Vaccinations, licences and what to ask in Horsham

Fifteen dog boarders, day cares and kennels are listed for Horsham and Billingshurst, all licensed by one authority, Horsham District Council, under the same Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 that covers boarding kennels, home boarding and day care alike. A current licence is not optional for any of these three activities in England, so it is worth checking before you ask about anything else.

Vaccinations

Every business here sets its own vaccination policy rather than following a single rule for the district, so ask what it requires and how long before your dog's stay it needs to see proof. Views on kennel cough cover vary between businesses too, and a common practice is a waiting period after vaccination before boarding, though this is a business's own policy rather than something the law fixes, so ask directly rather than assume.

Licences

All fifteen businesses on this page carry a licence confirmed against Horsham District Council's own register, published on the council's website (read by hand, since the page blocks automated tools). Thirteen of the fifteen hold a 5-star licence; two, Little Rowfold and Cottage Farm Dog Training & Boarding, hold a 4-star licence. See our council licences guide for what the star rating actually measures and how licence types differ between kennels, home boarding and day care.

Breed policies and insurance

A boarder, kennels or day care is entitled to ask about a dog's breed and set its own conditions, including for an XL Bully with a valid exemption certificate, so raise this directly rather than assume either way. None of the businesses listed here state a public liability insurance position on their own site, so ask to see evidence of cover if it matters to your decision, rather than assuming any business is insured.

Questions to ask before you book

• Can I see your current Horsham District Council licence, and does the number match the register?
• 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 will be with mine at the same time, and are they from one household or several?
• What happens if my dog needs a vet while in your care, and who decides that?

What a licence actually covers

A Horsham District Council licence covers premises or home standards, record-keeping and the maximum number of dogs a business may keep at once; it does not fix a price, guarantee a particular room, or promise a certain group size, so those are still worth asking about even once the licence itself checks out. The star rating is a council inspection score, not a customer review, so it is fair to ask what kept a business from a higher band if that matters to you.