Vaccinations, licences and what to ask in Chester
Eleven dog boarders, day cares and kennels are listed for Chester, spanning three different licensing councils. 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 Chester business, because a requirement can change and this research cannot verify one on an ongoing basis. Ask what proof the business wants, whether it treats kennel cough vaccination as a separate matter, and how far ahead of your stay it needs to see proof. Oakfield Farm Boarding Kennels and All Creatures (Doggie Day Care) both suggest asking about vaccination requirements when you call, and Waggy-tails and Aunty Vikki's Pet Services take puppies as well as adult dogs, so ask about a puppy's own vaccination course separately if it has not finished one.
Licensing
Chester's page spans three councils. Seven businesses — Digs for Dogs (Chester), All Creatures, Oakfield Farm Boarding Kennels, Canine Capers of Chester, Wynnestay Kennels & Cattery, Glenbrittle Kennels and Warren Wood Kennels and Cattery — state they are licensed by Cheshire West and Chester Council, but that council's own online register could not be reached for this research, so none of the seven can be checked against it here; ask to see the current licence certificate itself when you call. Four businesses — Ty Gwyn Pets, Waggy-tails, Calcot Kennels and Cattery and Aunty Vikki's Pet Services Ltd — are licensed by Flintshire County Council in Wales, which publishes a working register; three of the four are confirmed on it directly, with a licence number and expiry date, while Waggy-tails' own licence claim could not be confidently matched to a register entry near its address, so ask to see its certificate too.
Breed rules and insurance
A boarding or day-care business is entitled to ask about breed restrictions or refuse a booking, including for an XL Bully with a valid exemption certificate, so ask directly rather than assume either way. None of the businesses listed here publish a stated insurance position, so ask whether the business holds public liability cover if that matters to you.
Questions to ask before you book
- What vaccinations do you require, and how long before the stay do you need to see proof?
- Do you have a policy on kennel cough, and what is it?
- Do you have any breed restrictions or conditions?
- Can I see your current council licence?
- How many other dogs, and from how many households, will be there during my dates?
- What happens if my dog needs a vet while in your care?
See our choosing guide for more on how Chester's three councils license each business, and our prices guide for what the four businesses that publish a price charge.