Vaccination records, with kennel cough timed correctly
No reputable kennel boards a dog without seeing vaccination records, and the detail owners most often get wrong is timing rather than paperwork. Core vaccinations and rabies must be current for the whole stay, not just the drop-off date. Kennel cough cover has its own catch: kennels commonly require it to have been given a set period before arrival, because it can take time to become effective and, given too close to the stay, a live vaccine can occasionally cause mild shedding that kennels want avoided. That window varies by kennel, so ask when you book rather than at your booster appointment. Bring the original vaccination card or a vet-stamped copy; most kennels will not accept a verbal assurance, and some photograph the record onto your dog's file at check-in.
The kennel's own forms: contacts, vet, and permissions
Alongside vaccinations you will complete the kennel's boarding forms. These record your contact details while you are away, a second emergency contact who is actually in the country, your vet's name and number, and your microchip details so staff can verify identity if paperwork and dog ever part company. They ask for permission to seek veterinary treatment in an emergency and usually how costs will be settled, because a kennel cannot wait for you to land before treating a dog who is bleeding or has swallowed something. Answer the health section fully: ongoing conditions, recent illness, appetite quirks, and any daily care the staff must continue. A kennel that knows a dog is a fussy eater watches his bowl; a kennel that was never told simply records a dog who is not eating, and worries later than it should.
Written instructions that survive a busy drop-off
Drop-off is the worst moment to explain a routine verbally, because kennels receive several dogs at once and spoken detail evaporates. Leave written instructions covering food brand or type, measured amounts, feeding times, treats allowed or forbidden, and exercise needs. Note behaviour staff will meet at the gate and in the run: whether he jumps up, pulls hard, dislikes being approached while eating, is frightened of brooms, hoses, or men in boots, or tries to bolt through doors. Mention how he settles at night and any comfort item you are leaving with him. Put your name and his name on every page and on the food containers themselves. Kennels handle many similar-looking dogs and many similar bags of food, and clear written records are what keep your dog's routine attached to your dog.
Book the paperwork in before the holiday rush
Send copies of the vaccination record and completed forms when you book, not when you drop off, because a problem found at booking can be fixed at your vet, while a problem found at the gate can cancel the stay. Recheck booster dates whenever you book a trip, and if a vaccination is due between booking and boarding, tell the kennel and send the updated record afterwards. Keep your own complete copy of everything the kennel holds, so a replacement kennel, a house sitter, or an emergency change of plan starts from the same information. Preparing the whole boarding file inside KinsLe's Pet Passport, ready before you book, turns the kennel's record check into a formality you have already passed at home.