Vaccinations, licences and what to ask in Cardiff
Twenty-four dog boarders, day cares and kennels are listed for Cardiff, all licensed under the Animal Boarding Establishments Act 1963 rather than the newer scheme used in England. Every business sets its own vaccination and paperwork requirements, so this guide is a list of questions worth asking before you book, not a set of rules this site enforces.
Vaccinations
No specific vaccination requirement is quoted here for any Cardiff business, because a requirement can change and this research cannot verify one on an ongoing basis. Ask what proof the business wants (a vaccination card, a certificate from your vet), whether it treats kennel cough vaccination as a separate requirement, and how far ahead of your stay it needs to see proof. If your dog is a puppy still completing its first course, several of the home boarders and day cares listed here, including PontK9 and Danescourt & Radyr Pet Care, mention puppy visits or puppy care specifically, so say so when you call.
Licensing
Wales did not adopt England's 2018 licensing regulations: boarding kennels, home boarding and day care in Wales are all still licensed under the older Animal Boarding Establishments Act 1963, renewed annually rather than over several years as England's rules allow. Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan license jointly through Shared Regulatory Services, but the Wales national register that would normally confirm a licence could not be read for this research, so no business on this page carries a confirmed register match. A handful, including Wagging Tails Dog Boarding Cardiff, quote their own licence number; treat this as the business's own statement rather than something checked against a register, and ask to see the certificate itself.
Getting the licence question right for Cardiff
Because the Wales national register could not be read for this research, no Cardiff listing carries a confirmed register match the way some English towns on this site do. That is a gap in what could be checked online, not a reason to assume a business is unlicensed — boarding, home boarding and day care are all licensable in Wales, so ask plainly which council issued the licence and whether you can see it, rather than taking a business's own website at its word.
Your dog's stay
How many other dogs will be there during your dates, and from how many households? How is medication given, and does it cost extra? Does the business have a breed policy, including for an XL Bully with a valid exemption certificate? What happens if your dog needs a vet while in the business's care? None of these are questions this directory can answer on a business's behalf.
Questions worth asking every time
- What vaccinations do you require, and in what form should I bring proof?
- Can you show me your current 1963 Act licence, even though it is not on an online register?
- How many other dogs will be with mine, and from how many households?
- How is medication handled, and is there an extra charge?
- Do you have any breed conditions I should know about?
- What happens if my dog needs a vet while in your care?
See our guide to choosing a Cardiff boarder for how the twenty-four listings split by area and type.