What to pack for board and train

Labeling medications so nothing gets missed

Every medication should tell a stranger exactly what to do. Use the pharmacy label where you can, and add a simple note: what it is for, how much, when, and with or without food. If two medications look alike, label them clearly apart.

Write a one-page sheet as well, with your vet’s name and phone number and anything to watch for. Tell us about medications at the assessment rather than at drop-off, so they are part of the plan from the start.

Pack a few days’ extra of any daily medication, the same way you pack spare meals. If your return is delayed, a dog should never run short of something it takes every day.

Choosing the one comfort item

One familiar smell helps a dog settle in a new suite. A T-shirt you have slept in, or a small blanket from your sofa, works better than something new. Pick something you won’t mind if it comes home a bit chewed or grubby.

Avoid anything your dog guards. If your dog stiffens, growls or runs off with a particular toy, that toy stays home; a guarded object in a shared building creates the tension the stay is trying to reduce. Our page on resource guarding explains why this matters.

If your dog has never slept away from you, give the comfort item a few nights in your bed or on the sofa first, so it carries a strong, familiar smell into the suite.

What to leave at home

Leaving things behind is part of good packing. Bedding is provided in the suite, and enrichment such as puzzle feeders and lick mats is part of every stay, so most of what fills a dog’s toy basket at home isn’t needed.

• Dog beds and crates: we provide bedding
• Bags of toys: one comfort item is enough
• High-value chews and bones your dog may guard
• Treats from home, unless your dog has allergies; ask at the assessment
• Retractable leashes: bring a standard leash for the hand-over
• Anything irreplaceable

The night before and the morning of drop-off

Pack the night before, so the morning is calm. Dogs read our stress, and a rushed, emotional goodbye makes the first hours harder. Feed a normal breakfast unless we’ve agreed otherwise, take a good toilet walk, and keep the handover short and cheerful.

If your dog travels by the Pup Van ($10 each way in Gloucester, Rockport, Essex and Manchester-by-the-Sea; ask for van pricing from farther afield), put the labeled bag with the dog so it travels too. Our guide to preparing your dog for board and train covers the week before.