Vaccinations, licences and what to ask in Watford

Watford's 16 listed dog boarders, kennels and day cares are licensed by three neighbouring councils rather than Watford Borough Council itself: Hertsmere Borough Council, Three Rivers District Council and Dacorum Borough Council. That is a genuine feature of where this page's businesses happen to be based, not a gap in the research: a business a short drive from the town centre can sit just inside Bushey, Kings Langley or Abbots Langley, each licensed by its own council. A licence is not a promise about any one stay, but alongside a plain answer on vaccinations and any breed policy, it is the main thing worth checking before you book.

Vaccinations

Every kennels, home boarder and day care on this page sets its own vaccination policy, so ask what they require and how long before the stay, rather than assuming one rule applies across the town. Practice on kennel cough cover also varies business to business, so raise it directly when you call.

Licences

All 16 businesses on this page carry a licence confirmed directly against a council register: two against Hertsmere Borough Council's own register, 13 against Three Rivers District Council's own web tables, and one against Dacorum Borough Council's own PDF register. Every one links through to the relevant register from its own page. See our council licences guide for exactly which council covers which business and why none is licensed by Watford Borough Council itself.

Breed policies and insurance

A kennels, home boarder or day care 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. Kings Langley Dog Boarding already states on its own site that it does not currently take several named breeds and types; ask any business here for its own policy before booking. 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 council 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, and from how many households, will be there during my dates?
• What happens if my dog needs a vet while in your care?

What a licence actually covers

Wherever it is confirmed, a licence covers premises standards, record-keeping and how many dogs a business may keep at once; it does not fix a price, promise a particular run, or guarantee a certain group size, so ask those separately even once the licence itself checks out.

Puppies

Several businesses on this page, including We Love Pets Bushey, list puppy care among their services. A puppy is not a small dog: ask what a puppy's day or stay looks like, including sleep, toilet breaks and how it is introduced to any other dogs in the house, before booking.