The night before a trip is the worst time to remember what your sitter needs to know. This is the complete list, in the order a sitter will need it, plus a free one-page care sheet you can fill in and print.
Free, no email needed: download the one-page pet sitter care sheet (PDF) →
1. Contacts, in order
- Your cell, and a second owner if there is one
- A backup person who has a key and can step in
- Your regular vet and the nearest 24-hour emergency vet, with the address
- Poison control: ASPCA Animal Poison Control (888) 426-4435 and Pet Poison Helpline (855) 764-7661, both 24/7. A consultation fee may apply.
- How long to wait for you before calling your backup
2. Food and water
- Brand and type, exact amount (“1 cup,” not “some”), and times
- Where food is stored, plus a measuring cup
- Enough food for the trip plus three extra days, ideally pre-portioned into daily bags
- Treats that are allowed, the daily limit, and anything your dog must never have
3. Medications
- Name, dose, time, how to give it, and with or without food
- Pre-sort pills into a labeled weekly organizer with a few extra days. Most medication mistakes happen when someone works a dose out from a bottle label.
- What to do if a dose is missed or spat out
4. Routine
- Walk and potty times, how long, and the route
- Leash and harness habits, pulling, and dogs to avoid
- Where your dog sleeps, crate or not, and any bedtime routine
5. Quirks and when to worry
- Fears and triggers: thunder, bikes, other dogs
- Escape habits: door-dasher, digger, fence-jumper
- What’s normal for your dog, so your sitter doesn’t panic
- What should trigger a call to you, and what means “go to the ER vet now”: trouble breathing, collapse, a swollen belly with retching, or eating something toxic
6. The house
- Door and alarm codes on the printed copy only, never in a text or email; plus Wi-Fi and how the pet camera works
- Where the leash, food, meds, towels, poop bags and first-aid kit are
- Escape points: gates, fence gaps, loose latches
7. Emergency vet permission
Without written permission, an emergency clinic may not start treatment while it tries to reach you. Decide a spending limit now, at your kitchen table, not at 2 a.m. Then call your vet and the 24-hour ER to put the permission and a card on file, and add your sitter’s name. Many clinics have their own form; use theirs when they offer one.
8. ID and a recent photo
- Check that your microchip registration lists your current phone number. An outdated number is one of the most common reasons found dogs don’t get home.
- An ID tag with a working cell number on the collar
- A recent, full-body photo on the counter and on your sitter’s phone, in case your dog gets out
Hand it off in person
Print one copy, text the PDF, and spend five minutes walking the house together. Paper works when phones die; the PDF works when your sitter is out.
Choosing a sitter too?
The free Pet-Sitter Vetting Kit adds 12 interview questions, a red-flag checklist and a care agreement.
Please read: This guide and the care sheet are general information, not veterinary or legal advice; your sitter’s first call about your dog’s health should be your vet. Emergency vet authorizations and care agreements are templates, not legal documents, and clinics may require their own forms. Trip-Ready Dog doesn’t screen or endorse any sitter or boarding business, and no checklist can guarantee your dog’s safety. Phone numbers verified Sept 30, 2026; confirm before relying on them. See our Terms of Use.
