Written proof, not a verbal yes
Kennels protect every dog in the building, so they ask for documents a vet has issued or stamped, showing the vaccine and the date it was given or is due. A tag on a collar or your memory of a previous appointment does not count as proof at check-in. Expect to show a vaccination certificate, a printed health record from your clinic, or a passport-style booklet with dated entries. If your records are split across two clinics after a move, gather both sets before you book, because a missing page is treated the same as a missing vaccine.
The cover almost every kennel requires
Rabies proof is the near-universal requirement, and kennels look for a current certificate with the dog identified on it. Core cover against distemper and parvovirus, usually given as a combined vaccine, is the other standard request, again checked by date rather than by name alone. Some kennels also ask about leptospirosis cover depending on local risk and their own policy. Because requirements are set by each facility, the kennel's own list is the authority for your stay; national habits are only a starting point for what to prepare.
Kennel cough and timing windows
Many kennels additionally require cover against kennel cough, and this is where timing catches owners out. Facilities often want it given a minimum number of days before arrival so protection has taken hold, and not so long ago that it has lapsed under their policy. A vaccine given the day before drop-off may therefore fail the kennel's rule even though it is medically current. Ask about that window when you enquire, not at check-in, and book the vet visit with enough margin to meet it.
What to send, when, and what else they may check
Kennels commonly want proof sent in advance with the booking, then the same documents again at drop-off. Send clear copies where every date is legible, and keep originals safe at home unless the kennel explicitly asks to see them. Some facilities also check flea and worm prevention status or ask for a health declaration, so read the full intake list rather than stopping at vaccines. If a booster falls due between booking and stay, note it and update the proof after the appointment; an expired mid-stay record can still cause a refusal.
Prepare once, reuse for every stay
Owners who board more than once save repeated stress by keeping vaccination proof filed together and reviewing due dates before each booking. If anything is missing or unclear, call your vet for a reissued summary rather than hoping the kennel will overlook it, because reputable kennels will not. With certificates held in KinsLe Pet Passport as one ready packet, you can answer a kennel's proof request in minutes instead of searching drawers the night before a trip.