Pet sitter instructions template
Good pet sitter instructions explain who to contact, what to do each day, and what is different about your pet. Use the worksheet below to make a clear handoff for a dog or cat. You can fill it in and print it without creating an account.
Your pet sitter instructions
Fill in what your sitter needs. This worksheet stays in this page’s memory and is not sent to our server or saved automatically. Download or print before leaving the page. Share home-entry codes separately.
What should pet sitter instructions include?
Include your pet’s name, care dates, your contact details, a backup contact, veterinary contacts, meal instructions, daily routines, and any individual care instructions. Add where supplies are kept and when you expect an update.
- Write amounts and times rather than ‘the usual scoop’ or ‘in the evening.’
- List the exact equipment and supplies the sitter should use.
- Put allergies and individual restrictions somewhere easy to find.
- Agree on what to do if you cannot be reached.
A filled-in example: Flor’s afternoon visit
This is an example of clear instructions, not a feeding or exercise recommendation for another pet.
Fictional example: Flor is a golden retriever. Visit at 5:30 pm. Her blue harness and lead are beside the door; use both for her usual neighborhood walk. Offer the labeled dinner portion after the walk and refresh her water. She may greet you carrying a toy. Send a message after the visit and tell me whether she ate. Contact details and any prescribed care instructions belong on the full worksheet.
Before you leave
- Walk through the routine together and let your pet meet the sitter.
- Show where food, cleaning supplies, carriers, and leads are stored.
- Check that contacts are current and the sitter can open any shared instructions.
- Agree on arrival times, updates, and the backup plan.
- Give entry codes directly to the trusted sitter; keep them out of a broadly shared care sheet.
Keep the instructions easy to update
A printed sheet is useful for a single stay. For recurring care, keep a Pet Passbook and share selected chapters with the sitter. Review the details before every handoff so old routines do not get mistaken for current instructions.