How do I share my dog's vaccination records with a kennel?
Send the kennel a clear copy of your vet's certificate before the stay. What the copy must show, where to get one, and the easiest ways to send it.
Published
Send the kennel a clear copy of your vet's vaccination certificate when you book, and bring it to check-in if they ask. The copy needs to show your dog's name, the vaccine, the date it was given and the date it is due. If you cannot find the certificate, ask your vet clinic for a new copy. They keep the record.
What does the kennel need to see?
Most kennels check four things on the certificate:
- Your dog: name, and ideally breed or microchip number, so they know it is the right dog.
- The vaccine: usually C5, or a C3 plus a kennel cough vaccine.
- The date given: many kennels want it at least two weeks before the stay.
- The date due: the vaccine must still be current on the days your dog is boarding.
The certificate should also show who gave the vaccine. In Victoria, the Veterinary Practitioners Registration Board's certificate guideline says a vet certificate should identify the vet, including their registration number, identify the animal, name the owner, and state the date and how long it stays current.
When do I send it?
It depends on the kennel, so ask when you book. Some want a copy to confirm the booking. Others, like Pet Resorts Australia's catteries, ask you to bring the certificate when you check in. In the ACT, the boarding code of practice requires owners to supply a current certificate before admission.
Sending it early is almost always better. If something is out of date, you find out while there is still time to see the vet. See how long before boarding your dog should be vaccinated.
What are the ways to share it?
| Method | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Paper certificate | Check-in, when the kennel asks for the original | Easy to lose, and you only have one |
| Photo on your phone | Quick replies to a booking email | Blurry photos, cut-off dates, and it sits in a camera roll with thousands of other photos |
| PDF emailed by your vet | A clean copy the kennel can file | Finding the right email a year later |
| Pet records app link or QR code | Sharing the same records with every venue | Check the kennel can open it without an account |
Whatever you use, make sure the dates are readable. A cropped photo that hides the due date usually earns a follow-up email.
I can't find the certificate. What now?
Call or email your vet clinic and ask for a copy of your dog's vaccination certificate. The clinic keeps your dog's vaccination history, so it can usually email one over. If your dog was vaccinated at more than one clinic, you may need to ask each one.
While you are there, ask when the next booster is due, and put the date in your calendar.
Should I share my dog's whole medical history?
No. The kennel needs the vaccination details, plus anything that affects your dog's care during the stay: medications and doses, allergies, feeding instructions, and your vet's contact details. Share what they need for the booking, not every invoice since puppyhood.
How do I stop doing this for every booking?
Keep one copy you can reuse. Most owners do this dance for the kennel, again for daycare, and again for the groomer.
Tend Pass is a free pet health passport. You add your dog's vaccination records once, with the original certificate attached, and share them by link or QR code. The kennel opens the link in any web browser. You choose what to share, and you can turn a link off later. If the kennel uses Tend Connect, the records drop straight into the booking.
More checklists: what a boarding kennel needs, dog daycare requirements, what groomers ask for and cattery requirements.
Sources
- Veterinary Practitioners Registration Board of Victoria, Veterinary certificates (August 2025)
- Pet Resorts Australia, Cat boarding and cattery services
- ACT Legislation Register, Animal Welfare (Overnight Animal Boarding Establishments) Mandatory Code of Practice 2021
*General guidance, not veterinary advice. Always confirm requirements with your veterinarian and your chosen kennel.*