Free printable · 3 pages

Dog sitter checklist and instructions (free printable)

One sheet for a dog sitter, walker, house sitter or family member: food, walks, medication, contacts, what they may decide while you are away, and a daily log they can tick off.

Download PDF (US Letter) Download PDF (A4)

Or fill it in below and print it. Nothing you type on this page is saved or sent anywhere, so print or choose Save as PDF before you close the page.

How to use it

Fill it in on screen, or print it blank and write by hand.
Walk through it with your sitter before you leave, not on the doorstep.
Leave it somewhere obvious, such as on the fridge, next to the food and the leash (lead).

Don’t write alarm codes or Wi-Fi passwords on a sheet that stays in view; tell your sitter separately.

Dog sitter checklist

Paws & Days · pawsanddays.app/guides/sitter-checklist/

Dog and dates

Dog’s name

Breed, color and markings

Age

Dates of care: from / to

Microchip number

Microchip registry: name and phone

Contacts

Owner: name, phone and where you will be

Backup emergency contact: name, phone; has a key?

Regular vet: clinic, phone and address

Emergency or after-hours (out-of-hours) vet: clinic, phone and address

Pet insurance: provider, policy number and claims phone

Food and water

Food: brand and type

Amount per meal and meal times

Treats allowed

Foods to avoid or allergies, as your vet told you

Where food, bowls and treats are kept

Medication and health

Copy medication details exactly from the label or your vet’s written instructions.

Medication name and strength, as on the label

How and when to give it, as instructed by the vet

Where the medication is stored

Health conditions the sitter should know about

What your vet asked you to watch for, and when to call

Permissions and emergencies

An agreement between you and your sitter, not a legal document.

Sitter may take the dog to our vet: yes / call me first

Vet spending limit without calling me

If I can’t be reached, decisions go to

OK or not: off leash, walks with other dogs, car rides, dog park or daycare, photos online

If the dog goes missing: who to call (us, the microchip registry, local animal control or council)

Owner signature and date

Daily routine

Morning

Midday

Evening

Bedtime and where they sleep

Walks: when, how long, leash or harness, routes or dogs to avoid

Toilet routine and favorite spots

Behavior and handling

Cues they know

Favorite games and toys

Fears or triggers: noises, dogs, people, traffic

How they show they are stressed

Good with children, visitors, other dogs?

Other pets in the home

Escape risks: gates, doors, fences

Crate, rooms and furniture rules

Home

Where the leash, poop bags, towels and spare keys are

Doors, gates and lights: anything to know

House sitting: trash and recycling, mail, plants

Agreed way and time to send updates

Before you leave

We went through this sheet together
Enough food for the stay, plus a few days extra
Medication in its original packaging, with the label
The vet knows who is caring for the dog and how costs are covered
ID tag on the collar; leash and harness by the door
Sitter has my phone number and a backup contact
A recent photo of the dog is shared with the sitter
Spare keys and return arrangements agreed

Sitter log

Tick or initial each one. Write anything unusual in the notes.

Day and date	Breakfast	Dinner	Walks	Toilet	Medication given (initials)	Notes

Free from pawsanddays.app. For organizing information only, not veterinary advice. Follow your vet’s instructions.

Tips for a smooth handover

Do a trial visit. A short walk or feed together lets the sitter see the routine and lets your dog get to know them.
Be exact about medication. Write instructions as your vet gave them and leave medicine in its labeled packaging. This checklist does not give medical advice.
Agree on emergencies in advance. Tell your vet who will bring your dog in, and agree in writing how costs will be covered. Leave your vet’s out-of-hours details too.
Keep it current. Update the sheet when food, medication or routines change.

Using a kennel instead? See what boarding kennels ask for.

Questions people ask

What information does a dog sitter need?

Your contacts and a backup contact, your vet and an after-hours vet, food and amounts, medication exactly as your vet instructed, the daily routine, behavior notes, house details, and what the sitter may decide if they can’t reach you. The checklist above covers each of these.

Should I leave written instructions for an overnight sitter?

Yes. Even a sitter who knows your dog will have to make decisions on their own, at night or in a hurry. A written sheet means nothing depends on remembering a conversation.

Should my sitter be able to take my dog to the vet?

Decide in advance. Tell your vet who is caring for your dog, agree a spending limit, and write it in the Permissions section. This is an agreement between you and your sitter, not a legal document.

Can I use it for a dog walker, house sitter or family member?

Yes. Fill in what applies and leave the rest blank. The 7-day log on page 3 is optional.

Is anything I type saved or sent?

No. The page has no form and stores nothing. Print it or save it as a PDF before you close the page.

Which paper size should I use?

Both work. Download the US Letter or A4 PDF, or print from your browser.

Can I keep it on my phone?

You can save the filled-in PDF. Paws & Days also keeps these details with your dog’s records on iPhone and exports a free basic care PDF; see the iPhone care sheet guide.

Sources: RSPCA: leaving your pet · PDSA: pet boarding and holiday care · Hill’s: pet sitter checklist · CDC: pet preparedness kit · GOV.UK: home boarding for dogs guidance

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