canine flu cover. Alongside the vaccination record, expect to provide your vet's contact details, emergency contacts, a signed boarding agreement, and written feeding and care instructions. Requirements vary by facility and region, so confirm the exact list when you book rather than assuming last year's facility wanted the same as this one.
The Vaccination Records a Facility Will Ask to See
Rabies proof is the anchor document, usually the signed certificate from the vet who gave it, because boarding businesses operate under rules that treat rabies cover as non-negotiable. Distemper and parvovirus are normally recorded together on the same vaccination record, and kennel cough cover is the boarding-specific extra most facilities insist on, since dogs share air space, play yards, and water stations. Some kennels set a minimum gap between a kennel cough vaccination and the stay so immunity is established before arrival. Ask about timing when you book, because a record that is current but too recently given can still fail a facility's check-in rules, and rebooking a vet visit under time pressure helps nobody.
Identity, Vet, and Emergency Paperwork for a Giant Breed
Beyond vaccinations, a Bernese's file should carry his microchip number, a description and recent photo, your contact details, and an emergency contact who can actually make decisions if you are unreachable. His regular vet's name and address belong in the packet, plus written authorisation for the facility to seek emergency treatment and an understanding about who pays. For a dog of this size, facilities also appreciate knowing his weight and any mobility notes, such as how he handles stairs, ramps, and slippery floors. A giant breed who cannot be lifted needs a handling plan agreed in advance, not improvised during an emergency at midnight.
Care Instructions That Count as Paperwork Too
Boarding forms usually include space for feeding amounts and times, and for a Bernese those instructions deserve care rather than a shrug. Write his exact food, portion, and schedule, note the calm-around-meals routine you keep at home, and list anything he must not be fed by well-meaning staff. Add his exercise shape: steady, moderate outings rather than marathon play sessions, and a note that he overheats readily in warm weather despite loving activity, so staff schedule his play for cooler parts of the day. Mention his coat care as well, because that thick double coat benefits from a brush during a longer stay and mats quickly if it gets wet and is left.
Health Disclosures to Make Honestly in Writing
Disclose ongoing health matters on the boarding paperwork even when they feel minor, because staff can only watch for what they know about. Note anything your vet is monitoring, any recent tummy upsets, lameness, ear trouble, or changes in appetite and energy, described factually and without guesswork about causes. If your Bernese takes anything prescribed by your vet, facilities typically require it in its original labelled packaging with written administration instructions, and some ask for a vet letter confirming the plan. A dog who stops eating, struggles to rise, breathes heavily at rest, or develops a swollen, tight abdomen during the stay should trigger an immediate call to you and the vet, and saying so on the form gives staff permission to act fast.
Gathering the rabies certificate, vaccination record, and emergency authorisations into KinsLe's Pet Passport keeps your Bernese Mountain Dog's boarding proof in one portable packet, ready the moment check-in asks for it.