How to prepare your pet for their first boarding stay
First-time boarding is stressful — for the pet, and often more so for the owner. The good news: 90% of that stress is preventable with a 30-minute prep the night before drop-off. Here's the checklist we share with every customer using OnlyPaw for the first time.
1. Match the host to your pet, not just the price
A high-energy retriever doesn't belong in a quiet apartment. A nervous cat doesn't belong in a home with three other dogs. On OnlyPaw, every Boarding provider lists their setup — fenced yard, separate room, cats accepted, puppies under 6 months OK. Read those before you book, not after.
2. Do a meet-and-greet
For boarding, request a 15-minute pre-stay visit. Bring your pet, hand them off to the host for a few minutes, and watch how they interact. If your dog hides behind your leg the entire time, that's data. Trust it.
3. Pack the comfort kit
- Their own food in measured portions. Sudden food changes upset stomachs — and the host won't know your specific brand.
- A familiar blanket or t-shirt that smells like home. Drop it in the carrier 24 hours before drop-off so it gathers your scent.
- Their favourite toy, but only one — too many novelties at once is overstimulating.
- Medications in their original bottle, with dosing written on a card. Verbal instructions get forgotten.
- A leash and collar with current ID tags. Even if your pet is microchipped.
4. Share the operating manual
When you confirm the booking in the app, write a short note covering:
- What time they eat. How much.
- Any food they shouldn't have (grapes, chocolate, xylitol — but also their specific allergies).
- How they react to thunderstorms / fireworks / vacuum cleaners.
- How they like to be greeted (some dogs hate being approached face-on).
- Your vet's name and phone number, plus your emergency contact if you'll be unreachable.
5. Don't make drop-off a tearful goodbye
Pets read your energy. If you're crying and saying "I'm so sorry" for ten minutes, you're teaching them that this place is dangerous. Walk in calm, hand them off, and go. The first hour after drop-off is usually the hardest for them — and most settle within 90 minutes once you're out of sight.
6. Check in once, not constantly
Boarding hosts on OnlyPaw send a daily photo update by default. Don't message every hour asking how your pet is. They're fine. If something needs your attention, the host will contact you immediately through the in-app chat.
What to expect on day one
It's normal for a pet to eat less, drink less, or sleep more on their first day in a new environment. By day two they usually find their rhythm. If by day three they're still refusing food or showing signs of distress (constant vocalising, hiding, accidents in unusual places), call the host. They've seen it before and will know whether it warrants a vet visit.
After the stay
Leave a review. Honest reviews — both about what went well and what didn't — are what keep our marketplace trustworthy. And if you're booking the same host again, you've now built a relationship; subsequent stays will be dramatically easier on your pet.
Ready to book? Create an account and search Boarding providers near you.