Dog Boarding Vaccine Requirements in Florida

Before we board your dog or welcome them into daycare, we check one thing first: vaccines. It's not because we love paperwork — it's because your dog will be sharing space with dozens of other dogs, and one sick guest can ruin the week for everyone. This post covers exactly what we require, what each vaccine does, and how to send proof without the back-and-forth.

Our vaccine policy (the exact wording)

We require current Rabies, DHPP/DA2PP, and Bordetella (within 12 months) for all boarding and daycare guests. A quick photo or email from your vet works great. Canine Influenza is recommended but not required.

Why Rabies

Rabies is the only vaccine required by Florida state law for any dog over four months old, and for good reason — rabies is fatal once symptoms appear, in dogs and in people. Any reputable boarding or daycare facility in Bay County will check this, and if someone doesn't, consider that a red flag. Most adult dogs get rabies every three years after their first annual booster, so a quick text to your vet can usually confirm you're good.

Why DHPP (also called DA2PP)

DHPP is a combo vaccine that protects against four diseases that spread fast in group environments: Distemper, Adenovirus (hepatitis), Parainfluenza, and Parvovirus. Parvo is the one most owners know by name — it's incredibly contagious, can survive on surfaces for months, and is brutal for young or immune-compromised dogs. We require DHPP on every guest because a single unvaccinated dog can shed the virus into the environment and put every other pup at risk. Your vet may call it DA2PP, 5-way, or 7-way — they're all the same family and all meet our requirement.

Why Bordetella (kennel cough)

Bordetella is the "kennel cough" vaccine. Kennel cough is the canine version of the common cold — usually not dangerous, but absolutely miserable and wildly contagious in any setting where dogs share air space. A vaccinated dog can still occasionally catch a mild case, but unvaccinated dogs are the ones who get hit hard. We require it within the last 12 months. Some vets give it every 6 months for dogs who board often — both are fine with us.

Canine Influenza — recommended, not required

Canine Influenza (the dog flu) is becoming more common in the southeast, and we recommend it for dogs who board often, travel a lot, or go to daycare regularly. We don't require it because most Panama City vets still treat it as optional, and we don't want to turn away guests whose vets haven't started offering it. If you travel with your dog, ask your vet — it's a simple two-shot series and worth considering.

How to send proof (please, not at drop-off)

The smoothest way to handle vaccines is BEFORE your first stay. Three options, all work:

• Email or text us a photo of the vaccine records from your vet — screenshot from the vet portal works great too.
• Ask your vet's front desk to fax or email the records directly to us (they do this all day).
• Bring a paper copy at drop-off — it works, but it slows things down if there's a problem and you're already running late for your trip.

"What if I don't have proof?"

We get this question a lot, usually from first-timers, and the honest answer is: if we can't verify vaccines, we may need to reschedule. It's not us being rigid — it's us protecting the other 20+ dogs already staying with us that weekend. The good news is most vets can pull records in 60 seconds from their computer system, even for pets who haven't been in for a year. A quick phone call usually solves it before you're even off the phone with us.

"My dog is titer-tested — does that count?"

Titer tests (blood tests that measure existing antibody levels) are a great tool some owners use with their vet to decide which vaccines actually need boostering. For rabies, state law generally still requires the physical vaccine. For DHPP, we can usually accept a current titer with a vet's note — send it over and we'll review. Bordetella isn't typically titered; if you're going that route, talk to us before booking so nothing is a surprise.

Puppies and new rescues

Puppies need to have completed their full puppy series before boarding or daycare — generally by around 16 weeks old, after their final round of DHPP and rabies. If you just adopted a rescue, bring whatever paperwork the shelter gave you and we'll look at it together. Most rescues come up to date on shots before adoption, so you're usually in great shape.

The short version

Rabies, DHPP, Bordetella — all current, all verified before the stay. Send proof ahead of time, ask your vet's front desk for help if you're not sure, and we'll handle the rest. If anything is confusing, text us and we'll walk you through it.