Record the sitter-home arrangement
Sitter-home boarding means the dog stays overnight in the sitter home. Start the checklist with the booking dates, the sitter-home address used for the booking, and the agreed handover and pickup times. Keeping those details together makes the arrangement easy to review before the dog changes homes.
Ask which people and dogs live in the sitter household and record the parts of the home used during the booking. The purpose is to document the agreed setup, not to expand the service beyond sitter-home boarding. Any household rules discussed by the owner and sitter should appear in the same checklist.
- Confirm the booking dates and sitter-home address.
- Record who and which dogs live in the household.
- Write down the agreed handover and pickup times.
Write the dog’s existing routine
Give the sitter a written routine for food, walks, rest, and sleep. Include the times, portions, routes, and household rules already used by the owner. Clear instructions are more useful than a general request to keep the routine the same because they tell the sitter exactly what the booking requires.
Keep the instructions specific to the dog and the booking. State where the dog normally sleeps, which lead or harness is used, and which parts of the sitter home are included in the arrangement. Review the notes with the sitter before handover so both people have the same version.
- List feeding times and portions.
- Record walking times and the usual walking equipment.
- State rest, sleep, and household rules.
Pack usual items and complete the handover
Pack the dog’s usual food and the items named in the care instructions. These may include bowls, a lead, a harness, bedding, and agreed toys. Label the items where needed and keep the list with the booking notes so the owner and sitter can check the same set at handover and pickup.
Before leaving, confirm the primary contact channel and the update arrangement for the booking. Give the sitter the current written routine and check the pickup details once more. The completed checklist should cover the sitter-home setup, care instructions, packed items, dates, and both transfer points.
- Pack the food, bowls, walking equipment, bedding, and agreed toys.
- Give the sitter the current written routine.
- Confirm the contact channel and pickup details.