Board and train food and medication

Food and medication during board and train in Gloucester, MA: your dog’s own food, pre-portioned; labeled medications; and a written instruction sheet.

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Close-up of a chocolate lab working a lick mat

Why your dog eats its own food

A change of food and a change of home at the same time is a lot for a dog’s stomach. Keeping the same food keeps digestion predictable, avoids upsets that look like stress, and means any change in appetite is easy to read. A dog that skips a meal of its usual food is telling us something; a dog that skips a new food might just not like it.

Bring enough for the whole stay plus a couple of spare portions, pre-portioned into one bag per meal and labeled. Our packing checklist shows how to label each bag.

If you have been meaning to switch foods, do it at least a couple of weeks before the stay or wait until after. That way any stomach upset from the change has time to settle and can’t be confused with the stress of a new place.

Medications: what to bring and how to label it

Every medication should come with enough information for someone who has never met your dog to give it correctly. Original pharmacy containers are best. Add a label or note to anything that doesn’t already say the dose, timing and whether it goes with food.

Bring a few extra days of each daily medication, so a delayed pick-up never leaves your dog short. If your dog takes something that needs refrigeration or injection, such as insulin, discuss it at the assessment; whether and how we can manage it is confirmed before you book.

Write down for each medication	Example
Name and strength	Carprofen 75 mg
What it’s for	Arthritis pain
Dose and timing	Half a tablet, morning and evening
With food?	Yes, with breakfast and dinner
What to watch for	Vomiting, black stool: call the vet

The one-page instruction sheet

A single written sheet in the food bag is the most useful thing you can pack. It means the instructions travel with the food and medications, and nobody has to rely on remembering a conversation at drop-off. Keep it short, plain and specific.

Use this template. Go through it with us at the assessment, then put a copy in the bag.

Dog’s name, age, weight and breed
Food: brand, amount per meal, meal times, anything added
Medications and supplements: name, dose, time, with or without food
Allergies and foods to avoid, including any treat restrictions
Normal habits: slow eater, gulper, eats only after a walk
Your vet’s name and phone number, and your emergency contact

Allergies, sensitive stomachs and training rewards

Training uses rewards, and most rewards are food. If your dog has a food allergy, a sensitive stomach or a prescription diet, tell us at the assessment so the plan uses rewards that are safe for your dog. Some families send a portion of the dog’s own food or approved treats to use in training; ask whether that suits your dog’s plan.

Food can also be enrichment. Lick mats, slow feeders and puzzle toys can turn part of a meal into a brain game, and our page on enrichment during board and train explains why that helps dogs settle.

What happens if a dog doesn’t eat

Plenty of dogs eat less on the first day or two in a new place. It is usually stress or excitement, and appetite returns as the routine settles. Your daily update will tell you how meals are going.

A longer loss of appetite is different, and it is something we’d want to talk to you about rather than wait. Our page on dogs that won’t eat during a stay explains the usual steps, from adding warm water to calling your vet.

Behavior medication and training

Some dogs in board and train take medication for anxiety or fear, prescribed by a vet. That is not a reason to avoid training; for many dogs it is what makes training possible, by bringing stress down enough for learning to happen. The AVSAB humane training statement notes that fear and anxiety cases may need medication as part of a treatment plan.

Don’t stop or change behavior medication for the stay without your vet’s advice. Our page on behavior medication and dog training explains how the two work together.

The two programs

1 week · Puppies, young dogs & foundational manners Foundation Board & Train A one-week stay for puppies, young dogs and dogs missing the basics: obedience, leash skills, place, stay, recall, impulse control and household manners, with daily updates and a go-home lesson. Read about Foundation 2 weeks · Adolescent dogs & real-world reliability Advanced Board & Train A two-week stay for adolescent dogs and dogs who know their cues at home but lose them everywhere else: everything in Foundation, plus distraction proofing, real-world outings, neutrality and two go-home coaching lessons. Read about Advanced

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