What Information Should I Leave for a Dog Sitter?

The first time we left our dog with a sitter, we thought we had prepared everything. Food was measured. The leash was hanging by the door. His favorite blanket was folded neatly beside his bed. We had even left a note on the kitchen counter that said, "He likes a short walk after dinner." It felt complete.

Then, about two hours after we left, the messages started.

"Which container has his evening food?" "Is he allowed on the sofa?" "He keeps standing by the back door. Does that mean he needs to go out?" "And is this pill supposed to be given tonight?"

None of these were unreasonable questions. The problem was that we had prepared for the dog we knew, not the dog someone else was meeting for the first time.

When you live with a dog every day, many parts of the routine become invisible. You know which door he waits beside. You know that he refuses breakfast unless a little warm water is added. You know that a slow tail wag means he wants attention, while a stiff posture means he needs space. A sitter does not know any of that unless you explain it.

The best instructions are not the longest ones. They are the ones that help another person understand how your dog's day normally works — and what to do when it does not.

Begin with the normal day

The easiest way to prepare a sitter is to describe an ordinary day from morning to bedtime. What time does your dog usually wake up? Does he go outside immediately, or does he eat first? When are walks normally taken? Where does he sleep? Does he expect a final bathroom break before bed? You do not need to document every minute. A simple rhythm is enough.

Bruno usually wakes around 7 a.m. and goes outside before breakfast. He eats after the walk and normally rests until late morning. His longer walk is around 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner. He goes outside once more between 9:30 and 10 p.m. and sleeps in his bed in our room.

That short paragraph gives the sitter a picture of the day. It is more useful than several disconnected instructions because it explains how the pieces fit together. Dogs often feel more secure when their routine remains familiar. A sitter may not be able to follow the exact schedule, but knowing what your dog expects makes it easier to avoid unnecessary stress.

Explain the food as though the sitter has never seen it

"Feed him one cup" sounds clear until there are three measuring cups in the drawer and two kinds of food in the pantry. Write down exactly which food to use, how much to give, and when to give it. Mention anything that is normally added, such as warm water, wet food, or a veterinarian-approved supplement.

Also explain what should not be given. A well-meaning sitter may offer extra treats because the dog seems anxious or because the sitter wants to become friends quickly. That can create stomach problems, interfere with medication, or make it difficult to understand why the dog later refuses dinner.

If your dog has allergies or a sensitive stomach, say so plainly. Instead of writing "Don't give him other food," write:

Bruno has a sensitive stomach. Please give only the food and treats we left for him, even if he seems interested in your food.

That sounds less strict and gives the reason behind the rule. If your dog sometimes skips a meal, explain what is normal. A sitter may panic when the bowl remains untouched, while you know that your dog occasionally eats later after settling down. On the other hand, if refusing food would be unusual for your dog, the sitter should know that too.

Be precise about medication

Medication instructions should never depend on memory, especially when someone else is providing the care. Write the name of the medication, the amount, the usual time, and how your dog takes it. Mention whether it needs to be given with food and whether the sitter should confirm that the tablet was swallowed.

Avoid instructions such as "Give him his usual pill at night." The sitter may not know which pill is "usual," particularly when more than one bottle is nearby. A clearer instruction would be:

Give one tablet from the labeled bottle at 8 p.m. with a small piece of the soft treat. Please watch until he swallows it and record the time.

Keep the medicine in its original labeled container. Do not leave loose tablets in an unmarked bag or bowl. If the sitter cannot tell whether a dose was taken, the safest next step is not to guess. Leave the veterinarian's contact information and clear instructions to call before repeating a possibly missed dose.

PetMyDear can make this easier by keeping medication details, timing, and care notes connected to your dog's profile, especially when several people are involved in the routine.

Describe the walk, not just the leash

Every dog has a different walking personality. Some dogs are easy and predictable. Others react to bicycles, children, cats, skateboards, or unfamiliar dogs. Some will pull toward every interesting smell. Others may freeze when they hear a loud truck.

Tell the sitter what to expect before the first walk. Mention the route your dog knows, how long the walk normally lasts, and whether certain areas should be avoided. Explain which equipment to use and how it should fit.

If your dog is not comfortable greeting other dogs, say so directly. A sentence such as "Please do not allow on-leash greetings, even if the other dog appears friendly" is much clearer than "He can be funny around dogs." "Funny" can mean excited, nervous, vocal, or aggressive. The sitter should not have to interpret it on the sidewalk.

Also explain whether your dog can ever be off leash. Unless there is a secure enclosed area and the arrangement has been discussed in advance, keeping the dog leashed is usually the safest expectation.

Share the strange little habits

This is often the most useful part of the note. Does your dog bark at delivery drivers? Hide during thunderstorms? Refuse to walk across shiny floors? Steal socks when nervous? Sit beside the empty water bowl without making a sound? These details can seem too small to mention, but they help the sitter understand what is happening.

A dog may behave differently when the owner is away. A normally confident dog may become clingy. A quiet dog may pace near the door. A dog that usually sleeps through the night may wake and search the house. Tell the sitter what is likely to be normal during the adjustment period.

Bruno sometimes waits near the front door for the first hour after we leave. He usually settles if you sit nearby and ignore him for a few minutes. Please do not repeatedly call him or try to pull him away from the door.

That gives the sitter something practical to do — and something not to do.

Explain how your dog communicates

Dogs do not all ask for things in the same way. One may scratch the door when he needs to go out. Another may simply stare at the owner. Some dogs become restless, while others quietly walk toward the leash. Explain the signals your sitter is likely to see.

It is equally important to describe signs that your dog is uncomfortable. If your dog moves away when overwhelmed, the sitter should allow space. If he dislikes being touched while sleeping, say so. If he guards food, toys, or resting places, the sitter needs clear instructions before the situation occurs.

Do not soften a serious behavior because you are embarrassed by it. Saying "he is a little protective of his food" may not communicate enough. It is better to explain exactly what the sitter should do:

Once his bowl is down, please leave him alone until he walks away. Do not reach toward the bowl or try to move it while he is eating.

The goal is not to make your dog sound perfect. The goal is to keep everyone safe and comfortable.

Make the house rules obvious

Dogs are very good at discovering that a new caregiver may have different rules. A dog that never jumps on the sofa may suddenly look at the sitter as though he has slept there his entire life. Tell the sitter where the dog is allowed to go, which doors must remain closed, and whether the dog should be crated or separated at certain times.

Mention anything that could become a hazard. Perhaps the dog will steal food from the counter. Maybe the trash bin has to remain behind a closed door. Perhaps the gate must be latched in a particular way because the dog has learned how to push it open. These are the details people often remember only after leaving the house.

A quick walk through the home with the sitter is helpful. Show where the food, leash, cleaning supplies, and waste bags are kept. Point out the safest place to enter and exit with the dog. If the sitter is staying overnight, explain sleeping arrangements as well. A dog that usually sleeps beside the bedroom may become unsettled if suddenly shut in another part of the house.

Decide what counts as an emergency

Not every unusual behavior requires an emergency call, but the sitter should never be left wondering when to contact you or a veterinarian. Explain what would concern you. A single skipped meal may be normal for one dog and unusual for another. Occasional soft stool may happen when a dog is anxious, while repeated vomiting or difficulty breathing requires immediate attention.

The sitter should know which veterinarian your dog normally visits, where the nearest emergency clinic is, and who can make decisions if you cannot be reached. Leave your full name, phone number, and travel details. Add the contact information of one nearby person who knows the dog and can help if necessary.

It is also useful to leave permission for the sitter to seek veterinary care when you are unavailable. Ask your veterinary clinic how it prefers owners to handle authorization and payment arrangements before traveling. Do not make the sitter decide how much is "too much" to spend during an emergency without any guidance. Discuss limits and expectations in advance.

Include identification and records

Make sure your dog is wearing identification with a current phone number. Confirm that the microchip registration is also up to date. Leave a recent, clear photograph of the dog. Most people have hundreds of pet photos, but the best identification photo is one that clearly shows the dog's face, body, color, and markings.

Keep vaccination information and important medical records easy to access, particularly if the sitter may need to visit a boarding facility, daycare, or veterinary clinic. You do not need to hand over every document you own. The sitter should be able to find the information that would matter during your absence without searching through private household files.

A digital pet profile can be useful here. PetMyDear allows essential information to remain organized with the correct pet instead of being scattered through email attachments, text messages, and paper folders.

Talk about visitors and deliveries

A sitter staying in your home may encounter people your dog does not know. Delivery drivers, maintenance workers, cleaners, or neighbors may come to the door. Explain how your dog normally reacts and how the sitter should manage the situation.

If your dog tends to rush the door, the sitter should secure him before opening it. If visitors are not permitted while you are away, say that clearly. Also mention any expected service appointments. A sitter should not be surprised by someone entering the yard while the dog is outside.

The same applies to other animals. Do not assume the sitter knows that your dog cannot be around cats, does not share toys, or becomes overwhelmed in a dog park. These are not details to discover through experience.

Keep the instructions readable

It is possible to leave too much information. A fourteen-page document may contain everything, but the sitter may struggle to find the one thing needed at 8 p.m. Organize the instructions in the order the sitter will probably use them. Begin with the daily routine. Then explain food, medication, walks, behavior, and emergency contacts. Put urgent numbers where they can be found quickly.

Use ordinary language. The note should sound like you talking to someone who wants to care for your dog well — not like a legal document designed to anticipate every possible mistake. You can include a short summary at the top:

• Food at 7:30 a.m. and 6 p.m.
• Medication with the evening meal.
• Walks in the morning and after dinner.
• No dog greetings on walks.
• Call us if he vomits repeatedly, appears weak, or refuses both meals.

A little structure is helpful. The entire article does not need to become a list, and neither do your instructions.

Do one practice visit

When possible, invite the sitter to spend time with the dog before you leave. Walk together. Show how the harness is attached. Let the sitter prepare a meal or offer a treat. Watch how your dog responds.

This practice visit often reveals questions neither person thought to ask. The sitter may notice that the gate does not latch easily. You may realize the food instructions make sense only because you already know which scoop to use. Your dog may show that he is nervous when the sitter reaches for the leash. It is far better to discover these details while you are still there.

The note is really for your dog

Leaving good instructions is not about controlling every moment from a distance. It is about giving your dog a familiar day with a person who has enough information to make good decisions. The sitter should know when your dog eats, where he sleeps, what frightens him, how he asks to go out, and whom to call when something feels wrong.

That information helps the sitter feel confident. It also means fewer messages to you while you are traveling. Most importantly, it gives your dog a routine that still feels recognizable.

Before you leave, read the instructions once from the sitter's point of view. Would you know which food to use? Would you know whether the medicine had already been given? Would you know what to do if the dog slipped out of the harness, refused dinner, or became ill during the night? Anything that makes you pause probably needs one more sentence.

Your dog cannot explain the household routine to the sitter. So, for a few days, your note has to do the talking.

Safety note: This article provides general planning information. Discuss your dog's individual medical, medication, and emergency-care needs with a licensed veterinarian before leaving the dog with a sitter. For suspected poisoning, medication errors, breathing difficulty, collapse, or other urgent symptoms, the sitter should contact a veterinarian or emergency veterinary service promptly.