Free fillable PDF · 3 pages · No sign-up
Download the dog sitter instructions template
Record meal amounts, walk times, important contacts and where equipment is stored. Put the first page somewhere the sitter can find it quickly.
Make one pack for each dog. Complete it before your handover, then walk through the instructions together. The first page holds the contacts and handling notes a sitter may need before opening a door or giving food.
Preview the template
View the remaining blank pages: daily routine and equipment and handover.
What goes on each page?
| Page | Fill in | Check together |
|---|---|---|
| 1: Dog and contacts | Care dates, owner, agreed backup, regular and after-hours vet, important handling notes | The sitter knows which dog this pack describes and can reach the named contacts. |
| 2: Daily routine | Meal times, food amounts and units, walks, toilet breaks and settling routine | Show the scoop, demonstrate the walking setup and explain any route restrictions. |
| 3: Equipment and handover | Supply locations, owner-provided prescribed-care instructions and separately agreed vet arrangements | The sitter can find the gear and has a saved copy of the completed pack. |
AAHA's pet sitter preparation guidance recommends documenting a pet's profile, usual routine, supplies and emergency arrangements. This worksheet turns those subjects into spaces you can fill with your own dog's details.
Replace vague notes with usable instructions
Instead of writing "one scoop of food," record the amount, unit, food name and meal time. If you use a scoop, mark its fill line and show it during the handover. "Usual walk" needs a route, approximate duration and the equipment the sitter should use.
A discussion about notes for a sitter raises these same preparation questions: where supplies live, how meals work and who to contact. Community comments help identify what owners forget; they do not establish safe care or treatment instructions.
For equipment preparation, use our Harness Fit Checklist and everyday collar and leash guide. If supplies travel with the dog, organize them with the Dog Gear Bag Guide.
Fill, save and share
- Download the PDF and open it in a PDF reader that supports forms.
- Complete the fields and save a separate copy with the dog's name and care dates.
- Reopen the saved copy to confirm your answers are there. Some browser previews handle saving differently.
- Review it with the sitter and leave an offline or printed copy where agreed.
Keep access codes and other sensitive home details in a separate private exchange. Share the completed pack only with the people providing care. The blank PDF needs no account or upload.
Common questions
Can I use this as a pet sitter instructions template for several dogs?
Use a separate pack for each dog, especially if food, equipment or care instructions differ. Label supplies with the same names used on the forms.
Does the form authorize veterinary care or prescribe medication?
No. Record only owner-provided instructions and attach current veterinary directions when applicable. Arrange consent, payment and decision-making with the clinic and sitter separately.
Can I print it without filling it first?
Yes. The fields are blank writing spaces on paper. The PDF is US Letter; use your printer's fit-to-page setting for A4 and check the preview for clipped edges.
Return to the resource library for the measurement kit, fit checklists and other free downloads.