OkaypupDog sitter instructions template: what to write down
A good dog sitter instruction sheet fits on one page and covers the routine, the contacts, the house rules and the paperwork. Write what you actually do each day, put the phone numbers at the top, and keep a copy on your phone so you can fix it before every trip.
Coming soon to iPhone
What should dog sitter instructions include?
Include everything a stranger would need to run your dog's day without calling you: feeding times, walk routine, where things are kept, who to phone and what the rules of the house are. Sitters rarely need a long essay. They need facts in a predictable order.
Put the emergency and vet numbers first, because that is what people look for under stress. Then follow the order of the day: morning, midday, evening, night. A sitter who reads from top to bottom will meet each task when it happens.
Write in plain sentences and avoid shorthand only you understand. If your family calls the evening snack 'the second dinner', say what it is and when it happens.
A template you can copy
Use the table as the skeleton of your sheet. Fill each row with your own details and delete rows that do not apply.
| Section | What to write |
|---|---|
| Contacts | Your phone, a backup person, your vet, an emergency clinic |
| Daily routine | Wake-up, meals, walks, bedtime, in the order they happen |
| Food | The food, where it is kept, how you portion it today |
| Walks and play | Route, leash, harness, how long, what to avoid |
| Medication | Name as on the label, when, how it is given, who told you |
| House rules | Doors, gates, furniture, crate, alone time |
| Behavior notes | Fears, triggers, other dogs, how your dog greets people |
| Paperwork | Vaccine record, microchip number, insurance policy number |
How much detail is enough?
Enough that the sitter can act without guessing, and not so much that they stop reading. One page is a good target for a weekend, two for a week or more. If a note matters, give it its own line. If it is only nice to know, put it at the bottom.
Be specific about numbers you already use. 'One scoop' means little to a stranger, so name the scoop and where it lives. For portions, copy what your veterinarian or the food label told you, and say so. The sheet should record your routine, and it should not create a new one.
Describe the dog's habits as you see them, in neutral words. 'Barks at the doorbell, settles after a minute' is more useful than 'reactive'.
How do I handle medication notes?
Write the name exactly as printed on the label, the time it is given and how it is usually given, and add that the instructions come from your veterinarian. If the sitter has a question about a dose, the answer is to call you or the clinic, and the sheet should say that.
Do not ask a sitter to adjust anything on their own. If your dog's routine changed recently, update the sheet the same day so an old version does not stay in circulation.
If a medication has a refill date or a course end date, put that on the sheet too. A sitter who knows the course ends on Thursday will not wonder what to do on Friday.
Which contacts and permissions should be on the sheet?
List your vet and a 24-hour emergency clinic with phone numbers, plus one person nearby who knows your dog. Add the name and number you can be reached at while away, and the days you may be out of signal.
Ask your clinic whether it needs written permission before someone else can approve care, and whether it holds a payment method on file. Clinics set their own rules, so a two-minute call before the trip is better than a surprise at the front desk.
Okaypup keeps these numbers on the Find a vet screen, so a sitter with your phone or a shared PDF has call buttons for your vet, the emergency vet and your emergency contact.
What about house rules and behavior?
Say what you want, not only what you fear. 'Dog stays behind the gate when the door opens' is a rule a sitter can follow. 'Be careful at the door' is not. If your dog slips a collar, pulls toward certain streets or is anxious with strangers, state it once, plainly.
Add where the leash, bags, treats and towels live, how the alarm or smart lock works, and which rooms are off limits. Take a photo of the leash hook and the food shelf and send it along if that saves a paragraph.
List what is allowed too: favorite toys, a safe spot to rest, a treat limit. A sitter who knows the limits does not have to refuse your dog everything.
How should the sitter report back?
Agree on one way to send updates and how often, such as a photo and two lines every evening. Say what should trigger a call right away, for example a missed meal or a lost leash, and what can wait for the evening message.
If several people look after your dog, a shared habit helps. In Okaypup the care log has a By field and an alert when the same event is logged twice in a short window, which stops a double dinner. In version 1 it is a local label on one phone, so a sitter who uses your phone logs under their own name.
Ask the sitter to note anything unusual in a few words with the time. You can show those notes to your vet later.
How do I keep the sheet current?
Treat the sheet as a living document with a date at the top. Update it when food, walks, medication or contacts change, and delete old versions from the shared folder. A sitter should never have to choose between two PDFs.
The passport screen in Okaypup lets you choose what to include, such as the routine, medication schedule, allergies, vet contact, emergency contact and behavior notes, and sends it as a PDF or text through the iOS share sheet. You decide who receives it and what goes in.
Share only what the sitter needs. Your insurance card does not belong in a weekend handoff.
A short checklist before you leave
Run through the list the evening before you go, while you can still fix gaps.
- Contacts are at the top and have been tested
- Routine matches what you did this week
- Medication notes copy the label
- Vaccine record and microchip number are attached
- Food, leash and bags are in the places the sheet names
- The sitter has met your dog at least once
- You know how and when updates will arrive
Frequently asked questions
How long should dog sitter instructions be?
One page covers most weekends, and two pages cover a week or longer. Put contacts first and extras last so the sitter can stop reading when they have what they need.
Should I give my dog sitter vaccine records?
Many sitters and boarding places ask for them, so keep a clear copy ready to send. Share only the vaccine page, not the whole folder.
Can I share dog sitter instructions from my phone?
Yes. Okaypup's passport screen builds a PDF or text from the sections you pick and sends it through the iOS share sheet, so you control who gets it.
What should I say about my dog's medication in the instructions?
Copy the name, time and method from the label or your vet's instructions, and say that questions go to you or the clinic. Do not ask the sitter to change anything.
Do I need a different sheet for each sitter?
Usually one master sheet works. Trim it for short visits and add details for overnight stays.