How to board a reactive dog, step by step

Step 1 — Write your dog down honestly

Before you contact anyone, put on one page: what triggers a reaction, what the reaction looks like, how long recovery takes, whether the dog is muzzle trained, any bite history, and what reliably calms it. Honesty is not a disadvantage here. Hosts who take these dogs are not scared off by a difficult profile — they are scared off by finding out at handover.

Step 2 — Shortlist on separation, not on photos

Judge a listing on the facts that decide whether your dog copes: no contact with another dog at any point, and no sight, sound or scent of one from the dog's space, plus a separate space it can be in on its own. Resident dogs are not automatically a problem — how they are kept apart is what matters, so read that answer carefully.

Step 3 — Ask the five questions that matter

• How is handover done? A planned, calm arrival — ideally outdoors, on neutral ground, with the host not crowding the dog.
• Where does my dog sleep and rest? A specific room or space, not "wherever she likes".
• How are walks routed and timed? Quiet routes, off-peak hours, and a plan for when another dog appears.
• What happens if my dog reacts? An experienced host has an answer ready, not a pause.
• Who else lives here and who visits? Resident dogs, children, deliveries, cleaners — and how separation holds up on a normal day.

Step 4 — Do a trial night

One night, before any longer booking. You find out how your dog settles overnight, the host learns its signals, and anything that needs adjusting surfaces while you are still in the same city. If a trial is impossible, at least do a walk together plus a visit to the house before the stay.

Step 5 — Hand over properly

Bring the bed, the blanket, the usual food, the medication in original packaging and the one-page routine. Keep your own goodbye short and unremarkable — a long emotional farewell tells an already-worried dog that something is wrong. Confirm the update windows before you leave, not by text an hour later.

Step 6 — Agree the emergency plan in advance

Your vet's name and number, a second contact who can collect the dog, written consent for emergency treatment and a ceiling on cost, plus what happens if your dog cannot settle at all. Deciding this while everyone is calm is the entire point.