How to Prepare Your Dog for a Pet Sitter: The Complete Owner Checklist

Pet sitter sitting with a happy dog at home
The more thorough your prep work, the smoother the experience for everyone — including your dog.
Quick Answer: Prepare your dog for a pet sitter by scheduling a meet-and-greet before your first absence, writing down feeding schedules, medication instructions, emergency contacts, behavioral quirks, and house rules in one clear document, and setting out all supplies so nothing requires searching. The more thorough your preparation, the smoother the experience for your dog, your sitter, and your peace of mind.

You’re about to leave for a trip and realized you haven’t prepped anything. Start here. Leaving your dog with a pet sitter for the first time — or even the tenth time — goes so much better when you’ve done the groundwork. The best pet sitters in the world can only work with the information they have. An underprepared handoff leads to guesswork, panicked texts, and a stressed dog.

This is the complete checklist. Work through it before every new sitter, and update it whenever anything changes. You can copy it into a document and leave a printed copy for your sitter.

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Step 1: The Meet-and-Greet (Non-Negotiable for New Sitters)

Before your dog is ever left alone with a new sitter, they need to meet on neutral or home turf. This is not optional — especially for dogs with any anxiety, reactivity, or strong territorial instincts.

How to Run an Effective Meet-and-Greet

  1. Choose the right setting. For a home-visit sitter, do it at your house. For a boarding sitter, visit their space. Avoid loud, crowded public places for the first introduction.
  2. Let your dog lead. Don’t force interaction. Allow your dog to approach the sitter in their own time. Ask the sitter to crouch down, avoid direct eye contact initially, and let the dog sniff before reaching out to pet.
  3. Watch body language. A loose, wiggly body and curiosity = good. Tucked tail, cowering, growling, or hiding = this dog needs more time before you leave them alone with this person.
  4. Run a short trial. If possible, have the sitter come for 1–2 hours while you’re still home, then 2–3 hours while you step out nearby. Don’t jump straight to an overnight without building up.
  5. Discuss everything. The meet-and-greet is also when you walk through the house, show where everything is, and go over the full checklist below.
Dog cautiously meeting a new person, sniffing their hand
Let your dog lead the introduction — never force a greeting with a new person.

Step 2: Feeding and Nutrition Information

Leave nothing ambiguous here. A sitter who isn’t sure about feeding amounts will either overfeed (causing GI upset) or underfeed (causing a hungry, frustrated dog).

Feeding Checklist

  • 📋 Food type and brand: Exact name, flavor, and form (dry/wet/raw). Leave a photo if it helps.
  • 📋 Amount per meal: Specify in cups, cans, or grams — not “a bowl.”
  • 📋 Meal times: Morning and evening at what times, approximately.
  • 📋 Where the food is kept.
  • 📋 Treats: Which treats are allowed, how many per day, any treats that are off-limits.
  • 📋 Known food sensitivities or allergies: Any ingredient they absolutely cannot have.
  • 📋 Safe people food (if any): What you allow and in what amounts.
  • 📋 Water: How often to refresh the bowl, whether your dog uses a water fountain or auto-waterer, and where it’s located.
  • 📋 If your dog is a picky eater: What to do if they skip a meal.

Step 3: Medications and Health Information

This section can be life or death. Be thorough.

Medication Details

  • 💊 Medication name, dose, and frequency — written out exactly, not abbreviated
  • 💊 What the medication is for — so the sitter understands why it matters
  • 💊 How to give it: Hidden in food? Pill pocket? Direct? Your dog’s preferred method
  • 💊 What to do if a dose is missed
  • 💊 Storage: Does it need to be refrigerated?
  • 💊 Where the medications are kept
  • 💊 Any medical conditions the sitter should be aware of: diabetes, epilepsy, heart condition, recent surgery, known allergies

Step 4: Emergency Contacts

Print these on a separate sheet and stick it on the fridge in addition to leaving it digitally.

  • 🆘 Your cell phone number: Primary contact. Best hours to call vs. text.
  • 🆘 Secondary contact: Someone local who can respond physically if you’re unreachable
  • 🆘 Your regular vet: Name, address, phone number, hours
  • 🆘 Nearest emergency/after-hours vet: Name, address, phone number
  • 🆘 ASPCA Poison Control: (888) 426-4435
  • 🆘 Whether the sitter is authorized to approve emergency vet care — and if so, up to what dollar amount
⚠️ Critical: Always leave written authorization for your sitter to seek emergency veterinary care. The AVMA recommends keeping a copy of your pet’s vaccination records and emergency authorization with any caregiver. Many vets require owner authorization before treating. A signed note with your signature, date, and the specific sitter’s name prevents a nightmare scenario where treatment is delayed.

Step 5: Behavioral Quirks, Fears, and Triggers

This is the section most owners rush through — and the one that causes the most preventable problems. Be honest and specific.

What to Cover

  • 🐾 Separation anxiety: Does your dog handle alone time well? How long before they start getting distressed? What does that look like? See also: 8 Calming Products for Pets with Anxiety
  • 🐾 Fear triggers: Thunderstorms? Fireworks? Strangers at the door? Hats? Vacuum cleaners? Skateboards? Be specific. (Guide: Calming Anxious Dogs During Thunderstorms)
  • 🐾 Dog reactivity: Are they reactive to other dogs? On or off leash? What does “reactive” look like for your specific dog?
  • 🐾 Resource guarding: Does your dog guard food, toys, or their sleeping area? What do they do if approached while eating?
  • 🐾 Escape tendencies: Are they a flight risk? Do they try to bolt out the door? Any fence-jumping or digging history?
  • 🐾 Known aggression: If your dog has ever snapped, growled seriously, or bitten, your sitter needs to know. This protects both of them.
  • 🐾 Things that always work: Their favorite toy, their comfort word, what calms them down fastest, how they like to be petted
Dog resting calmly at home alone
A well-prepared dog can settle calmly — a stressed dog without proper prep will make everyone miserable.

Step 6: Exercise and Daily Routine

Dogs thrive on routine. A sitter who maintains your dog’s normal schedule will have a much calmer, happier dog to care for. See: The Ultimate Guide to Daily Pet Care Routines.

  • 🦮 Walk frequency and duration: How many times a day, how long, what route if any
  • 🦮 Off-leash time: Do they get yard time? Is the yard fully secure?
  • 🦮 Exercise needs: High-energy breed that needs a real run, or a couch potato that’s happy with a 20-minute stroll?
  • 🦮 Play preferences: Fetch? Tug? Puzzle toys? Solo play vs. interactive?
  • 🦮 Morning routine: First thing in the morning — outside immediately? Breakfast first?
  • 🦮 Bedtime routine: Last potty at what time? Where do they sleep?

Step 7: House Rules and Where Everything Is

House Rules

  • 🏠 Furniture rules: which rooms, which furniture, with or without a dog blanket
  • 🏠 Doors and gates that must stay closed
  • 🏠 Areas that are off-limits to the dog
  • 🏠 Any security system codes or lock instructions

Where Everything Is

  • 📍 Dog food and treats
  • 📍 Leash and collar/harness (spare, in case one breaks?)
  • 📍 Poop bags
  • 📍 Medications
  • 📍 First aid kit (How to Set Up a Pet First Aid Kit)
  • 📍 Dog’s comfort items (bed, crate, blanket, favorite toy)
  • 📍 Cleaning supplies for accidents
  • 📍 Vet records

Recommended: Tools That Make Pet Sitting Smoother

Pet Info Binder / Notebook

A dedicated physical binder for your dog’s complete care info — food, meds, contacts, vet records, behavioral notes. Sitters love having everything in one place. Takes 20 minutes to set up once and works for every future sitter.

Check on Amazon →

Furbo Dog Camera

Two-way audio + video so you can check on your dog and talk to them remotely. The treat-toss feature lets you reward calm behavior from across the world. Reduces your anxiety as much as your dog’s. Check our full review: Best Pet Cameras for Apartments.

Check on Amazon →

Key Lockbox

A combination lockbox mounted near your door means you can give a sitter access without handing over keys — and revoke it instantly. Far more convenient (and secure) than making copies for every sitter.

Check on Amazon →

KONG Classic (for Separation Anxiety)

Stuff with peanut butter or kibble, freeze overnight, and give it to your dog when the sitter arrives. A frozen KONG occupies an anxious dog for 20–30 minutes — long enough to settle and stop fixating on your absence.

Check on Amazon →

Step 8: Helping Your Dog Through Separation Anxiety

Even dogs without diagnosed separation anxiety can struggle when their primary person leaves, especially if it’s for an extended time or with a new caregiver.

Before You Leave

  • Exercise your dog thoroughly the morning you leave — a tired dog settles faster
  • Keep your goodbye low-key: a calm pet, a treat, and then you leave. Big emotional goodbyes amplify anxiety.
  • Leave a worn piece of clothing (a t-shirt) with the sitter — your scent is genuinely calming for most dogs
  • Leave the TV or music on at normal volume — the ambient noise helps some dogs feel less alone
Pro Tip: If your dog struggles with separation anxiety, start “practice departures” a week before your trip. Leave for 5 minutes, return calmly, repeat. Gradually extend. Dogs with severe anxiety benefit from a professional sitter who stays overnight rather than pop-in visits.

Related: 8 Calming Products for Pets with Anxiety | Daily Pet Care Routines | Best Pet Cameras for Remote Monitoring

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find a trustworthy pet sitter?
Start with referrals from your vet, dog trainer, or local dog owners. Platforms like Rover and Wag provide vetted sitters with reviews. You can also search the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters (NAPPS) or Pet Sitters International directories for certified professionals. Always run a meet-and-greet first, check for prior experience with dogs similar to yours, and ask for references. If they’re watching your dog overnight, ask about their emergency protocol and which vet they’d use.
How much information should I give my pet sitter?
More is always better. A sitter who has complete information can handle any situation confidently without calling you in a panic. The goal is to write instructions clear enough that a complete stranger with zero dog experience could follow them — because in an emergency, your sitter may need to relay information to someone else.
My dog has never been away from me. How do I prepare them?
Start with short practice separations well before your trip. Have the sitter visit 2–3 times before the actual absence. Build up from 1 hour to a half-day to a full day. If your dog shows severe distress (won’t eat, won’t settle, destructive behavior), consult your vet — there are safe medications that can ease acute separation anxiety for travel situations.
Should my dog stay home or go to a boarding facility?
Most dogs do better in their own home with a visiting or live-in sitter — the familiar environment reduces stress significantly. Boarding facilities work well for social, confident dogs who enjoy the interaction with other dogs. Dogs with anxiety, health conditions, or territorial instincts are usually better served by in-home care. A brief trial boarding stay before a long trip is always worth doing.
What should I do if my dog bites the pet sitter?
Disclose any biting history before hiring a sitter — this is both an ethical and legal obligation. A sitter who knows your dog has bitten before can take appropriate precautions; one who doesn’t know is at genuine risk. If a bite does occur, ensure the sitter receives medical attention immediately, document everything, and report to your platform if using one. Review whether an in-home sitter is the right approach for your dog vs. a professional facility.