What to pack for your dog’s first overnight stay

Packing for a dog is simpler than most people think. You do not need a suitcase. You need their food, their medicine, and one thing that smells like home.

Here is exactly what to bring for an overnight stay at our dog hotel, and what you can safely leave behind.

1. Their own food, pre-packed per meal

This is the one that matters most. A sudden change of food upsets a dog's stomach, and a sore tummy away from home is miserable for everyone.

Pack one bag or tub for each meal, not one big bag. That way nobody has to guess at portions, and your dog eats exactly what they eat at home.

2. Medication, with written instructions

If your dog is on anything, bring it in its own container and write down two things: how much, and when. Keep it simple, on one piece of paper.

Tell us in person too, at drop-off. Never hide tablets in the food bag and hope we spot them.

3. One familiar thing

A blanket, an old T-shirt, or a favourite toy. Something that smells like home helps a nervous dog settle on the first night.

One item is plenty. Please do not send anything you would be heartbroken to lose — dogs chew, and a holiday is not the time to risk a treasured blanket.

4. Their collar, with a working tag

Make sure the phone number on the tag is one you will actually answer while you are away. An old number on a tag is more common than you would think.

What to leave at home

• Food bowls. We have them.
• Beds. We have those too, and big beds take up space we would rather give to your dog.
• Treats for the other dogs. Kind thought, but we cannot give food to a dog whose owner has not approved it. Allergies are real.
• Anything breakable.

Before you leave: the five-minute checklist

1. Meals packed, one per feed
2. Medication in, with a written note
3. One familiar blanket or toy
4. Collar on, tag readable, number current
5. A contact number we can reach while you travel, and one backup person

The goodbye

Keep it short. A long, emotional goodbye tells your dog that something is wrong. Hand over the lead, say goodbye once, and go. They settle faster than you expect, and most of them are playing within ten minutes.

It is almost always harder on the owner than the dog.