Packing for a dog's boarding stay takes ten minutes once you know the rules, and an hour of stress when you learn them at the counter. Kennel packing rules exist for practical reasons: food must stay fresh and identifiable, medication must be impossible to confuse, and arrivals must be safe in a building full of other dogs. Happy Tails Kennel in Concord publishes its version of these rules, and they are a good model for boarding anywhere, because they solve the problems kennels actually have.
Here is the packing list, in the order you will use it at drop-off.
Food: airtight, labeled, and honestly optional
You have two feeding choices at Happy Tails. The kennel provides a premium house food, Diamond Naturals lamb and rice or an equivalent, at no extra cost, and many dogs do fine on it. If your dog has a sensitive stomach, a medical diet, or strong preferences, bring their own food at no additional cost. The non-negotiable part is the container: owner-provided food must be in an airtight container. Zip-top bags, sealed tubs, and containers with built-in seals count. Tied shopping bags, sandwich bags, and original food bags without a built-in zipper do not, because they spill, go stale, and cannot be stacked and labeled reliably in a busy feeding room.
- Decide the food plan. House food, or your own food in an airtight, labeled container with feeding amounts written down.
- Prepare medication properly. Original packaging only, with the veterinary label showing dosage and instructions.
- Add treats and a toy. Familiar treats and a washable toy or two; expect toys to live a full kennel life while they are there.
- Write the care sheet. Feeding times and amounts, medication schedule, vet details, and an emergency contact.
- Leash on before the door. Your dog stays leashed through arrival and departure, every time.
Medication: the rule with no workarounds
Medication is where kennels are strictest, and rightly. Staff at Happy Tails can administer injectable, oral, or topical medication during a stay at no additional charge, but only when the medication arrives in its original packaging or bottle with the veterinary prescribed dosage and administration instructions on it. Without the original packaging, they cannot administer it at all. And never mix medication into a food bag: if medicine is found in the food, the kennel will feed the house food and the medication will not be given, because an unlabeled drug in a shared feeding room is a safety hazard, full stop.
The fix is easy: bring the pharmacy bottle, and add a written schedule to your care sheet that matches the label. If your dog takes medication with food, say so in writing. If a dose is due at a specific hour, write the hour. Kennel staff follow written instructions well; they cannot follow intentions.
Treats, toys, and the comfort item question
The kennel provides biscuits and treats such as freeze-dried and jerky treats matched to your dog's tastes, and you are welcome to bring your own. Toys are allowed broadly, with one specific rule: rawhides are only given during playtime and are never left in a dog's run overnight, because a chewing dog should be supervised with that kind of treat. All other toys are fine. One familiar item from home, a worn t-shirt that smells like you or a favorite toy, can genuinely help a first-time boarder settle at night, so include it if your dog has one.
What not to pack: anything irreplaceable. Kennel life is active and occasionally muddy, especially after Piedmont rain turns play yards into an event. Send the sturdy toy, not the childhood keepsake. Skip expensive bedding unless the kennel invites it, and keep collars and harnesses to the everyday set. The leash, though, is mandatory equipment: your dog must be leashed at all times during drop-off and pickup, which keeps arrivals calm in a space where many dogs are coming and going.
Common questions
Do I have to bring my dog's food?
No. The kennel provides a premium house food at no extra cost. Bring your own, in an airtight container, if your dog has a sensitive stomach or a set diet.
Can I put my dog's pills in their food bag to make it easy?
Never. Medication must be in its original packaging with the veterinary label. Medication found mixed in food cannot be administered, for safety reasons.
What treats will my dog get?
The kennel provides biscuits and treats such as freeze-dried and jerky options matched to your dog's tastes, and you can send your own as well.
Photos in this guide are representative stock images.
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