Leaving Your Dog in Good Hands: Preparing for a Pet Sitter

Whether you’re going away for a weekend or a longer vacation, leaving your dog with a sitter takes planning. Clear instructions and an introduction before the trip can make the handoff easier for everyone.

1. Find a Sitter Who Fits Your Dog

Ask friends, family, neighbors, or your veterinarian for referrals. Interview potential sitters, check references, and ask about experience with dogs like yours. Discuss the actual visit schedule, what each visit includes, and the backup plan if the sitter cannot attend.

2. Leave Detailed Instructions

Write down feeding amounts and times, usual bathroom breaks, walking arrangements, and familiar cues. Explain behavioral quirks and any situations the sitter should avoid. For prescribed medication, leave the veterinarian’s instructions and demonstrate the routine; don’t ask a sitter to improvise.

3. Prepare the Supplies and Home

Leave enough food and prescribed supplies for the full trip, with a reasonable buffer for travel delays. Put bowls, leash, waste bags, bedding, toys, and cleanup supplies together. Show the sitter which doors and gates to use and check that keys or entry codes work.

4. Arrange a Meet and Greet

Have the sitter visit before departure if possible. Walk through the daily routine, show them where everything is, and give them a chance to ask questions. If your dog needs a slower introduction, plan that time before the trip rather than assuming one visit will be enough.

5. Check Records and Identification

Review your dog’s contact tag and microchip registration. Keep a recent photo and relevant veterinary records available. Ask your veterinarian and sitter which records they need rather than changing a care schedule solely for the trip.

6. Write an Emergency Plan

Provide your contact information, a local backup contact, your regular veterinarian, and an emergency veterinary clinic. Check the clinic’s current hours before you leave. Agree with the clinic and sitter on how treatment authorization, transport, and payment would be handled if you cannot be reached.

Also decide how often you would like routine updates and what should prompt an immediate call. A written plan cannot cover every situation, but it gives the sitter a useful place to start while your dog is in their care.