Dog sitter checklist
What to tell your dog sitter
Six things every sitter needs before you walk out the door, what changes when they stay the night, and the four emergency details almost everyone forgets.
Most people brief a sitter from the car. A long text, sent at a red light, with half of it forgotten.
It usually works out. But the gaps are predictable: a dose missed on day two, a dog fed twice because nobody wrote down who did what, a sitter in your kitchen at 9pm texting about the thermostat. None of that is the sitter's fault. They were given a paragraph and asked to run someone's household from it.
Here is what to hand over instead.
The six things that actually matter
1. Feeding times and exact portions
The brand, the measured amount, the times, and where the food is kept. Note anything that gets added, like a pill pocket or a splash of water.
Write "7:30am, one measured cup from the blue bag in the pantry" — not "a scoop in the morning."
2. Medications and doses
What, when, how much, and whether it goes with food. Leave everything in its original packaging so the label backs up what you wrote. If a dose falls while they are there, say so outright instead of leaving them to work it out from a schedule.
Ask them to confirm each dose by text. A dose nobody confirmed is a dose nobody can prove happened.
3. Potty and walk routine
The schedule, the usual route, where the leash and harness live, and the signal your dog gives when they need to go out. Flag anything on the route that matters: the neighbour's dog, the busy crossing, the gate that does not latch.
4. Behaviour triggers
Thunder, the vacuum, the doorbell, other dogs, the sound of a suitcase. What sets your dog off and, more usefully, what settles them again.
This is the one owners skip and sitters need most. A frightened dog in someone else's hands is how dogs get lost.
5. Vet and emergency contacts
Your regular clinic, the nearest 24-hour emergency hospital, your mobile number, and a second person who can decide if you cannot be reached.
6. House access and quirks
How to get in, the thermostat, where the towels and cleaning supplies are, which door sticks, and what to do with the bins. Small things, but they are what generate the texts.
Keep alarm codes and door codes out of anything you share digitally or leave printed on the counter. Send those separately.
Four hours or overnight? The list changes.
A drop-in visit and a weekend stay are different jobs. A four-page manual for a 30-minute walk buries the two things that matter. A sticky note for three nights guarantees a phone call.
| What | 4-hour visit | Overnight stay |
|---|---|---|
| Feeding | Usually none, unless a snack is scheduled | Exact portions, exact times, where food is stored |
| Medication | Only if a dose falls in the window | The full schedule, with doses confirmed as given |
| Exercise | One walk, the usual route | Morning and evening routine, plus the energy level to expect |
| Sleep | Where the dog rests | Bedtime ritual, where they sleep, crate rules, nightlight |
| Anxiety | Door manners on arrival and exit | What separation anxiety looks like and what helps |
| House | Entry and exit only | Thermostat, laundry, bin day, supplies, deliveries |
| Emergency | Your number and the vet | Vet, 24-hour hospital, spending limit, second contact |
Read the full comparison, with an example of each handoff →
The four emergency details people forget
- 1
Your vet's name, address and phone
The address matters. A panicking sitter should not be searching for it.
- 2
The nearest 24-hour emergency clinic
Different from your regular vet, and the one that will actually be open.
- 3
A spending limit you have authorised in writing
Clinics ask who is paying before they treat. A written limit lets your sitter say yes.
- 4
A second contact who can decide
If you are on a plane or out of signal, somebody has to be able to make the call.
Put all of it on one page
A Care Card holds feeding, medications, vet details and routines in one place, and shares by text or private link. Your sitter opens it on their phone, with no account and no download, and you can switch the link off when they are done.
Free to start · Printable for the fridge · Turn sharing off anytime
Common questions
How long can a dog be left alone during the day?
Veterinarians and animal welfare organisations generally recommend a maximum of about four hours alone for an adult dog, so they get exercise, a bathroom break and some company. Puppies, senior dogs and dogs on medication often need more frequent check-ins.
Should I put alarm codes or door codes on a shared care card?
No. Keep security credentials such as alarm codes, door codes and Wi-Fi passwords off anything you share digitally or leave printed on the counter. Send those separately and directly to the person who needs them.
What if I have more than one dog?
Write the shared house rules once, then keep feeding, medication and behaviour notes separate for each dog. Mixing them is how the wrong dog gets the wrong pill.
Does my sitter need an app or an account?
No. They open a private, read-only Care Card link on their phone. No account, no download, and you can switch the link off when they are done.
Pet Dossier organises information you provide. It does not give veterinary advice and does not replace your veterinarian. For anything medical, ask your vet.