Guide · Free form
Dog Boarding Intake Form Template (Free, Editable Download)
By Dave Waggins, 6-year home boarder, founder of Houndtrust
Published August 13, 2026 · ~7 min read
A good intake form tells you how to care for the dog. A useful one also tells you what can go wrong. Food and medication matter, but so do the gate the dog once cleared, the toy it guards, and what “doesn't like other dogs” looked like the last time.
My wife and I have boarded dogs from our home for six years. This is the form I would want before meeting a new dog. Use one copy per dog and review the answers with the owner before accepting the first stay.
The short version
A dog boarding intake form should capture contacts, veterinarian, health, medication, feeding, routine, sleep, crate use, bite and escape history, guarding, reactions to people and animals, triggers, care dates, and an owner confirmation. It does not replace the contract, waiver, or emergency vet authorization.
Ask what happened, not whether the dog is good
“Is your dog friendly?” is too broad. Most owners will answer yes because their dog is friendly at home. Use questions tied to events: Has the dog bitten, nipped, or snapped? Has it escaped a yard or slipped a collar? Does it guard food, toys, beds, people, or doors? What happens when another dog approaches its bowl? What happens when everyone leaves the room?
A yes answer is not an automatic rejection. It gives you something specific to discuss during the meet-and-greet and compare with your space, household dogs, capacity, skill, and insurance rules.
Copy the intake form
The preview below shows the core fields. The download adds separate owner and backup contacts, detailed medication instructions, vaccine and test dates, response questions, an owner signature, and a next-document checklist.
DOG BOARDING CLIENT INTAKE FORM (TEMPLATE) OWNER Full name: __________________________________________________ Mobile phone: __________________ Email: _____________________ Backup contact and phone: ___________________________________ DOG Name: __________________________ Breed/mix: _________________ Age: __________ Weight: _______ Microchip: _________________ Spayed/neutered? [ ] Yes [ ] No Current ID tag? [ ] Yes [ ] No VETERINARIAN AND HEALTH Clinic and phone: ____________________________________________ Medical conditions, allergies, or recent illness: ____________ Medication, dose, time, method, and storage: __________________ FOOD AND ROUTINE Food, amount, and meal times: _________________________________ Treat restrictions: __________________________________________ Bathroom and exercise routine: ________________________________ Sleep setup: __________________ Crate trained? [ ] Yes [ ] No BEHAVIOR AND SAFETY Has this dog ever bitten, nipped, snapped at, or injured a person or animal? [ ] No [ ] Yes, explain: ___________________________ Does this dog guard food, toys, beds, people, or doorways? [ ] No [ ] Yes, explain: _____________________________________ Has this dog escaped a yard, crate, leash, doorway, or vehicle? [ ] No [ ] Yes, explain: _____________________________________ Reactions to adults, children, dogs, cats, handling, food near other dogs, and being left alone: _____________________________ Fears, triggers, and calming methods: _________________________ STAY Drop-off: ______________________ Pickup: _____________________ Items arriving with the dog: __________________________________ Anything else the boarder needs to know: ______________________ OWNER CONFIRMATION I confirm that these answers are complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge and will report changes before a future stay. Signature: _____________________ Date: _______________________
Keep four records separate
| Record | What it answers |
|---|---|
| Intake form | Who is this dog and how do I care for it? |
| Contract | What are the dates, price, payment, pickup, and cancellation terms? |
| Waiver | Which care risks and consents did the owner acknowledge? |
| Vet authorization | What may I approve in an emergency, and up to what amount? |
Complete the packet with the free boarding contract, dog-sitting waiver, and emergency vet authorization.
Common questions
What should a dog boarding intake form include?
It should include owner and backup contacts, dog identification, veterinarian details, health conditions, medication instructions, feeding and bathroom routine, sleep and crate habits, bite and escape history, resource guarding, reactions to people and animals, fears, drop-off and pickup details, and an owner confirmation that the answers are complete.
Should I use one intake form for every dog?
Yes. Dogs from the same household can have different medication, feeding, behavior, triggers, and veterinarian records. A separate form keeps each dog's instructions clear. Link both dogs to the same owner and booking after the individual forms are complete.
How should I ask about bite history?
Use concrete words instead of asking only whether the dog is aggressive. Ask whether the dog has ever bitten, nipped, snapped at, or injured a person or animal, then ask what happened and what triggered it. Also ask about guarding, escape history, handling, food near other dogs, and time alone.
Is an intake form the same as a boarding contract or waiver?
No. The intake form records facts and care instructions about the owner and dog. The contract covers dates, rates, payment, pickup, and cancellation. The waiver documents consent and risk. The emergency vet authorization gives treatment permission and a spending limit. A professional boarding setup usually collects all four.
When should the client update the intake form?
Review it before every stay and update it when medication, food, health, veterinarian, contacts, behavior, household pets, or the dog's routine changes. Ask the owner to confirm that nothing changed even when the existing record still looks current.
Turn the form into one client link.
Houndtrust collects the dog's details, care instructions, signed waiver, vet authorization, and requested dates in one intake flow. You review it before confirming.
Start freeThis template is general information, not legal or veterinary advice. Adapt it to your business, insurer, veterinarian, and local rules.