What to Pack for Dog Boarding: The Complete Checklist

TL;DR

Pack your dog's regular food (pre-portioned), all medications with written instructions, a familiar comfort item like their bed or a worn t-shirt, their lead and collar with current ID tags, and a printed sheet with your vet's details, emergency contacts, and your dog's daily routine. Avoid packing too much — sitters have limited space and your dog only needs the essentials that smell like home.

Why Packing Matters More Than You Think

When your dog arrives at a boarding sitter's home, everything is new. New smells, new people, new sounds, a new sleeping spot. In this unfamiliar world, the items from home become anchors — familiar objects that signal safety and routine.

Experienced sitters will tell you that dogs who arrive with their own food, their own bed, and something that smells like their owner settle significantly faster than dogs who arrive with nothing. Packing is not about luxury. It is about reducing your dog's stress during what is inherently a disruptive experience.

This checklist covers everything you should pack, how to prepare it, and what to leave at home.

The Essential Packing List

Food and Treats

This is the most important item on the list. Changing your dog's food during an already stressful time is a recipe for digestive upset. Pack:

• Your dog's regular food: enough for the entire stay plus two extra days as a buffer
• Pre-portioned meals: measure each meal into individual bags or containers labelled with the day and time (e.g., "Monday Morning — 1 cup")
• Feeding instructions: write down exact amounts, timing, and any feeding quirks (eats too fast, needs a slow feeder, refuses kibble without warm water)
• Treats: a small bag of your dog's favourite treats for rewards and settling
• Food bowls: your dog's own bowls if they are fussy about eating from unfamiliar dishes (many sitters have spare bowls, so check first)

Why pre-portioning matters: A sitter managing their own life plus your dog should not have to measure, calculate, or guess your dog's food quantities. Pre-portioned bags remove any ambiguity and ensure your dog gets exactly what they normally eat.

Medications and Supplements

If your dog takes any medications, pack them with military-level clarity:

• All medications in their original packaging: labelled with your dog's name
• Written medication schedule: the exact name, dosage, time, and method for each medication
• Administration instructions: "Wrap in cheese" is useful information. "Give with food" matters. "Must be given on an empty stomach" is critical.
• Supplements: joint supplements, probiotics, or any other daily supplements
• Spare doses: pack two to three extra doses in case of spillage or delays in your return
• Your vet's prescription label: if the medication requires veterinary authorisation, having proof of the prescription avoids complications

Create a simple medication table:

Comfort Items

These items reduce anxiety and help your dog settle:

• Your dog's bed or blanket: the familiar smell is the key here, so do not wash it before packing
• A worn t-shirt or item of your clothing: your scent is the single most effective comfort object for your dog
• One or two favourite toys: do not pack the entire toy box — one squeaky toy and one chew toy is usually enough
• Crate (if crate trained): if your dog sleeps in a crate and finds it comforting, bringing it eliminates the need to adjust to a new sleeping arrangement

A note on washing: Do not wash your dog's bedding, toys, or blankets before a boarding stay. The whole point of these items is that they smell like home. Clean bedding loses its comforting scent. Pack them as-is.

Lead, Collar, and Harness

• Everyday lead: the one your dog walks on daily
• Collar with current ID tags: ensure the tag has your phone number, an emergency contact number, and ideally the sitter's address for the duration of the stay
• Harness (if used): particularly important for dogs that pull or have neck sensitivities
• Spare lead: in case of breakage
• Muzzle (if applicable): if your dog requires a muzzle in specific situations, pack it and explain the circumstances

Veterinary Information

Prepare a printed document (not just a text message — printed paper does not run out of battery) with:

• Your vet's name, address, and phone number
• Nearest after-hours emergency vet: name, address, phone number, and directions from the sitter's address
• Your dog's medical history summary: chronic conditions, allergies, previous surgeries, known health issues
• Pet insurance details: policy number, insurer contact information, and claim process
• Vaccination records: a copy of your dog's current vaccination certificate
• Microchip number: in case your dog escapes and needs to be identified

Emergency Contacts

Create a clear contact hierarchy:

1. Your primary phone number (including international code if you are travelling)
2. Your partner or co-owner's phone number
3. A local emergency contact: someone nearby who can make decisions on your behalf if you are unreachable
4. Your vet's phone number (repeated here for quick access)

Authorise the sitter in writing to seek veterinary treatment if they cannot reach you. A simple sentence like "I authorise [sitter name] to seek emergency veterinary treatment for [dog name] at [vet clinic name] if I am unreachable" with your signature and the date is sufficient.

The Nice-to-Haves

These are not essential but can make the boarding experience smoother:

• An old towel: for drying your dog after walks in the rain, without the sitter using their good towels
• Poo bags: sitters usually have their own, but bringing a supply is courteous
• A puzzle toy or Kong: mental stimulation is valuable, especially during the settling-in period
• Calming spray or diffuser: Adaptil or similar pheromone products can help anxious dogs, though discuss this with the sitter first
• Doggy toothbrush and paste: for longer stays where dental routine matters

What NOT to Pack

Too Much Stuff

Your dog needs essentials, not an entire room's worth of belongings. Sitters have limited space, and arriving with three bags of dog gear creates logistical problems. Stick to food, medications, one bed, one or two toys, and paperwork.

Expensive or Irreplaceable Items

Do not send your dog's most expensive toy, their hand-stitched designer bed, or any item you would be devastated to lose. Boarding environments are real homes — things get chewed, stained, and occasionally destroyed. Pack items you are comfortable losing.

New or Unfamiliar Items

This is not the time to introduce a new bed, new food, or new toys. The entire point of packing items from home is familiarity. A brand-new bed from the shop has no comforting scent and serves no settling purpose.

Excessive Treats or Chews

A small bag of regular treats is fine. A shopping bag full of rawhides, dental chews, and pig ears is too much. Excessive treats can cause digestive issues, and the sitter may not know which ones your dog can handle in what quantities. If in doubt, discuss treat types and limits with the sitter before the stay.

How to Hand Over

The handover at the start of the boarding stay sets the tone for the entire experience. Make it efficient:

1. Arrive at the agreed time — do not arrive early (the sitter may be preparing) or significantly late
2. Walk your dog before arriving — a tired dog is a calmer dog during handover
3. Hand over the printed information sheet first — the sitter can review it while your dog explores
4. Walk through the medication schedule verbally — even if it is written down, talking through it catches potential misunderstandings
5. Show the sitter which items are which — "This is his evening food, this is his morning food, this is his joint supplement"
6. Say goodbye to your dog calmly — a dramatic, prolonged farewell increases your dog's anxiety. Be calm, confident, and brief. Your dog takes emotional cues from you.
7. Leave promptly — lingering makes the transition harder for everyone, including you

For Different Types of Stays

Short Stays (1-2 Nights)

Pack light. Food for the stay plus one extra day, medications, one comfort item, lead and collar, and the information sheet. That is it.

Medium Stays (3-7 Nights)

The full checklist applies. Pre-portion all meals, include spare medication doses, and ensure the sitter has your complete travel itinerary in case of delays.

Extended Stays (1-2 Weeks or More)

Everything above, plus:

• Arrange for food resupply if needed (a local delivery order the sitter can receive)
• Include grooming essentials if your dog will need brushing or bathing during the stay
• Consider a mid-stay vet check if your dog has ongoing health needs
• Discuss with the sitter what ongoing costs (food resupply, vet visits) you will cover and how

Finding a Sitter Who Makes Packing Easy

The best sitters make the packing process smoother by telling you exactly what they need before the stay. On The Pet Sitter, sitters communicate directly with pet owners through the platform, and many have detailed checklists they share during the booking process.

Browse dog boarding sitters in your area, and once you have found a good match through our search process, the sitter can guide you on exactly what to bring for their specific setup.

FAQ

Should I bring my dog's crate even if the sitter does not use crates?

If your dog is crate trained and the crate is their safe space, bringing it is almost always a good idea. Discuss it with the sitter beforehand to ensure they have room and are comfortable having it in their home. Most sitters are happy to accommodate a crate because they understand its calming effect on crate-trained dogs.

How much food should I pack if my trip might be extended?

Pack your dog's food for the booked duration plus three extra days. If there is any chance your trip could be significantly extended, arrange a food resupply plan with the sitter — either by ordering delivery to their address or by leaving money for them to purchase the same brand from a local store.

What if my dog takes refrigerated medication?

Let the sitter know in advance that refrigerator space will be needed. Bring the medication in an insulated bag for transport, and show the sitter exactly where and how it should be stored. Include a note on the medication packaging: "REFRIGERATE — do not leave at room temperature."

Should I pack different items for a house sitter versus a boarding sitter?

For house sitting, your dog is in their own home, so most comfort items are already there. You still need to prepare the information sheet, medication schedule, emergency contacts, and vet details. You may also want to prepare a home guide for the sitter covering security, appliances, bins, and household routines. Leave enough food and supplies for the full stay plus extra.

Is it okay to send updates requests to the sitter constantly?

It is reasonable to expect one to two updates per day — typically a photo and a brief message about how your dog is doing. Messaging every hour asking for updates can disrupt the sitter's routine and your dog's settling process. Agree on an update schedule before the stay begins, and trust that the sitter will contact you immediately if there is anything concerning.