What to Tell Your Dog's Sitter: A Complete Pre-Boarding Checklist

You've found a great sitter. The dates are confirmed. Your bags are almost packed. Now comes the part that most pet parents either rush through or skip entirely: the handoff.

Veterinarians often remind clients before travel: whoever is caring for your dog needs the same information your vet keeps on file. The ten minutes you spend briefing your sitter before you leave are probably the highest-leverage ten minutes of the entire boarding experience. A well-briefed sitter can manage your dog's anxiety, maintain their routine, handle a medical hiccup, and make decisions that feel like you made them — even from a thousand miles away.

This is everything worth covering. Keep it in a document you can share before every boarding stay.

1. Medications and Medical History

This is the non-negotiable first section. Anything that affects your dog's health needs to be communicated clearly and in writing — not just mentioned at drop-off.

Current medications:

• Name of the medication
• Dose (mg or ml, not just "one pill")
• Frequency and timing (e.g., "with breakfast, not on an empty stomach")
• What the medication is for (so the sitter understands the stakes)
• What to watch for if it's missed

Known conditions:

• Allergies (food and environmental)
• Epilepsy or seizure history — include what a seizure looks like for your dog and what to do
• Orthopedic issues (bad hips, luxating patella, recovering from surgery)
• Heart conditions or respiratory issues
• Skin conditions that may flare up

Recent history:

• Any illness in the last 30 days
• Upcoming vet appointments
• Vaccinations that may be due

Don't assume your sitter will recognize something as a symptom if they don't know it's a condition to watch for. The more specific you are, the better.

Ask your vet before you leave: Most clinics will print a current medication summary on request — a clean, one-page document the sitter can reference without relying on your handwritten notes. Orange County pet owners can usually get this at their regular annual visit or with a quick call to the front desk.

2. Diet and Feeding

Dogs are creatures of habit, and their digestive system is especially sensitive to change. Keeping feeding consistent is one of the easiest ways to prevent boarding-related stomach upset.

Food:

• Brand and specific formula (e.g., "Royal Canin Medium Adult, not the puppy version")
• Portion size in exact measurements — not "a bowlful"
• Number of meals per day and timing
• Any mix-ins (toppers, broths, medications)
• Foods to avoid entirely — some dogs have severe intolerances that owners know but never think to mention

Treats:

• Which treats are okay and in what quantity
• Whether your dog has allergies that affect treat choices
• Any treat-related training protocols (e.g., "he gets a treat after every walk — this is important to him")

Water:

• Does your dog drink from a bowl, a fountain, or both?
• Do they tend to drink a lot or very little? (Sudden changes in water intake can signal stress or illness.)

Mealtime behavior:

• Does your dog need to wait before eating? (Impulse control rituals matter — see the training section below.)
• Do they eat enthusiastically or are they a picky eater?
• Is resource guarding around food a concern?

3. Daily Routine

One of the most important things you can communicate — and one of the most commonly overlooked. The daily routine is what gives your dog a sense of predictability and safety in an unfamiliar environment.

Sitters on platforms like Ruh-Roh Retreat genuinely want to maintain your dog's routine. But they can only do that if you tell them what it is. Understanding how routine reduces stress in dogs helps explain why this matters so much more than it might seem.

Walk schedule:

• Times and approximate duration
• Route preferences (do they have a favorite loop?)
• Leash behavior and any specific gear (harness, prong, Gentle Leader)

Potty schedule:

• How often and when
• Any outdoor-only requirements or preferences
• Signs your dog gives when they need to go out

Sleep:

• Where do they sleep? (Crate, dog bed, couch, your bed?)
• What time do they typically settle for the night?
• Do they need a specific bedtime ritual — a walk, a chew, background noise?

Downtime:

• How does your dog spend quiet time? Do they follow you everywhere, or do they prefer their own space?
• Do they have a favorite spot in the house?
• Do they nap at predictable times?

4. Behavioral Notes

This is where honest communication matters most. Sitters can handle quirks and challenges — what they can't handle is being blindsided by them.

Social behavior:

• How does your dog do with unfamiliar people? With children?
• How do they greet strangers — enthusiastically, cautiously, or with suspicion?
• Are they comfortable with other dogs? What sizes, energy levels, genders?
• Do they have any history of dog-directed aggression?

Triggers:

• What sets your dog off? (Other dogs on leash, delivery trucks, skateboards, hats, men with beards — be specific)
• What's the management strategy? (Distance, turning away, treat redirection, verbal cue)

Anxiety patterns:

• Does your dog show separation anxiety? What does it look like for them specifically?
• Are there specific sounds that cause distress? (Fireworks, thunderstorms, loud music)
• Do they have any compulsive behaviors under stress?

Known training protocols:

• Commands your dog reliably knows and the exact cue words
• Anything that's currently being worked on and shouldn't be reinforced incorrectly
• Reward preferences (food, toy, verbal praise)

If your dog is mid-way through a training program, a brief note on what you're working on lets a thoughtful sitter support rather than accidentally undermine that work. For a deeper look at why this matters, keeping training intact during boarding covers the specifics.

5. Emergency Information

This section should be written down and physically left with the sitter — not just texted. In a stressful moment, a piece of paper on the counter is more reliable than digging through messages.

Your contact information:

• Primary phone (and whether you're reachable by call, text, or both)
• Secondary contact if you'll be unreachable at certain times (time zone, flight windows)
• Best way to reach you for a non-emergency update vs. a true emergency

Trusted backup contact:

• A local friend, family member, or neighbor the sitter can reach if they can't get you
• Someone who knows your dog and can make decisions on your behalf

Veterinary information:

• Your regular vet's name, address, and phone number
• Whether they accept same-day appointments or require advance scheduling
• Your vet's after-hours line or emergency referral

Emergency vet:

• The nearest 24-hour emergency animal hospital
• Pre-authorization for treatment if needed — some sitters appreciate a signed letter allowing them to authorize emergency care and have the bill sent to you

Pet insurance:

• Provider and policy number if applicable
• Any pre-authorization requirements

6. Practical Details

The small logistical things that keep the stay running smoothly.

What to pack:

• Food (enough plus a day extra)
• Medications in their original containers with labels
• A piece of clothing with your scent for anxious dogs
• Their regular leash and collar (with updated ID tags)
• Their bed or crate (if the sitter has space and your dog is attached to it)
• Favorite toy or chew — one that's safe for unsupervised play

What NOT to pack:

• High-value items you'd be upset to lose
• Toys that create resource guarding

Special instructions:

• If your dog isn't allowed on furniture, say so clearly
• If they're allowed on the couch but not the bed, say that too
• Any household rules your dog is accustomed to following

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do I really need to write all of this down, or can I just tell the sitter at drop-off? A: In an ideal world, verbal is fine. In practice, sitters often care for multiple dogs and won't remember every detail from a 20-minute conversation. A written document they can refer to throughout the stay is far more reliable — and gives you peace of mind that nothing was forgotten.

Q: What if my dog has never been boarded before? A: First-time boarders benefit most from thorough handoffs. The sitter has no prior history to fall back on. An in-home sitter who understands your dog's baseline will spot any unusual behavior much faster — and know whether it's just first-night nerves or something worth contacting you about.

Q: How do I handle medications that need refrigeration or precise timing? A: Write out a specific schedule (e.g., "7am with breakfast, 7pm with dinner — must be given with food or she vomits") and discuss it in person at drop-off. For refrigerated medications, confirm the sitter has space and that the medications will be properly labeled.

Q: Is it weird to leave this much detail? Will the sitter think I'm being overly anxious? A: Not at all. Experienced sitters genuinely appreciate thorough briefings. It tells them you're an engaged, communicative pet parent — and it makes their job easier and safer. The sitters most worth working with are the ones who ask for this level of detail themselves.

Ready to Book?

The best boarding experiences start before the stay does — with the right sitter and the right information. When you browse sitters on Ruh-Roh Retreat, you'll find independent providers who take the care of your dog seriously from the very first message.

Find someone who asks the right questions. Then give them the answers they need.

If you're a vet or vet tech sharing this with clients: printing this checklist as a leave-behind for clients before a trip is a simple way to ensure their dog's care is handled well while they're gone — and to reduce the chance of a boarding-related illness or missed medication turning into an emergency visit.