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Free handover tool

Dog sitter instructions template

Cover the daily rhythm, walks, lead rules, triggers, toileting, escape risks and medication.

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Dog sitter instructions details

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Clear routines for a familiar, confident sit

What to include in dog sitter instructions

A useful dog handover explains more than food and walk times. It helps your chosen sitter understand your dog's normal rhythm, equipment, boundaries, triggers and the situations that need extra care.

What this dog care template covers

The questions are shaped around the decisions a dog sitter needs to make during an ordinary day.

  • Meals, treats, water and the familiar daily rhythm
  • Walk length, toileting routine and weather adjustments
  • Lead, harness and explicit on-lead or off-lead rules
  • Triggers, greeting preferences and behaviour around other dogs
  • Escape risks, medication instructions and emergency contacts

What to prepare before you start

Use the exact routine and equipment your dog already knows.

  • The dog's normal food measure and current feeding instructions
  • Lead, harness, coat and waste bags in a clearly labelled place
  • Current medication labels and your regular vet's contact details
  • A realistic description of recall, pulling, reactivity and fears
  • A backup person who knows the dog and can help locally

Details dog owners commonly forget

These details can prevent uncertainty on walks and at the front door.

  • The cue used before opening a door or unclipping a lead
  • Dogs, animals, vehicles or places to avoid on a walk
  • How long the dog is normally comfortable being left
  • What a normal appetite, toilet pattern and energy level look like
  • Where towels and cleaning supplies are kept after a wet walk
Fictional example

Bailey's afternoon routine

This is a fictional example, not care advice. Your brief should reflect your own dog's established routine.

Walk
Use the green harness and keep Bailey on lead. Take the quieter park route for about 25 minutes.
Trigger
Give cyclists plenty of space and ask Bailey to wait while they pass.
Return
Dry paws by the back door, refresh the water bowl and offer the labelled afternoon treat.

From answers to a usable handover

How to copy, print or share your brief

  1. 1

    Check the preview

    Resolve important missing-detail prompts and make sure each instruction is attached to the right pet or household task.

  2. 2

    Copy or print

    Copy the plain-language brief, print a paper copy or use the browser's print screen to save a PDF.

  3. 3

    Share only when ready

    Use the finished copy directly, or choose the invited-owner flow to review an import before anything is uploaded.

Review the live preview for anything missing, then copy the instructions into a message or print them for the handover. Saving as PDF uses your browser's print option. An expiring live brief is available only after an invited owner explicitly reviews and imports the draft.

Ready-made printable templates

Download an A4 or US Letter PDF

Choose the warm SitSorted version or a black-and-white layout for economical printing. The completed example is fictional.

Helpful answers

Frequently asked questions

What should dog sitter instructions include?

Include the dog's established feeding and walk routine, equipment, toileting, lead rules, behaviour, triggers, escape risks, current medication instructions and emergency contacts.

Should I tell the sitter about difficult behaviour?

Yes. A calm, factual description of pulling, guarding, barking, fear or reactivity helps the sitter avoid known triggers and follow the management routine you already use.

Can I make a printable dog sitter checklist?

Yes. Complete the form, review the preview and choose Print or PDF. Your browser can print a paper copy or save the same brief as a PDF.

Does the tool decide medication or walk times?

No. Enter only the routine and current instructions already established for your dog. SitSorted does not infer times or provide veterinary advice.

Do I need an account?

No account is needed to create, copy or print a dog brief. The optional live-brief flow is available to invited owners after explicit review and import.