A dog sitter who does not know your dog's feeding schedule, health conditions, behavioral quirks, and emergency contacts is making guesses about a living animal in your care. The instruction sheet you leave behind determines whether your dog is safe, fed correctly, and handled well while you are gone. This is the complete template and what to fill into each section.
What every dog sitter instruction sheet needs
A complete dog sitter sheet covers six areas: feeding and diet, medications and health, daily routine, behavioral notes, emergency contacts, and house rules. Skip any of these and you have created a gap the sitter will fill with guesswork.
Free dog sitter instruction sheet template
DOG SITTER INSTRUCTIONS — [Dog's Name]
Dates: _______________ Breed/Age/Weight: _______________
FEEDING
Food brand and type: ___________________________
Amount per meal: _______________ Times: _______________ Location: _______________
Water: Refill when below _______________ — Location: _______________
Treats: Yes / No — Type approved: _______________ Max per day: _______________
Foods NOT allowed: ___________________________
MEDICATIONS / SUPPLEMENTS
Medication 1: _______________ Dose: _______________ When: _______________ How to give: _______________
Supplement: _______________ Amount: _______________ With food: Yes / No
Location of medications: ___________________________
HEALTH CONDITIONS / ALLERGIES
Condition: ___________________________
What to watch for: ___________________________
What to do: ___________________________
Known allergies (food or environmental): ___________________________
DAILY ROUTINE
Morning walk: Time _______________ Duration _______________ Route or area _______________
Afternoon/midday: ___________________________
Evening walk: Time _______________ Duration _______________
Bathroom frequency: _______________
Crate or free roam: _______________ If crated: when and for how long _______________
Sleep location: ___________________________
BEHAVIORAL NOTES
Good with strangers: Yes / No — Notes: _______________
Good with other dogs: Yes / No — Notes: _______________
Known triggers (reactivity, fear): ___________________________
Commands she responds to: ___________________________
Do NOT do: ___________________________
EMERGENCY CONTACTS
Owner (name): _______________ Cell: _______________
Backup owner/contact: _______________ Cell: _______________
Vet name: _______________ Phone: _______________
Emergency vet (24-hour): _______________ Address: _______________
HOUSE / LOGISTICS
Leash and harness location: ___________________________
Waste bags location: ___________________________
Dog door: Yes / No — Hours: _______________
Fenced yard: Yes / No
WiFi: _______________ Alarm: _______________
The feeding section: where most mistakes happen
Feeding is where dog sitter errors are most common. Be precise:
- Exact brand and type — not just "the dry food." Some dogs have food allergies or sensitivities that make the specific brand matter. Include a photo of the bag if the sitter is unfamiliar.
- Amount by weight or cup measurement — not "a bowl." How many cups or grams per meal.
- Toxic foods to avoid — grapes, raisins, onions, garlic, xylitol (found in peanut butter and sugar-free products), chocolate, macadamia nuts, avocado. If the sitter is cooking or eating these, they need to know not to share with the dog.
- Any dietary restriction related to health conditions — a dog with kidney disease on a low-protein diet, or a dog with pancreatitis who cannot have high-fat foods, has life-and-death feeding rules.
Medications: how to give them successfully
For a dog sitter who has never given your dog medications, the technique matters as much as the dose:
- Pill pockets, peanut butter (confirm no xylitol), cream cheese — what does your dog actually accept pills in?
- Whether any medications need to be given with food (to prevent stomach upset)
- What to do if the dog spits the pill out — can the dose be repeated? If so, how soon?
- Whether any topical treatments (flea prevention, ear drops) are due during the stay
Behavioral notes: the section that makes the difference
Generic "he's friendly" notes are not useful. Specific behavioral notes are:
- Leash reactivity — does your dog lunge at other dogs, bikes, or skateboards? The sitter needs to know before the walk, not during it.
- Resource guarding — does your dog growl over food, toys, or space? Tell the sitter not to approach the dog while eating or to take toys away.
- Separation anxiety behaviors — does the dog bark, destroy things, or harm itself when left alone? How long can the dog be left, and what helps?
- Known fear triggers — thunderstorms, fireworks, cars, specific types of people. Include what helps: a thundershirt, a crate with a cover, a specific safe space in the house.
- Commands the dog reliably responds to — and commands the dog does not know or is inconsistent with.
Emergency vet information: the most overlooked section
Every dog sitter instruction sheet should include both the regular vet and the 24-hour emergency vet:
- Your regular vet: name, address, phone, and hours
- The nearest 24-hour emergency animal hospital: name, address, and phone — look this up now rather than making the sitter search for it during a crisis
- Your pet's microchip number (in case of escape or loss)
- Your pet insurance information if you have it
- The specific symptoms that require emergency care: difficulty breathing, collapse, bloat symptoms (distended abdomen, unproductive retching in large breeds), seizure, suspected poisoning, severe injury
Baton Pass stores pet health information — allergies, medications, vet contacts, and emergency instructions — in the same kind of shareable link you use for your children. Share the link with any dog sitter and they have everything organized on their phone.
The complete dog sitter checklist
- Food brand, amount, and feeding times
- Foods and substances that are toxic or off-limits
- Medications: name, dose, timing, how to give
- Health conditions with what to watch for
- Daily walk schedule and routine
- Crate or roaming rules and sleep location
- Behavioral notes: reactivity, guarding, anxiety triggers
- Commands the dog knows
- Do-not-do list
- Owner cell and backup contact
- Regular vet name and phone
- 24-hour emergency vet name, address, and phone
- Microchip number
- Pet insurance information
- Leash, harness, waste bag locations
- Yard and dog door rules
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find a reliable dog sitter?
Referrals from your vet, neighbors, or local pet owner groups are the most reliable source. Platforms like Rover provide sitter profiles and reviews. For dogs with health conditions, behavioral issues, or special needs, look for a sitter with experience specifically in those areas — the broader the experience, the less preparation and supervision you need to provide.
Should the dog sitter have access to my home or use a separate space?
Both arrangements work. In-home sitting (where the sitter stays in your home) keeps the dog's routine intact and avoids the stress of a new environment. Boarding at the sitter's home may provide more social interaction for social dogs. The right choice depends on your dog's temperament, health needs, and what the sitter can safely handle in each setting.
What if my dog has a medical emergency while I am traveling?
The instruction sheet should include explicit authorization: "If [dog's name] needs emergency veterinary care, please take her immediately. Call me after you have initiated care. Do not wait to reach me before going to the vet." Include the 24-hour emergency vet address and your pet insurance information so cost is not a factor in the sitter's decision to seek care.
What symptoms in a dog require emergency veterinary care?
Emergency symptoms include: difficulty breathing, gums that are pale, white, blue, or gray, collapse or extreme weakness, suspected poisoning (eaten something toxic), seizures, uncontrolled bleeding, suspected bloat in large or deep-chested breeds (distended stomach, retching without vomiting), eye injuries, sudden inability to urinate (especially in male cats and dogs), and any trauma from a car accident or animal attack even if the dog seems okay.
Ready to build your child's pass?
Free to start. No app required for your caregiver.
Create your child's pass — free