Vaccinations, licences and what to ask in Tunbridge Wells and the Weald
All fourteen dog boarders and day cares listed for Tunbridge Wells and the Weald are running a licensed activity under one of three councils, so a licence and vaccination question is worth asking wherever you book. This guide sets out what is worth asking, not what a good answer looks like — that is for the business itself to tell you.
Ask to see the current licence
Nine businesses here are licensed by Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, four by Wealden District Council, and one, Pampered Waggy Tails, by Rother District Council despite sitting in the Wadhurst, Ticehurst & Mayfield area that Wealden otherwise covers. See our council licences guide for what each council's register was read from, and why no star rating is shown for any business on this page.
- Which council issued the licence, and whether it is still current
- What the licence covers — home boarding, day care, boarding kennels, or more than one
- How many dogs the licence allows at once
Little Dale Dogs' licence was due to expire within days of this page being researched; ask directly whether it has been renewed before booking.
Vaccinations: ask, don't assume
Ask the business what vaccinations it requires before your dog can start, and how far ahead of the booking it needs proof. None of the businesses listed here publish a specific vaccination schedule on their own sites, so do not assume one business's requirement matches another's.
Breed policies and insurance
Ask whether the business has any breed policies, including for an XL Bully — a boarder or day care is entitled to set its own conditions or decline a booking, and this directory cannot check a dog's exemption paperwork on a business's behalf. If a business states on its own site that it holds insurance, treat that as its own claim rather than something this directory has verified.
Group size and booking conditions
Scooby's Canine Care caps its home-from-home boarding at five dogs at a time, and Mary's Animal Care is licensed for up to five dogs and usually keeps fewer outside peak holiday times. MONKI Dog Care requires a regular weekly booking rather than ad-hoc days, and runs new dogs through an assessment chat and trial session before offering a place. Ask any business how many dogs will be there during your dates and what its own booking conditions are.
Staff training and experience
Several businesses name a relevant qualification or track record on their own sites: Unleashed UK is run by a certified dog trainer and behaviourist, Mary's Animal Care states the owner holds a Level 3 Animal Care diploma, and Scooby's Canine Care says it is DBS-checked and canine first-aid trained. None of this is the same as a council licence, so ask about training as a separate question.
Ask what happens if plans change
It is worth asking, before you commit, what a business's cancellation policy is and whether a deposit is refundable if your plans change. None of this is set by this directory or by any licensing rule. Our first-stay guide covers the practical side of a booking once you have asked these questions and decided to go ahead.