What should I leave for a dog sitter?

Written feeding, routine, medication and emergency instructions, enough food and medication for the stay plus a couple of spare days, walking gear, cleaning supplies, house access details, and your vet's contact information.

How far in advance should I brief a dog sitter?

Send the written instructions a few days ahead so they can read them properly, then do a short in-person walkthrough on handover day to cover the house and the walking route.

How often should a sitter send updates?

Agree it explicitly — once a day with a photo suits most owners, with an immediate message for anything unusual such as a refused meal, loose stools or limping.

Do I need a written agreement with a pet sitter?

For paid sitters, a short written agreement covering dates, duties, payment, emergency authority and a backup contact avoids most disputes and makes expectations clear on both sides.

Dog sitter checklist before you leave

By The Pet Care Card teamUpdated 3 September 2026 5 min read

Short answer

Before leaving a dog with a sitter, do four things: walk them through the routine in person, leave written feeding, routine, medication and emergency instructions, lay out enough supplies plus a little spare, and agree in advance how often they will update you and what they should do in an emergency. A single written care card covers the second point and prevents most of the questions that follow.

Sitters rarely fail because they do not care. They fail because they were told twenty things in one doorway conversation and remembered twelve.

Work through this the day before you travel, not on the way to the airport.

A week before

Confirm dates, times and payment with the sitter in writing
Book a meet-and-greet if the sitter has not met your dog
Check you have enough food and medication for the whole stay plus two extra days
Tell your vet who will be caring for your dog and what they may authorise
Check the microchip details and ID tag are current

The day before

Write or update the care card: feeding, routine, medication, emergency, vet
Pre-portion meals if amounts are easy to get wrong
Lay out lead, harness, poo bags, towels and cleaning supplies in one place
Wash bedding and leave a worn t-shirt with your scent
Charge and test anything the sitter needs: key safe code, camera, alarm

The handover walkthrough

Show where food, treats, medication and supplies are stored
Walk the actual route you take, including any road or gate to be careful with
Demonstrate the lead, harness and any door routine
Point out the emergency section of the card and where the printed copy lives
Show bins, parking, the thermostat and anything that is off limits

Agree the rules up front

How often you want updates, and by what method
Whether other people may enter the home
Whether the dog may meet other dogs, go off-lead, or travel by car
What to do if the dog is unwell — call threshold and spending limit
What to do if the sitter cannot continue: a named backup person

Leave it where they will actually find it

Print one copy for the fridge or the food bowls, share a digital copy so it is on the sitter's phone during walks, and tape a QR code near the door. Whoever is standing in your kitchen at 7am should not need to scroll a message thread.

Frequently asked questions

What should I leave for a dog sitter?: Written feeding, routine, medication and emergency instructions, enough food and medication for the stay plus a couple of spare days, walking gear, cleaning supplies, house access details, and your vet's contact information.
How far in advance should I brief a dog sitter?: Send the written instructions a few days ahead so they can read them properly, then do a short in-person walkthrough on handover day to cover the house and the walking route.
How often should a sitter send updates?: Agree it explicitly — once a day with a photo suits most owners, with an immediate message for anything unusual such as a refused meal, loose stools or limping.
Do I need a written agreement with a pet sitter?: For paid sitters, a short written agreement covering dates, duties, payment, emergency authority and a backup contact avoids most disputes and makes expectations clear on both sides.