How to Write Clear Feeding Instructions for Dog Boarding

Boarding feeding instructions should identify the exact food, the amount for each meal, the normal timing, and any restrictions. Include a contact plan for appetite changes and confirm that the facility can follow the instructions before drop-off. “Feed as usual” only works for someone who already knows your usual routine.

Be especially clear about whether the amount is for one meal or the whole day. Someone looking at the food you’ve packed shouldn’t have to guess. Write each meal’s instructions so the caregiver can follow them without doing that calculation.

Describe the food and the measurement

Write the brand, product name, and formulation, and label the container with your dog’s name. If the diet is veterinary prescribed, say so and provide the current instructions. Don’t invite substitutions because another food looks similar.

Write down your dog’s usual amount in a measure the caregiver can use. If you measure in grams, confirm that a suitable scale is available. If you use a cup or scoop, identify the measure and whether it’s level. “One scoop” is ambiguous when someone uses a different scoop.

For a mixed meal, list each component separately. Include preparation and storage instructions that actually apply to the food, and ask whether the facility can accommodate them. Don’t assume refrigeration, warming, or a complicated preparation routine is available.

Write one line for each meal

Use a format like this, filled with your dog’s own established quantities:

• Morning: normal time or agreed window; exact food and amount per meal.
• Evening: normal time or agreed window; exact food and amount per meal.
• Other meals: any additional established feeding and its amount.
• Extras: permitted treats or additions, their limits, and prohibited items.

If the amounts differ between meals, say that directly. Add the daily total as a cross-check, while keeping the per-meal lines clear. Use your dog’s established plan to fill this in. Don’t change meal amounts or timing just to match the example.

Pre-portioned meals can reduce measuring ambiguity if the facility accepts them. Label them by dog and meal. Confirm the preferred packaging before preparing the whole stay, using our boarding packing checklist to coordinate food with the rest of the handoff.

Keep medication instructions distinct

If medication must be given with food, cross-reference the veterinary instructions and the separate medication record. Don’t bury a dose in a feeding paragraph or rely on unlabeled tablets mixed into bags.

Our guide to boarding medication instructions explains the information needed for that separate handoff. The veterinarian’s directions govern medication timing, missed doses, and food requirements; this feeding sheet shouldn’t revise them.

Agree on the response to a missed meal

Explain your dog’s normal appetite pattern truthfully, then ask the caregiver how intake is recorded and when you’ll be contacted. Include the veterinarian and backup contact where appropriate. Don’t write a general instruction to wait a fixed number of days if the dog stops eating.

A puppy, a dog with a medical condition, or a dog taking medication may need a specific veterinary plan for reduced intake. Ask for that plan before the stay. New vomiting, diarrhea, illness signs, or a significant appetite change need veterinary guidance rather than improvised food additions.

Likewise, don’t authorize every possible topper to entice eating if your dog has dietary restrictions. Specify what is permitted and what requires a call.

Check that another person can follow it

Before you leave, ask the caregiver to read back one meal’s food and amount, confirm the restrictions, and identify the contact path. Note the last meal given at home so the first boarding meal doesn’t depend on guesswork.

For a stay at Paws Unleashed USA, review the boarding information and confirm your dog’s routine with the team. The final check is practical: could someone serve the next meal accurately with this sheet and the supplies you’ve provided?

Reference: VCA on measured portions and individual feeding needs. Ask your veterinarian about changes to a medical diet; the boarding sheet should carry those instructions accurately.

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About the author

David Hunt is the owner of Paws Unleashed USA in Fort Pierce, Florida. His work includes dog training, boarding, rescue, and rehabilitation. This article provides general education and does not replace veterinary or individualized behavior advice.