The ultimate dog sitter checklist

Along with our ultimate pet sitter checklist, this dog sitter checklist offers guidance and suggestions on how to best prepare your soon-to-be sitter and snuffle hound. While this dog sitting list is not exhaustive, we’ve tried to be as thorough as possible. Let’s dig in!

Dog sitter checklist

• Complete your welcome guide
• Dog care checklist
• House rules checklist
• Stock up on house and pet supplies
• Dog supplies checklist
• Cleaning supplies checklist
• Prepare your dog for their sitter
• Prepare your home for your dog sitter

Exercise & playtime

• When should they be walked?
• How long should walks be?
• How long should they play during the day?
• What time should they be woken up?
• When is their bedtime?
• What is their training schedule?
• Do they need alone time throughout the day?
• What is your dog’s recall like? Leave instructions for your dog sitter if they’re allowed off the leash.

Your dog’s personality

• Does your pet have any behavioral issues?
• What tends to calm your pet down?
• What is your pet like with other animals?
• Can your dog be let off the leash?
• What are your pets’ favorite toys?
• Does your pet like listening to music?
• Is there anything your pet dislikes?
• Are there any household objects that trigger unwanted behavior?
• Is your pet friendly towards other people and children?
• Are there any other pet quirks your sitter should know about?
• Where are your pets allowed in the house?
• When is your dog allowed outside?
• Is your dog allowed on the beds and couch?

Health, well-being, and medical records

• Are there any pet appointments, like vet check-ups or the groomers booked in?
• Immunization records
• Any other medical records
• Microchip information and contact details
• Insurance card and any pet insurance paperwork
• An up-to-date photo of your pet, clearly showing what they look like
• Your contact details and back-up contact details in case you can’t be reached
• Your vet’s contact information
• Insurance information
• Warn your vet you’ll be having a sitter
• Leave your payment details with your vet so that your sitter doesn’t have to pay anything upfront.
• Do they have any medication? If so why, what dosage, and what administration

House rules checklist

Emergencies

• Emergency vet details and directions
• Emergency home contact details
• Leave at least one emergency phone number of a neighbor or nearby relative
• Leave a spare set of keys with said neighbor or relative - make sure your dog sitter knows they have a spare set
• Decide what you’d like to happen should your pet go missing or have an accident
• Provide information about where your furry friend might be if suspected missing
• Are there any alarm systems in place? How does it work? Is there parking available?
• How will the sitter be reimbursed for covering the costs of any essentials, such as emergency vet appointments?

Day-to-day house knowledge and rules

• When are the bins collected?
• How are items recycled?
• Is there a food waste bin?
• Where is the wifi router?
• What’s the wifi password?
• Will your sitter use any of your vehicles?
• How will the cost of topping up essentials be covered?
• Where is the electrical panel?
• Leave instructions on how to use appliances. 
• Where are the appliance manuals kept?
• Are there any spare keys? Where are they kept?
• Are there any house quirks your sitter should know about?
• What is the plant watering schedule?
• Do any plants need special care?
• What are your preferences for post collection?
• Will they need to take care of the swimming pool?
• How much communication do you expect from your sitter while you’re away? Would you like daily updates?
• Is your sitter allowed visitors?
• What are the end-of-sit arrangements?

Prepare your dog for their sitter

Settling your dog beforehand is just as important as everything else. Even if your pup is used to meeting new people, it’s still worth making these checks so they’re as settled as they can be:

• Have people round to get your pet used to having others in your home
• Meet with your sitter first to get the pair introduced
• Continue to welcome sitters to get your pet used to it
• De-worming and de-fleaing
• Have a grooming appointment (claw trim, a good wash, fur trim, de-matting)
• Make sure vaccinations and microchip details are up to date
• Prepare a pheromone plug
• Leave something that smells of you in their bed
• Make your departure a non-event

Prepare your home for your dog sitter

Finally, make sure your home is ready for your sitter. It’s easy to forget the little things when you’re also trying to prepare your pup and yourself. So, here’s a list of usual items and checks to do just before your dog sitter arrives:

Check pet supplies

• Dog shampoo
• Dog soap
• Towels
• Dog toothpaste
• Dog toothbrush
• Grooming brush
• Food
• Treats
• Poop bags
• Medication
• Leash
• Collar
• Harnesses
• Bed and bedding
• Favorite toys and comforters
• Pet carrier
• ID tags

Check cleaning supplies

• Bleach
• Toilet cleaning equipment
• Disinfectant sprays
• Antibacterial sprays
• Washing up liquid
• Dishwasher tablets
• Duster
• Vacuum cleaner
• Hand soap
  

The day before sit checklist

• Clean your home thoroughly
• Take out any trash and perishable food items
• Free up some wardrobe and bathroom space so your sitter can unpack and get settled.
• Check the Wifi is working.
• Securely lock away anything potentially dangerous, including yard chemicals, rat poison, and chocolate.
• Shut the doors to any rooms the pets can’t go in (and leave a note)
• Block up any pet escape routes (attic, basement, gaps in the fence)
• Make sure the gates are secure
• If you have a pet flap, is it working and set correctly?
• Put the handover notes and boxes of animal supplies in an obvious place, along with any spare keys.

As we said, this dog sitting checklist isn’t exhaustive, but should help to give you extra peace of mind once you’ve handed the keys to your sitter. Make sure they know they can contact you anytime and when, and, of course, have a great trip!

Remember, you can also reach out to our Membership Services Team via our 24/7 Help Desk if you have any questions or concerns. Otherwise, why not start searching for your ideal dog sitter and check out the latest sitters available near you?