What to Tell Your Dog Sitter: A Complete Guide

You love your dog. You also love vacations, work trips, and the occasional weekend away. The problem is the handoff — that frantic hour before you leave when you're trying to download everything in your brain into your dog sitter's brain.

Most owners wing it. A few texts, a quick walkthrough of the kitchen, maybe a sticky note taped to the fridge. Then you're on the highway replaying the conversation in your head, wondering if you mentioned the thing about the back gate.

Here's what your dog sitter actually needs to know, organized so nothing falls through the cracks.

Feeding: Be Painfully Specific

"He eats twice a day" is not enough. Dog sitters need exact details because even small deviations can cause stomach issues, refusal to eat, or confusion about what's normal.

Cover these:

Brand and type of food. "Blue Buffalo chicken and rice, adult formula" beats "the food in the pantry." If your dog eats a mix of wet and dry, specify the ratio.
Portion size. Use measuring cups, not eyeball estimates. "One level cup of kibble plus half a can of wet food" leaves no room for guessing.
Feeding times. "7 AM and 6 PM" is better than "morning and evening." Dogs know when their meals are late.
Preparation quirks. Does the food need warm water? Does your dog only eat from the slow-feeder bowl? Does he need to sit before you put the bowl down? These little rituals matter more than you'd think.
Treats. Which ones, how many per day, and where they're kept. Also mention what your dog absolutely cannot have — grapes, chocolate, xylitol, cooked bones.

Walks and Exercise

Dogs who miss their usual exercise routine get anxious, destructive, or both. Your sitter needs the full picture:

How many walks per day, and when. If your dog expects a morning walk at 6:30 AM, your sitter should know that before they agree to the job. In summer, walk timing matters even more — hot pavement can burn paw pads in under a minute. See our summer pet safety guide for heat-specific walk adjustments.

Duration and intensity. A 15-minute stroll around the block is very different from a 45-minute off-leash romp at the park. Be clear about what your dog needs versus what's a nice bonus.

Leash behavior. Does your dog pull? Are they reactive to other dogs, squirrels, or cyclists? Does the harness go on differently from a regular collar? Walk your sitter through the exact setup — clip placement, how tight, which leash.

Favorite routes and off-limits areas. Maybe your dog loves the trail behind the school but loses his mind near the dog park on Elm Street. Share the routes that work and the ones to avoid.

Potty signals. Does your dog go to the door and whine? Circle three times? Stare at you unblinkingly? Sitters who don't know the signal often miss it, and accidents happen.

Medications: Leave Nothing to Chance

This is where vague instructions become genuinely dangerous. If your dog takes any medication — even a monthly preventive — your sitter needs crystal-clear instructions.

For each medication, write out:

Name and what it's for. "Apoquel, 16mg, for allergies" gives context that helps the sitter understand why it matters.
Dosage and timing. "One tablet with breakfast" is minimum. Better: "One 16mg tablet at 7 AM, wrapped in a slice of cheese because he won't take it any other way."
What to do if they miss a dose. Give the next one at the usual time? Double up? Call the vet? Don't make the sitter guess.
Storage. Fridge? Cabinet above the sink? Pill organizer on the counter?

If your dog has no medications, say so explicitly. "No current medications" saves the sitter from wondering whether they missed something.

Emergency Contacts: Make Them Tappable

When something goes wrong — a limp, vomiting, a weird lump — your sitter needs to reach someone fast. Not scroll through a wall of text looking for a phone number.

For a complete guide to building this list — including poison control, backup contacts, and authorization to treat — see our pet emergency contact list guide.

Leave these contacts front and center:

Your phone number and the best way to reach you (call, text, both)
A backup person who knows your dog, in case you're on a flight or unreachable
Your vet's clinic — name, phone, address, and hours
The nearest 24-hour emergency animal hospital — because emergencies don't wait for business hours

The sitter should be able to call any of these contacts in under ten seconds. If your instructions require them to hunt for a number, you've already lost precious time.

Behavioral Quirks and Anxiety Triggers

Every dog has things. The stuff that only makes sense once you've lived with them for a while. Your sitter can't learn these through trial and error — they need a heads-up.

Think about:

Separation anxiety. Does your dog panic when left alone? How long can they be alone before it becomes a problem? What helps — a Kong, background music, a specific blanket?
Stranger reactions. Some dogs are thrilled by new people. Others bark, cower, or hide. Let the sitter know what to expect and how to handle it.
Storm and noise phobias. If thunder sends your dog under the bed, your sitter should know the drill before the first rumble.
Other animals. Is your dog friendly with other dogs on walks? Aggressive? Selective? What about cats, squirrels, or the neighbor's chickens?
Escape tendencies. If your dog is a runner, the sitter needs to know about the gap under the fence, the gate that doesn't latch, or the front door dash.

These details feel like overkill when you're writing them out. They feel essential when the sitter is alone with your dog during a thunderstorm at 11 PM. If you want to go a step further and prepare the dog itself for the new sitter — introduction meetings, scent familiarization, practice sessions — see our guide on how to prepare your dog for a new pet sitter.

Common Mistakes Owners Make

Even thoughtful owners stumble on the handoff. Here are the patterns we see over and over:

Being too vague. "Feed him normally" assumes the sitter knows what normal means. They don't. Spell everything out as if you're writing for someone who has never met your dog.

Scattering information across channels. Half the instructions are in a text thread, the vet's number is in an email, and the medication schedule is on a Post-it that fell behind the toaster. When information lives in five places, it effectively lives in zero places.

Forgetting the house stuff. Alarm codes, thermostat settings, which doors need to stay shut, where the poop bags are, how to work the back door lock. Your sitter is also house-sitting, and the house has its own set of instructions.

Not doing a test run. If possible, have the sitter spend an evening with your dog before you leave. They'll see the routines in action, ask better questions, and both of you will feel more confident.

Assuming they'll remember the verbal walkthrough. They won't. Not all of it. Written instructions are non-negotiable.

Put It All in One Place (Seriously)

The biggest problem with dog sitter instructions isn't what to include — it's how to share it all without creating a mess.

That's exactly what CareSheet was built for. You create a Care Sheet for your dog — a single shareable link with feeding schedules, walk routines, medications, emergency contacts, behavioral notes, and house rules. Your sitter opens it on their phone. No app to install, no account needed.

Here's why it works better than a doc or a text thread:

Tap-to-call contacts. Your sitter taps the vet's name and the phone dials. No copying numbers, no fumbling during an emergency.
Works offline. Once loaded, the Care Sheet is cached on the sitter's phone. No internet? Everything is still right there.
Always up to date. Forgot to mention something? Update the Care Sheet from your hotel room. Your sitter sees the change next time they open the link.
Password protection and expiration. Control who can see your dog's info and for how long.
Reusable. Set it up once, share the same link with every sitter, dog walker, or neighbor for years to come.

Want to see what one looks like? Here's a live example of a Care Sheet for a dog named Luna.

For a full printable checklist of everything to include, check out our pet sitter instructions checklist.

Your Dog Deserves a Good Handoff

Your sitter wants to do a great job. They just need the right information in the right format. Five minutes of upfront effort saves days of back-and-forth texting — and lets you actually enjoy your time away.

If you have multiple dogs — or a dog and a cat — with different diets and schedules, see our guide on organizing sitter instructions for multiple pets.

Create your free Care Sheet and give your dog sitter everything they need in a single link.

Here's what your dog sitter actually needs to know, organized so nothing falls through the cracks.

Feeding: Be Painfully Specific

"He eats twice a day" is not enough. Dog sitters need exact details because even small deviations can cause stomach issues, refusal to eat, or confusion about what's normal.

Cover these:

Brand and type of food. "Blue Buffalo chicken and rice, adult formula" beats "the food in the pantry." If your dog eats a mix of wet and dry, specify the ratio.
Portion size. Use measuring cups, not eyeball estimates. "One level cup of kibble plus half a can of wet food" leaves no room for guessing.
Feeding times. "7 AM and 6 PM" is better than "morning and evening." Dogs know when their meals are late.
Preparation quirks. Does the food need warm water? Does your dog only eat from the slow-feeder bowl? Does he need to sit before you put the bowl down? These little rituals matter more than you'd think.
Treats. Which ones, how many per day, and where they're kept. Also mention what your dog absolutely cannot have — grapes, chocolate, xylitol, cooked bones.

Walks and Exercise

Dogs who miss their usual exercise routine get anxious, destructive, or both. Your sitter needs the full picture:

Duration and intensity. A 15-minute stroll around the block is very different from a 45-minute off-leash romp at the park. Be clear about what your dog needs versus what's a nice bonus.

Favorite routes and off-limits areas. Maybe your dog loves the trail behind the school but loses his mind near the dog park on Elm Street. Share the routes that work and the ones to avoid.

Potty signals. Does your dog go to the door and whine? Circle three times? Stare at you unblinkingly? Sitters who don't know the signal often miss it, and accidents happen.

Medications: Leave Nothing to Chance

This is where vague instructions become genuinely dangerous. If your dog takes any medication — even a monthly preventive — your sitter needs crystal-clear instructions.

For each medication, write out:

Name and what it's for. "Apoquel, 16mg, for allergies" gives context that helps the sitter understand why it matters.
Dosage and timing. "One tablet with breakfast" is minimum. Better: "One 16mg tablet at 7 AM, wrapped in a slice of cheese because he won't take it any other way."
What to do if they miss a dose. Give the next one at the usual time? Double up? Call the vet? Don't make the sitter guess.
Storage. Fridge? Cabinet above the sink? Pill organizer on the counter?

If your dog has no medications, say so explicitly. "No current medications" saves the sitter from wondering whether they missed something.

Emergency Contacts: Make Them Tappable

When something goes wrong — a limp, vomiting, a weird lump — your sitter needs to reach someone fast. Not scroll through a wall of text looking for a phone number.

For a complete guide to building this list — including poison control, backup contacts, and authorization to treat — see our pet emergency contact list guide.

Leave these contacts front and center:

Your phone number and the best way to reach you (call, text, both)
A backup person who knows your dog, in case you're on a flight or unreachable
Your vet's clinic — name, phone, address, and hours
The nearest 24-hour emergency animal hospital — because emergencies don't wait for business hours

The sitter should be able to call any of these contacts in under ten seconds. If your instructions require them to hunt for a number, you've already lost precious time.

Behavioral Quirks and Anxiety Triggers

Every dog has things. The stuff that only makes sense once you've lived with them for a while. Your sitter can't learn these through trial and error — they need a heads-up.

Think about:

Separation anxiety. Does your dog panic when left alone? How long can they be alone before it becomes a problem? What helps — a Kong, background music, a specific blanket?
Stranger reactions. Some dogs are thrilled by new people. Others bark, cower, or hide. Let the sitter know what to expect and how to handle it.
Storm and noise phobias. If thunder sends your dog under the bed, your sitter should know the drill before the first rumble.
Other animals. Is your dog friendly with other dogs on walks? Aggressive? Selective? What about cats, squirrels, or the neighbor's chickens?
Escape tendencies. If your dog is a runner, the sitter needs to know about the gap under the fence, the gate that doesn't latch, or the front door dash.

Common Mistakes Owners Make

Even thoughtful owners stumble on the handoff. Here are the patterns we see over and over:

Being too vague. "Feed him normally" assumes the sitter knows what normal means. They don't. Spell everything out as if you're writing for someone who has never met your dog.

Assuming they'll remember the verbal walkthrough. They won't. Not all of it. Written instructions are non-negotiable.

Put It All in One Place (Seriously)

The biggest problem with dog sitter instructions isn't what to include — it's how to share it all without creating a mess.

Here's why it works better than a doc or a text thread:

Tap-to-call contacts. Your sitter taps the vet's name and the phone dials. No copying numbers, no fumbling during an emergency.
Works offline. Once loaded, the Care Sheet is cached on the sitter's phone. No internet? Everything is still right there.
Always up to date. Forgot to mention something? Update the Care Sheet from your hotel room. Your sitter sees the change next time they open the link.
Password protection and expiration. Control who can see your dog's info and for how long.
Reusable. Set it up once, share the same link with every sitter, dog walker, or neighbor for years to come.

Want to see what one looks like? Here's a live example of a Care Sheet for a dog named Luna.

For a full printable checklist of everything to include, check out our pet sitter instructions checklist.

Your Dog Deserves a Good Handoff

If you have multiple dogs — or a dog and a cat — with different diets and schedules, see our guide on organizing sitter instructions for multiple pets.

Create your free Care Sheet and give your dog sitter everything they need in a single link.

Here's what your dog sitter actually needs to know, organized so nothing falls through the cracks.

Feeding: Be Painfully Specific

"He eats twice a day" is not enough. Dog sitters need exact details because even small deviations can cause stomach issues, refusal to eat, or confusion about what's normal.

Cover these:

Brand and type of food. "Blue Buffalo chicken and rice, adult formula" beats "the food in the pantry." If your dog eats a mix of wet and dry, specify the ratio.
Portion size. Use measuring cups, not eyeball estimates. "One level cup of kibble plus half a can of wet food" leaves no room for guessing.
Feeding times. "7 AM and 6 PM" is better than "morning and evening." Dogs know when their meals are late.
Preparation quirks. Does the food need warm water? Does your dog only eat from the slow-feeder bowl? Does he need to sit before you put the bowl down? These little rituals matter more than you'd think.
Treats. Which ones, how many per day, and where they're kept. Also mention what your dog absolutely cannot have — grapes, chocolate, xylitol, cooked bones.

Walks and Exercise

Dogs who miss their usual exercise routine get anxious, destructive, or both. Your sitter needs the full picture:

Duration and intensity. A 15-minute stroll around the block is very different from a 45-minute off-leash romp at the park. Be clear about what your dog needs versus what's a nice bonus.

Favorite routes and off-limits areas. Maybe your dog loves the trail behind the school but loses his mind near the dog park on Elm Street. Share the routes that work and the ones to avoid.

Potty signals. Does your dog go to the door and whine? Circle three times? Stare at you unblinkingly? Sitters who don't know the signal often miss it, and accidents happen.

Medications: Leave Nothing to Chance

This is where vague instructions become genuinely dangerous. If your dog takes any medication — even a monthly preventive — your sitter needs crystal-clear instructions.

For each medication, write out:

Name and what it's for. "Apoquel, 16mg, for allergies" gives context that helps the sitter understand why it matters.
Dosage and timing. "One tablet with breakfast" is minimum. Better: "One 16mg tablet at 7 AM, wrapped in a slice of cheese because he won't take it any other way."
What to do if they miss a dose. Give the next one at the usual time? Double up? Call the vet? Don't make the sitter guess.
Storage. Fridge? Cabinet above the sink? Pill organizer on the counter?

If your dog has no medications, say so explicitly. "No current medications" saves the sitter from wondering whether they missed something.

Emergency Contacts: Make Them Tappable

When something goes wrong — a limp, vomiting, a weird lump — your sitter needs to reach someone fast. Not scroll through a wall of text looking for a phone number.

For a complete guide to building this list — including poison control, backup contacts, and authorization to treat — see our pet emergency contact list guide.

Leave these contacts front and center:

Your phone number and the best way to reach you (call, text, both)
A backup person who knows your dog, in case you're on a flight or unreachable
Your vet's clinic — name, phone, address, and hours
The nearest 24-hour emergency animal hospital — because emergencies don't wait for business hours

The sitter should be able to call any of these contacts in under ten seconds. If your instructions require them to hunt for a number, you've already lost precious time.

Behavioral Quirks and Anxiety Triggers

Every dog has things. The stuff that only makes sense once you've lived with them for a while. Your sitter can't learn these through trial and error — they need a heads-up.

Think about:

Separation anxiety. Does your dog panic when left alone? How long can they be alone before it becomes a problem? What helps — a Kong, background music, a specific blanket?
Stranger reactions. Some dogs are thrilled by new people. Others bark, cower, or hide. Let the sitter know what to expect and how to handle it.
Storm and noise phobias. If thunder sends your dog under the bed, your sitter should know the drill before the first rumble.
Other animals. Is your dog friendly with other dogs on walks? Aggressive? Selective? What about cats, squirrels, or the neighbor's chickens?
Escape tendencies. If your dog is a runner, the sitter needs to know about the gap under the fence, the gate that doesn't latch, or the front door dash.

Common Mistakes Owners Make

Even thoughtful owners stumble on the handoff. Here are the patterns we see over and over:

Being too vague. "Feed him normally" assumes the sitter knows what normal means. They don't. Spell everything out as if you're writing for someone who has never met your dog.

Assuming they'll remember the verbal walkthrough. They won't. Not all of it. Written instructions are non-negotiable.

Put It All in One Place (Seriously)

The biggest problem with dog sitter instructions isn't what to include — it's how to share it all without creating a mess.

Here's why it works better than a doc or a text thread:

Tap-to-call contacts. Your sitter taps the vet's name and the phone dials. No copying numbers, no fumbling during an emergency.
Works offline. Once loaded, the Care Sheet is cached on the sitter's phone. No internet? Everything is still right there.
Always up to date. Forgot to mention something? Update the Care Sheet from your hotel room. Your sitter sees the change next time they open the link.
Password protection and expiration. Control who can see your dog's info and for how long.
Reusable. Set it up once, share the same link with every sitter, dog walker, or neighbor for years to come.

Want to see what one looks like? Here's a live example of a Care Sheet for a dog named Luna.

For a full printable checklist of everything to include, check out our pet sitter instructions checklist.

Your Dog Deserves a Good Handoff

If you have multiple dogs — or a dog and a cat — with different diets and schedules, see our guide on organizing sitter instructions for multiple pets.

Create your free Care Sheet and give your dog sitter everything they need in a single link.