What a Kennel Asks to See for a Bichon Frise
A Bichon Frise usually boards with proof of three things: a current rabies vaccination, the core combination vaccine that covers distemper and parvovirus, and kennel cough protection. Many facilities add canine influenza to that list, and some ask about leptospirosis depending on local risk and whether dogs share outdoor runs. The proof itself matters as much as the shots. A signed rabies certificate from a veterinarian carries weight at check-in, while a reminder card, a photo of a tag, or your own handwritten note often does not, because staff need to see which vaccine was given and when the next one is due.
For a Bichon specifically, expect the check to be thorough. Bichons are small, sociable, and usually placed in close-contact playgroups rather than solitary runs, so kennels protect that group by verifying every dog in it. If any vaccine is close to its due point, the kennel may require it to be refreshed well before the stay rather than during it, since newly vaccinated dogs are sometimes kept apart from group play for a short settling period set by the facility.
The Rest of the Bichon Paperwork Folder
Vaccines are only the first page of what a Bichon Frise boarding stay generates. The facility will want your own contact details, a backup emergency contact who can actually collect a small dog quickly, and your veterinarian's name and number in case anything comes up while you are away. A microchip number, if your Bichon has one, belongs on that same sheet, along with feeding instructions measured for a small breed so staff do not overfeed a dog who will happily accept every extra treat offered.
Bichon owners should add two breed-specific notes to the folder. The first covers coat care: that dense, curly white coat mats quickly in a kennel environment, so note how often your dog is brushed and whether you want staff to do a quick daily pass or leave grooming entirely to you on return. The second covers skin and eye sensitivities your dog already has, described plainly, so staff can tell the difference between your Bichon's normal tear staining and something new worth reporting. If your dog takes anything regularly, write the routine in everyday language, bring the original labelled container, and confirm the kennel is willing to follow it.
Getting the Timing Right Before You Book
Timing decides most Bichon boarding paperwork problems. Call the kennel before you reserve and ask exactly which vaccines they require, how current each must be, and how they want proof delivered, because one facility may accept an emailed record while another wants the paper certificate in hand. Then check your Bichon's records against that list with enough slack to book a veterinary visit if a booster is due, since a lapsed kennel cough vaccine discovered at the front desk can end the booking on the spot.
What to Double-Check the Week of the Stay
A final pass the week of the stay catches the small things that stall a Bichon Frise check-in. Confirm the name on the vaccination record matches the name you booked under, because a record filed under a shortened pet name or a previous surname can slow verification.
A Bichon who arrives with a complete, legible packet moves straight from the desk to settling in, which matters for a breed that reads the mood of a handover closely and settles faster when the humans around the desk are calm and unhurried. Pulling the rabies certificate, vaccine history and contact sheet into one place beforehand is exactly the job KinsLe's Pet Passport handles, holding a Bichon's records together in a single portable packet for the kennel desk.