Vaccinations, licences and what to ask in Basingstoke

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council licenses all 26 dog boarders listed on this site, every one of them a home boarder rather than a kennels or a stand-alone day-care premises. A licence is a legal requirement for this kind of business in England, but it says nothing about any one stay, so vaccinations, insurance and breed rules are worth asking about separately, whichever of the 26 you call.

Vaccinations

Each home boarder sets its own vaccination policy, so ask what it requires and how long before your dates it needs to see proof, rather than assuming one rule applies across the town. Several boarders will also have their own view on kennel-cough cover; practice varies from house to house, so raise it directly when you call rather than assuming either way.

Licences

All 26 Basingstoke listings carry a licence confirmed against Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council's own register or its animal-licensing.uk mirror. A licence number from the register itself is shown on only three of the 26: Holly's Boarding, Hilltop Dogs and WhiteWalks. For the rest, the register gave a contact name and phone number but no licence number, so ask for the number directly and check it yourself against the council's published list. See our council licences guide for why no star rating appears on any Basingstoke listing.

Breed policies and insurance

A home boarder is entitled to ask about a dog's breed and set its own conditions, including for an XL Bully, so ask directly rather than assuming either way. Where a business's own site states it holds insurance, treat that as the business's own claim: Roskosh has no way to check an insurance policy independently, so ask to see evidence if it matters to your decision.

Questions to ask before you book

• Which authority licensed you, and can I see the certificate or licence number?
• What vaccinations do you need before the stay, and how far in advance?
• Do you have a policy on kennel cough cover?
• Do you have any breed policies I should know about, including for an XL Bully?
• Do you say you hold public liability insurance, and can I see evidence of it?
• How many other dogs will be in the house during my dates, and from how many households?
• What happens if my dog needs a vet while staying with you, and who decides that?

If you are near Hook or Odiham

These two areas currently have no business listed here. They fall under Hart District Council rather than Basingstoke and Deane, and Hart's own licence list gives only personal names with no trading name, address or phone attached, so this site cannot confirm a specific boarder there. If you are searching in either area, put the same questions above to Hart District Council directly, and to any boarder you find locally.