Dog sitting & care handoffs · Departure checklist
A good dog sitting checklist does two things before you leave: it prepares the supplies the sitter needs and removes the decisions they should not have to make. Food should be labeled, medications and veterinary instructions should be current, contacts should be confirmed, and routines and safety boundaries should be written down.
Use this page to prepare the home. Then create the actual care handoff with our free Dog Sitter Instructions Template & Handoff Builder.
Dog sitting checklist: the quick version
| Before you leave | Ready? |
|---|---|
| Enough of the dog’s current food for the entire stay, clearly labeled | □ |
| Current medication with original labels and written instructions | □ |
| Fresh water setup and bowl locations explained | □ |
| Leash, harness, waste bags, towels, and routine supplies easy to find | □ |
| Written feeding, toilet, walk, rest, and bedtime routine | □ |
| Behavior and safety boundaries written clearly | □ |
| Regular veterinarian and emergency veterinarian contacts confirmed | □ |
| Owner contact plus trusted backup contact confirmed | □ |
| Emergency veterinary authorization/payment plan discussed as needed | □ |
| Home hazards, trash, medication, cleaning products, and escape routes secured | □ |
| Sitter has met the dog before the stay when practical | □ |
| Communication expectations agreed: visit notes, photos, urgent calls | □ |
1. Prepare food and feeding instructions
AKC recommends leaving enough food for the trip and clearly labeling it, especially in multi-pet homes. Write the amount and feeding times rather than asking the sitter to estimate. If animals need to eat separately or in a specific order, include that too.
If you use treats or food rewards, explain which ones are appropriate and where they fit in the dog’s feeding plan.
2. Check medication and treatment supplies
Make sure there is enough medication for the entire stay plus a reasonable buffer for travel delays. Leave medication in its original labeled container and provide the current instructions. If the sitter needs to demonstrate that they can give it safely, practice before the trip.
Do not pre-authorize the sitter to improvise a missed-dose plan. Give them the veterinary contact instead.
3. Confirm veterinary and emergency contacts
AKC recommends leaving the regular veterinarian’s name, phone number, and location, along with a trusted backup contact. Also include the nearest emergency veterinary clinic you want used when possible.
Call the veterinary office before travel if they need owner authorization, a payment arrangement, or specific paperwork for a sitter to approve care.
4. Put routine supplies in obvious places
AKC specifically recommends making leashes, waste bags, food, bowls, carriers or crates, toys, and first-aid supplies easy for the sitter to find. Add cleaning supplies for ordinary accidents, but store chemicals where the dog cannot access them.
A written note like “leash and harness are on the hook inside the entry closet” is far better than “everything is around somewhere.”
5. Secure the home for the dog, not just the sitter
Remove or block access to trash, unsafe plants, medication, cleaners, food the dog should not reach, cords, and swallowable objects. Check fences, gates, doors, and known escape points. If the dog needs separation from another animal during meals or when unsupervised, set up those spaces before you leave.
Tell the sitter about door-dashing, prey chasing, dog-dog concerns, guarding, handling sensitivities, thunder fears, or other issues that change how routine care should happen.
6. Write the routine in plain language
The sitter should know the dog’s usual meal pattern, toilet routine, walks, rest, sleeping arrangement, and any daily care tasks. Use our Instructions for a Dog Sitter guide to make the handoff specific without overwhelming the sitter.
For recurring weekday care, link the sitter to the relevant dog workday schedule or puppy workday schedule.
7. Arrange a pre-stay meeting when practical
AKC recommends an in-home consultation before hiring a sitter. A meeting lets you see how the dog and sitter interact, walk through the routine, demonstrate equipment or medication administration, and answer questions while you are still available.
8. Agree on communication before the trip
Decide whether you want a note after each visit, one daily summary, photos, or only messages when something changes. Give the sitter permission to report an accident, skipped meal, vomiting episode, unusual behavior, or other concern without feeling that they are “bothering” you.
The Dog Sitter Notes page provides a simple visit-log format.
9. Keep house access instructions separate
AKC notes that sitters may need information about the home, but security details deserve careful handling. Our browser-saved handoff intentionally tells users not to store alarm codes, passwords, lockbox combinations, payment details, or other access secrets in the tool. Share those through a secure method you trust.
10. Do a final five-minute review
- Is the food amount clear?
- Are medications current and labeled?
- Can the sitter find the leash, bags, bowls, and cleaning supplies?
- Are veterinary and backup contacts correct?
- Are behavior and safety boundaries specific?
- Does the sitter know what information you want recorded?
- Did you remove outdated instructions from the last trip?
Then print or copy the final handoff from the free sitter template.
Common questions
What should I leave for a dog sitter?
Leave the dog’s normal food, medication, routine supplies, leash/harness, waste bags, bowls, safe toys, cleanup supplies, current instructions, and contact information needed for care.
Should I leave veterinary records?
Provide the information the sitter and veterinary clinic may actually need, and ask your clinic what authorization or documentation they require. Do not leave unnecessary sensitive records unsecured.
Should I leave a key even if I use a keypad?
AKC recommends a backup key because keypad batteries or electronics can fail. Store and transfer any key securely.
Sources and editorial notes
This checklist is informed by AKC’s pet sitter preparation checklist, AKC pet sitter selection guidance, and AAHA sitter instructions. The printable checklist format is a True to Dogs planning aid. See our editorial standards.
