This post includes helpful pet sitter instructions for when you are away and need peace of mind and a free template for you to print.
“As Chevy’s mom for 6 years and someone who travels often, this is the exact template I leave with our sitter every time.”
I like to use this template for my dog notes when we go out of town and someone watches our dog. This free pet sitter instructions template gives your dog or cat sitter everything they need to know, your pet’s info, pet routine, vet contact, emergency numbers, and additional space for notes, all on one printable page. I made it because I was tired of texting our sitter the same things every single trip. Download it free below, and skip the blank page.
This post has a pet sitter instructions template free for download that you can print at home.
Pet Sitter Instructions Template FREE
400+ dog owners have downloaded this
1 Page with Basic instructions for pet sitter.
‘’The Notes You Need To Give Your Pet Sitter Before You Leave’’
I went through a massive list of things I want our dog sitter to know about Chevy before we go. But I also took ideas from dog owners who leave detailed notes for me when I’m dog-sitting their pets.
I have been on both sides. The dog mom worried sick about my dog at home, and the dog sitter stressed because I didn’t have all the information I needed.
And yes, your sitter should ask all these questions to ensure they can take good care of your dog, but if that’s not the case, you are the one who leaves all the instructions for them.
Email/Text Message Template with Pet Sitter Instructions
Hi [Pet Sitter’s Name]! Thank you so much for taking care of [Pet’s Name] while we’re away! Here’s everything you need to know:
🐕 PET INFORMATION
- Name:
- Breed:
- Age/Gender:
- Allergies: [List any allergies or None]
🚨 EMERGENCY CONTACTS
- My Cell: [Your Phone]
- Emergency Contact: [Name & Phone]
- Our Vet: [Vet Name & Phone & Address]
- Emergency Vet: [24hr Clinic & Phone]
- Police: 911
- Fire: 911
📅 PET ROUTINE
- [Time] – Breakfast [include portion size]
- [Time] – Morning walk [duration]
- [Time] – Lunch/Snack [if applicable]
- [Time] – Afternoon walk [duration]
- [Time] – Dinner [include portion size]
- [Time] – Evening walk [duration]
- [Time] – Bedtime routine
⚠️ GOOD TO KNOW
- Pet Triggers: [List triggers like “squirrels,” “doorbells,” etc.]
- Behaviour: [Describe reactions]
- Likes: [Favorite toys, treats, activities]
- Dislikes: [Things they avoid or fear]
🏠 OWNER/ HOUSE INFORMATION
- Name
- Phone #
- Address
- WIFI
- WIFI Password
- Alarm/ Door Code
📝 ADDITIONAL NOTES
- Like dog-specific commands such as sit, drop it, wait, etc.
📱 WHERE WE’LL BE
- Dates away: [Start date – End date]
- Where: [Location/Hotel]
- Best way to reach us: [Phone/Text/Email]
The pet sitter instructions form is also attached/printed and left on the counter with all this information.
Thank you again for taking such good care of our baby! Please don’t hesitate to text/call with any questions at all.
[Your Name]
What to Include in Your Pet Sitter Instructions
Pet Sitter Instructions Bundle (5 Pages)
Pet Sitter Instructions Bundle
10+ pet parents love this!
What’s Inside This 5-Page Bundle
What Pet Owners Are Saying
FAQ: Pet Sitter Instructions
The non-negotiables: your contact info, your vet’s number, enough food and treats for the whole stay (plus a little extra in case you get delayed), any medications with clear dosing notes, your dog’s leash and waste bags, and a house key or door code. If you want to be the favorite client, also leave a written instructions sheet, a thank you note, and a small treat for the sitter. The free template above covers all of it on one page.
Start with the boring-but-critical stuff: your phone number, your return date, and your vet’s address. Then walk through a normal day for your pet, wake-up time, breakfast portion, walk schedule, dinner, and bedtime. Add medications, allergies, and your pet’s quirks (Chevy gets weird about thunderstorms, for example). Finish with house notes like Wi-Fi, trash day, and where the cleaning supplies live if the sitter is staying at your place. Or just download the template above and fill in the blanks in 5 minutes.
A good pet sitter needs four things to do their job well: who to call in an emergency (you, a backup person, and your vet), what your pet eats and when, what medications they take, and what their daily routine looks like. Anything beyond that — favorite toys, scary noises, weird food preferences — is bonus info that makes your pet more comfortable while you’re away.
Ideally a week before you leave. That gives you time to do a meet-and-greet with the sitter, walk them through the house, and update anything that’s changed (new medication, new vet, new neighbor with a barky dog). If you’re a last-minute packer like most of us, even printing the template the morning of is better than texting your sitter at 11 PM from the airport.
Yes — the one at the top of this post. It’s a single-page PDF that covers contact info, feeding, medications, vet details, and behavior notes. If you need something more thorough (multiple pets, complex meds, or you just like things really organized), the 5-page bundle adds a feeding schedule, a daily report card for the sitter to fill out, emergency wallet cards, and a thank you note.
This is one of the most common worries, and it’s almost always anxiety, not a real problem. Tell your sitter it’s normal for the first day or two. Leave a note saying it’s okay to mix in a spoonful of plain wet food, low-sodium broth, or a favorite topper to make meals more appealing. If your dog skips more than two meals in a row or shows other signs of being unwell, your sitter should call you and your vet, that part goes in the emergency contact section of your instructions.
You can try Rover, or ask your family and neighbors if they have someone they can recommend.
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