Dog Boarding Contracts: 7 Clauses Every Owner Should Read

You've found a boarding facility with a great Google rating, a clean lobby, and a staff member who correctly identified your dog's breed without reading the tag. Then they slide a four-page contract across the counter and hand you a pen. Most owners sign without reading, because reading feels like distrust. But that piece of paper decides what happens if your dog gets sick, injured, or lost — so it deserves a few minutes of your attention.

You don't need a law degree. You need to know seven clauses, what they mean, and which answers to accept. Here's the cheat sheet.

Clauses 1-2: Vaccinations and medical care

A responsible facility requires proof of rabies, DHPP, and Bordetella — and ideally inspects the records rather than taking your word for it. If the contract says vaccinations are “recommended” or the facility never asks, that's not convenience; that's a kennel cough incubator with a logo. Your dog's health depends on every other dog in the building being vaccinated too.

The medical care clause gives the facility permission to seek veterinary care for your dog in an emergency. Read the fine print on two things: what counts as an emergency, and how they'll try to reach you first. A good clause lets them act immediately when it's urgent, with a clear cost limit and a promise to document everything. A vague one lets them make expensive decisions with zero accountability.

Clauses 3-4: Liability and supervision

Almost every contract limits the facility's liability in some way; the question is how far it goes. A reasonable limitation excludes acts of God — a tree falling on the kennel during a storm. A bad one disclaims liability for “any injury, however caused,” which is a fancy way of saying they can leave your dog unsupervised with an aggressive dog and owe you nothing. If a clause seems designed to erase responsibility entirely, ask about it. If they can't explain it, that's an answer too.

Look for a clause describing how dogs are supervised and how group play is managed: staff-to-dog ratios, temperament screening, separation by size. If the contract is silent, ask directly. “We watch them closely” is not a policy; “one handler per eight dogs, screened before play” is. And check whether play is optional — a shy dog shouldn't be required to join the mosh pit.

Clause 5: Feeding and medication

Your dog eats a specific food, possibly on a schedule, possibly with medication. The contract should confirm they'll follow your instructions, store and administer meds properly, and call you if your dog won't eat. If it says “we feed our house food unless you provide your own,” make sure you're actually providing it — and that “unless” is in writing.

Clauses 6-7: Cancellations and escapes

Less dramatic, but this is where money arguments start. What's the cancellation window? What happens if you're late for pickup — a fee, and is there overnight care? And what happens if the facility closes unexpectedly while your dog is there? You want a number you can call and a plan that doesn't involve your dog boarded an extra three days with no one answering the phone.

Ask what happens if a dog gets loose — from a collar, a gate, or a walk. A good facility has a documented protocol: staff responsibilities, notification procedures, and a sincere effort to find the dog. If the contract's answer is a shrug, keep looking. And confirm your dog's microchip is registered and current before the trip; that's the safety net that works even when the contract doesn't.

One last tip: photograph the signed contract and keep it on your phone. Boarding is one of those situations where “I didn't read it” is not a legal strategy — and neither is “they seemed nice.” Read the paper, ask the questions, then enjoy your trip. Your dog will be fine; you've done the boring part that makes that true.