What vaccine records does a boarding kennel need in Australia?
Most Australian boarding kennels require a current C5 vaccination before your dog can stay. What to bring, how recent it must be, and why.
Most Australian boarding kennels require an up-to-date C5 vaccination before your dog can stay. C5 is the C3 core (distemper, hepatitis/adenovirus and parvovirus) plus kennel cough cover (canine parainfluenza and *Bordetella bronchiseptica*). Many facilities also ask for current flea, tick and worming treatment. Requirements vary by venue and state, so confirm with your facility before the stay.
Which vaccines do most boarding kennels require?
Most Australian boarding kennels require an up-to-date C5: the C3 core vaccine plus kennel cough cover. Some facilities in higher-risk areas also ask for leptospirosis.
Australian boarding facilities split their requirements in two: the core vaccination, recommended for nearly every dog, and kennel cough cover, which boarding needs because dogs share air and space.
| Vaccine | Protects against | Why kennels ask for it | Typical validity |
|---|---|---|---|
| C3 (core) | Distemper, hepatitis/adenovirus, parvovirus | Core protection against serious, contagious disease | Often up to 3 years |
| C5 (C3 plus kennel cough) | Adds canine parainfluenza and Bordetella | Kennel cough spreads fast in shared air; the classic boarding risk | Kennel cough component usually 12 months |
| Leptospirosis | Leptospira bacteria | Required by some facilities in higher-risk areas (parts of QLD and northern NSW, wet or rural settings) | About 1 year |
Core vaccines for dogs, per the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) and the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA), are distemper, hepatitis/adenovirus and parvovirus (the C3). Kennel cough cover (taking C3 to C5) is the lifestyle vaccine boarding almost always requires. Rabies vaccination is not required for boarding in Australia. The country is rabies-free, so it only matters if you are exporting a dog overseas. Canine influenza is also not established in Australia, so you will not be asked for it here.
How recent do the records need to be?
Recent enough to still be valid on the dates of the stay. Kennels check that each vaccine is still current.
- Kennel cough (the C5 component) is the one owners get caught out by. It is commonly required within the last 12 months, sooner than the C3 core.
- The C3 core is often valid for up to three years, depending on the specific vaccine and your vet's protocol.
- Many kennels also require that a new vaccination was given at least 2 weeks before arrival, so a last-minute top-up may not count. Pet Resorts Australia, for example, requires vaccinations "a minimum of two weeks (14 days) prior to boarding", and Vetwest advises 2 to 4 weeks.
- In the ACT it is also law. The Animal Welfare (Overnight Animal Boarding Establishments) Mandatory Code of Practice 2021 says boarded dogs and cats must be vaccinated within the past 12 months (C5 for dogs, F3 for cats), with a current certificate supplied before admission.
Confirm the exact windows with your facility, because a vaccine that is technically current can still be refused if it was given too close to the arrival date.
Do all kennels require the same vaccines?
No. C5 is near-universal for Australian boarding, but the extras differ by facility and region.
- Kennels in higher-risk leptospirosis areas (parts of Queensland and northern New South Wales, wet or rural properties) are more likely to require leptospirosis.
- Some venues set a tighter kennel cough window (for example within 6 months) for higher-density daycare and boarding.
- A few ask for an intestinal worming treatment within a set window as well.
Check the facility's intake requirements before you book.
What records do you actually need to show?
You need documented proof from a veterinarian that the vaccines were done. Most kennels accept:
- A vaccination certificate or record from your vet, showing the vaccine name, the date given, and the date due.
- The clinic's details, so the kennel can verify if needed.
- Increasingly, a digital record or shareable link rather than a paper card.
A photo of a years-old paper card with a faded date is where intake slows down. Clear, current records make check-in quicker.
How do you avoid the last-minute records scramble?
Keep one reusable record instead of rebuilding it for every booking. Most owners end up re-entering the same vaccination details for the kennel, then the groomer, then daycare, then the vet, each in a different system.
Tend Pass is built for this. You add your pet's records once, then share them with a venue by link or QR code when a booking needs them. The kennel sees the vaccine names and dates with the original certificate attached, and you skip the email-thread archaeology.
Booking a cat in too? Read what catteries need from you. Cutting it close on dates? See how long before boarding your dog should be vaccinated.
The short version
- Bring proof of an up-to-date C5 (the C3 core plus kennel cough).
- Check the kennel cough date first; it expires soonest (often within 12 months).
- Some kennels in higher-risk areas also require leptospirosis.
- Rabies and canine influenza are not required for boarding in Australia.
- Make sure each vaccine is still valid on the stay dates, and given far enough in advance (often at least 2 weeks).
- Confirm the exact list with your facility, because requirements vary by venue and state.
Sources
- WSAVA, 2024 Guidelines for the Vaccination of Dogs and Cats
- Australian Veterinary Association, Vaccination of dogs and cats
- ACT Legislation Register, Animal Welfare (Overnight Animal Boarding Establishments) Mandatory Code of Practice 2021
- Vetwest, Boarding your dog or cat and vaccinations
- Pet Resorts Australia, Confirmation conditions
*General guidance, not veterinary advice. Always confirm vaccination requirements with your veterinarian and your chosen boarding facility.*
