Dog Sitter Checklist: Feeding, Medication, Routine and Emergency Information

A good dog sitter checklist should make it possible for someone else to care for your dog without guessing. Write down the dog’s normal feeding amounts, medication instructions, toilet and walking routine, sleep habits, behaviour around people and animals, veterinarian details, emergency clinic, backup contacts and home-access information. AAHA recommends giving sitters both a detailed pet profile and clear daily-care instructions, while the RSPCA similarly stresses maintaining familiar routines and sharing health, feeding and emergency information.

The goal is not to write a biography of your dog. It is to make important decisions easy when you are unavailable.

Quick Answer

Before leaving your dog with a sitter, provide written instructions covering meals, medications, walks, toileting, behaviour, veterinary contacts, emergency plans and your travel contact information. Also leave enough supplies, current identification, a recent photo, house-access details and clear instructions about what the sitter should do if your dog becomes ill or escapes.

Dog Profile

Begin your pet sitter instructions with information that identifies the dog and explains anything the sitter needs to understand immediately.

Include:

name and nicknames
age
breed or type
current photo
medical conditions
allergies or dietary restrictions
medications
normal activity level
important behavioural traits
microchip number

AAHA specifically recommends including age, breed, personality, behavioural issues, fears, medical needs, dietary restrictions, medications and microchip information in a sitter profile. A recent photo is also useful if the dog becomes lost.

Feeding

Write the feeding routine as instructions someone can follow without calling you.

Specify:

food brand and exact product
breakfast time
dinner time
whether meals need preparation
where food is stored
whether dogs in a multi-pet household eat separately

Keeping a familiar routine can reduce unnecessary change while an owner is away. AAHA and RSPCA both recommend giving the sitter clear feeding instructions and maintaining the dog’s usual schedule where practical.

Link broader nutrition questions to Pawnium’s Dog Feeding Guide rather than turning this page into a feeding article.

Food Amount

Avoid instructions such as “one bowl” or “a normal amount.”

Write the actual measure you normally use, such as the number of grams, a clearly identified measuring scoop or another consistent portion. If wet and dry food are combined, specify each separately.

The sitter should reproduce the dog’s established feeding plan rather than estimating portions.

Treats

List which treats are allowed, where they are stored and whether there is a daily limit.

Also explain whether treats are routinely used for:

medication
recall
coming inside
settling
walks
training

If certain chews or treats require supervision, say so explicitly.

Food Allergies

Write down confirmed food allergies, known intolerances or medically required diet restrictions in a prominent place.

Do not rely on the sitter remembering something mentioned casually during a conversation. AAHA recommends documenting dietary restrictions and medical considerations as part of the pet’s care profile.

If the dog is on a prescription diet, state clearly that substitutions should not be made without veterinary guidance.

Water

Tell the sitter where the dog’s water bowls are and whether there is anything unusual about the normal routine.

Unless a veterinarian has given specific medical instructions, the sitter should not alter water access simply because you are away.

Medication

Medication instructions need to be precise.

For each medication, provide:

medication name
prescribed amount
time it is given
route or method of administration
whether it is given with food
where it is stored
prescribing veterinary clinic
what the sitter should do if a dose is missed or refused

ASPCA specifically recommends giving sitters the medication, dose, timing and frequency information. AAHA also advises clearly labelled medication with administration instructions when a pet is staying with another caregiver.

Do not ask the sitter to improvise medication changes. Questions about missed doses or unexpected reactions should go to the prescribing veterinarian.

Walk Schedule

Record the dog’s normal walking routine rather than simply writing “walk twice daily.”

Include:

approximate times
usual route
normal duration or type of outing
harness or collar used
whether the dog reacts to traffic, wildlife or other dogs
areas that should be avoided
whether off-leash activity is permitted and where

AAHA recommends telling the sitter when the dog normally exercises, how frequently it needs to go outside and where it usually walks.

Toilet Routine

Explain:

when the dog normally goes outside
which door is used
where the dog usually toilets
what signal the dog gives when it needs to go
whether there are nighttime needs
where waste bags and cleaning products are stored

This becomes particularly useful for puppies, senior dogs and dogs whose schedules are less flexible.

Sleep Routine

Write down where the dog normally sleeps.

Mention whether:

bedroom doors stay open or closed
the dog uses a crate
the dog sleeps on a particular bed
nighttime toilet breaks are normal
certain household sounds upset the dog

Maintaining familiar routines can help reduce the disruption caused by the owner’s absence.

Training Cues

Give the sitter the words your dog already understands.

Examples might include:

come
wait
leave it
drop
bed/place
sit
stay
inside
toilet cue

Do not give a sitter ten alternative commands for the same behaviour. Consistency is more useful.

Behaviour

A sitter needs practical behavioural information, not labels.

Instead of:

“He is weird with strangers.”

Write:

“He prefers people to ignore him initially. Do not reach over his head; let him approach first.”

AAHA specifically recommends recording personality, quirks, behavioural issues and relevant preferences.

Use Pawnium’s Dog Body Language guide for more detailed interpretation of stress or discomfort.

Fear Triggers

List known triggers such as:

thunderstorms
fireworks
vacuum cleaners
bicycles
men wearing hats
children running
veterinary handling
delivery workers

Then explain the management routine you normally use.

Do not instruct the sitter to “make the dog face its fear.”

Escape Risks

Tell the sitter exactly where escapes are most likely.

Examples include:

front door during deliveries
side gate that does not latch automatically
dog slipping out when attaching the lead
jumping a low fence
bolting after wildlife

Make door and gate rules explicit.

Dog-Dog Interactions

Do not write “friendly with dogs” when the reality is more complicated.

Specify whether the dog:

regularly greets unfamiliar dogs
should avoid greetings on leash
is comfortable with particular known dogs
uses daycare or dog parks
guards toys or food
needs distance from certain types of dogs

The sitter should follow your established management rather than experiment with new social situations.

Visitors

Explain what happens if someone arrives at the house.

For example:

place dog behind gate
let visitor enter
wait for dog to settle
only allow interaction if appropriate

If the dog should remain separated from maintenance workers or deliveries, say that directly.

Home Rules

List important everyday rules such as:

allowed on sofa or not
allowed upstairs
rooms kept closed
garden access rules
where feeding occurs
whether doors must remain shut
where muddy paws are cleaned

Keeping household expectations consistent makes the sitter’s job easier.

Veterinary Information

Leave:

veterinarian name
clinic name
clinic address
daytime phone
relevant medical records if needed

ASPCA and AAHA both recommend making the regular veterinarian’s details immediately available to the sitter.

Emergency Clinic

Do not assume your regular clinic provides 24-hour care.

Identify the emergency hospital you would normally use and record its:

name
address
phone number
route or location

ASPCA recommends planning emergency care in advance and keeping local emergency-clinic information readily accessible.

Emergency Contact

Provide a nearby backup person who knows the dog and can make practical decisions if you cannot be reached.

AAHA recommends giving sitters a local friend or family contact, while ASPCA advises choosing someone familiar with the pet who can help when the owner is unavailable.

Insurance Information

If the dog has pet insurance, leave:

insurer name
policy number
claims or emergency contact details
any relevant instructions

AAHA specifically includes insurance information among useful emergency details for pet sitters.

Do not assume the sitter knows whether they must pay a clinic first and seek reimbursement later.

Veterinary Treatment Authorisation

Before travelling, contact your veterinary clinic and ask how it handles treatment when the owner is unavailable.

ASPCA recommends telling the veterinarian when you will be away and identifying who is authorised to make decisions on your behalf.

Your written notes might specify:

who may authorise treatment
which clinic should be contacted first
how you should be contacted
what to do if you cannot be reached
any financial arrangements already agreed with the clinic

Clinic policies and local law can differ, so use the veterinarian’s own authorisation process rather than relying on a generic internet form.

Microchip Details

Write down the microchip number and make sure the registration has current owner contact details.

AAHA explains that a microchip links a unique identification number to registry information used to help reunite lost animals with their owners.

Keep the registry/company information with the number if you know it.

Collar and ID

Check the collar or harness before leaving.

The dog should have current identification appropriate for your location, and the sitter should know where spare leads, collars or harnesses are stored. AAHA recommends current ID tags in addition to microchip registration.

House Keys

Give the sitter:

working keys
gate keys
garage access if needed
instructions for doors that stick or auto-lock
a backup access plan

Test the keys before leaving.

Security System

Provide only the information the sitter actually needs:

alarm code
how to arm/disarm it
entry/exit procedure
contact details if the alarm activates

AAHA specifically includes home access, alarm and security instructions among practical sitter information.

Supplies

Show the sitter where to find:

food
bowls
treats
medicines
leads
harnesses
waste bags
toys
bedding
towels
pet first-aid supplies
spare food

AAHA recommends making supplies easy for the caregiver to locate, including food, medications, collars, leads and familiar items.

Leave more food and medication than the exact amount required in case your return is delayed.

Cleaning Supplies

Tell the sitter where dog-safe cleaning supplies, paper towels, waste bags and rubbish bins are located.

AAHA specifically recommends showing pet sitters where cleaning supplies can be found in case of accidents or messes.

Travel Itinerary

Leave:

departure date
expected return date
destination
major travel times
periods when you may be unreachable
accommodation or relevant contact information where appropriate

ASPCA recommends giving the sitter an itinerary so they know when the owner is likely to be available.

Contact Methods

Tell the sitter the best way to reach you.

For example:

Routine update: WhatsApp
Important concern: phone call
Emergency: call immediately, then contact backup person/veterinarian if unavailable.

Avoid making a sitter guess whether something warrants interrupting you.

What to Do if the Dog Escapes

Prepare this before it happens.

The sitter should have:

a recent clear photo
microchip number
owner’s phone number
backup contact
familiar recall cue
locations the dog may return to

If the dog goes missing, local veterinary hospitals, animal shelters and animal-control services can help identify and reunite found pets; microchip scanning and current ID information are particularly useful.

Link the full response plan to Pawnium’s Lost-Dog Action Plan.

What to Do During Illness

Do not expect the sitter to diagnose a medical problem.

Your instructions should say whom to contact if the dog develops:

repeated vomiting or diarrhoea
difficulty breathing
collapse
injury
suspected poisoning
marked weakness
significant pain
another sudden concerning change

For an urgent or potentially life-threatening situation, the sitter should contact a veterinarian or emergency hospital rather than waiting indefinitely for the owner to answer. ASPCA recommends planning veterinary emergency procedures in advance.

For suspected toxin exposure, the sitter should contact veterinary or animal-poison professionals rather than attempting home treatment.

Final Handover

Do one practical walkthrough before leaving.

Show the sitter:

food and portions
medication and administration
lead/harness
normal exit for toilet breaks
gates and escape risks
sleeping area
cleaning supplies
veterinarian information
emergency sheet
alarm and keys

AAHA recommends detailed instructions because they help the caregiver follow the dog’s familiar routine and respond more confidently if something unexpected happens.

Ask the sitter to explain any medication or unusual routine back to you. It is easier to correct a misunderstanding before the trip than during an emergency.

FAQs

What information should I leave for a dog sitter?

Leave feeding amounts, medications, toilet and walking routines, behaviour information, veterinarian and emergency-clinic contacts, owner and backup contacts, microchip details, home-access instructions and a clear emergency plan.

Should I write down dog food portions?

Yes. Give an actual amount or clearly defined scoop rather than asking the sitter to estimate. AAHA specifically recommends recording how much food is given at each meal.

Should the sitter have my dog’s microchip number?

Yes. Keeping the microchip number and current registration information available can help if the dog goes missing. A recent photo is also useful.

Can a dog sitter authorise veterinary treatment?

Do not assume so. Contact your veterinary practice before travelling and ask what authorisation it requires. ASPCA recommends notifying the veterinarian of your absence and naming the person authorised to make decisions when you cannot be reached.

How much medication information should I provide?

Write the medication name, prescribed amount, timing, frequency, administration method and clinic contact details. Do not ask the sitter to alter medication without veterinary instruction.

Should I meet the sitter before leaving?

Yes, particularly when the sitter does not already know the dog. RSPCA recommends meeting a prospective sitter beforehand so you can confirm they understand and can manage the animal’s care needs.