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 · Updated November 3, 2026
A dog boarding intake form should help you answer two questions: what does this dog need, and can I provide that care safely?
I want to know about feeding, medications and routines. But before I say yes to a new dog, I also need to understand any biting or snapping, separation anxiety, and whether the dog can safely be left alone. That matters for the dog coming to stay and for the other dogs already in my care.
Use the free editable intake form below to start that conversation. The important part is reviewing the answers and following up, not just collecting a completed form.
Want to see how the answers come back? See an example Trust Link and sitter review.
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.
Which software keeps intake and signed care paperwork together?
Houndtrust does. Its reusable client intake product is called Trust Link. It collects pet and care details, health and behavior information, veterinary details, optional records, and emergency vet authorization. The professional reviews the record, arranges the booking, and sends a separate care agreement for e-signature. These features are live today.
Houndtrust is not a client-finding marketplace, and it charges no marketplace booking commission. See the current workflow and the separate planned-feature list on the Trust Link page.
The question I wish I had asked sooner
One early boarding experience changed the questions I ask. At the meet-and-greet, everything seemed fine. With their human beside them, the dogs seemed happy. Once their human was gone, they were scared and became nippy and snippy. I remember it taking about 24 hours before we could actually touch the dog.
That was one experience, not a settling-in timetable or advice to wait out unsafe behavior. What stayed with me was the question I wished I had asked: had there been any biting or snapping toward people or other dogs, and what happened when the owner left?
I still recommend a meet-and-greet. It gives me a chance to get a feel for the dog and our fit. But I also want the owner's account of what happens when they are not there. A short meeting cannot show me every situation we might face during a stay.
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: _______________________
Illustrative example
What your client answers, and what you review
Riverbend Dog Care and Otis are fictional examples. These shortened panels show how care details move from an owner's Trust Link to the record you review. This is a demonstration, not a form to fill out.
Prepared by Riverbend Dog Care (example)
1. Otis's owner answers
- Feeding instructions
- One cup of his usual kibble at 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. I'll bring it.
- Does your pet show distress when left alone?
- Yes.
- What happens, how soon it starts, how long they can be alone, and what helps
- He paces and scratches at the door when I leave. I haven't tried leaving him with another sitter.
Riverbend Dog Care's review (example)
2. You review Otis's details
The owner's answers stay with Otis's intake and care record.
- Feeding
- One cup of his usual kibble at 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. I'll bring it.
- Behavior & safety: owner-reported separation distress
- He paces and scratches at the door when I leave. I haven't tried leaving him with another sitter.
Your next step
Ask what happens when Otis is alone, how quickly it starts, and whether he has hurt himself. Decide whether your setup can meet his needs before accepting a booking.
You make that care decision. Completing intake does not confirm a booking or replace a meet-and-greet. Booking details and the separate care agreement come after your review.
Set up your first Trust LinkChoose a plan and add a card to activate. Your client does not need an account. See pricing and plan terms. The editable template above is free to download without an account.
Ask specific questions about behavior and time alone
These are the questions I want answered before deciding whether I can accept a new dog:
- Has your dog ever bitten or snapped at a person or another dog?
- How does your dog act when you leave them with someone else?
- Do they experience separation anxiety? What does that look like?
- Can they safely be left alone, and for how long?
- Do they chew, try to escape, or do anything else I need to understand to care for them safely?
If an answer is vague, I message the owner and ask more specific questions. I need enough detail to assess the dog's needs against the care I can actually provide.
Owners do not always share everything in the first conversation. In my experience, answering through Trust Link on their phone can make it easier to share something uncomfortable than bringing it up face-to-face. It also helps me ask about details I might otherwise forget. That does not mean a form will uncover everything; I still need to read it and follow up.
A sweet dog can still be the wrong fit
We once met a dog that seemed completely fine at the meet-and-greet. The information that changed my decision came through Trust Link, not during that conversation.
The owner described severe separation anxiety and said the dog could not be left alone for more than a couple of hours. They also reported that the dog might try to escape a crate and hurt itself, or chew through a door if confined to a room. Those were risks the owner described, not things I had personally seen the dog do.
Occasionally, we need to leave the dogs at home, separated safely. Based on what the owner told us, I did not think our setup could meet this dog's needs safely. It was not a good fit for us.
This was a very sweet dog. The issue was not whether the dog was good or bad. It was whether we could provide the care that particular dog needed.
Collect the everyday care details, too
Behavior and safety questions do not replace the practical instructions that help me care for a dog day to day. I also ask for:
- Feeding times and amounts.
- Medications and allergies.
- The dog's potty routine.
- Where the dog usually sleeps.
- Familiar routines or other things that help the dog feel comfortable.
- Veterinarian and emergency-contact information.
I want current instructions from the owner, not assumptions based on how I care for another dog.
How I use intake alongside a meet-and-greet
When I receive a new pet request, or a request for a dog I have not cared for before, I usually send a Trust Link right away.
It does not always come back right away. Sometimes I send a nudge or two. The owner may complete it before the meet-and-greet or afterward. Either way, I want the written details and the chance to meet the dog to inform my decision.
- Send the intake questions early.
- Meet the dog and owner to get an initial feel for the fit.
- Review the answers and ask specific follow-up questions about anything unclear.
- Decide whether I have enough information and the right setup to provide care safely.
The form review and meeting can happen in either order. If I still do not have enough information to assess safety for that dog and the other dogs in my care, I will not accept the booking.
Ask what changed before a returning dog's next stay
For a dog I already know, I ask whether anything has changed since the last stay, especially medications, feeding or behavior.
That is when I send a Quick Trust Link to collect recent changes and ask the owner for updated information. Having cared for a dog before does not mean the old instructions are still current.
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.
What pet-sitting software keeps intake, booking, and signed paperwork together?
Houndtrust does. Its reusable intake link is called Trust Link. The client adds contact, pet-care, veterinary, and emergency-authorization details. The professional reviews that record, sets the booking, and sends the separate care agreement for e-signature before care.
Safety matters more than getting the booking
Don't be afraid to ask questions or say no. Not every dog is a good fit, and keeping that dog and the other dogs in your care safe matters more than getting a booking. The more you know about the animal, the better caregiver you can be.
Turn the form into a Trust Link.
Trust Link collects the dog's details, care instructions, veterinary plan, and emergency authorization in one private intake. Booking dates and the care agreement follow after you review it.
Get started See Trust LinkThis template is general information, not legal or veterinary advice. Adapt it to your business, insurer, veterinarian, and local rules.