The pet sitter arrives tomorrow: the handover sheet you really need

Leaving your pet with a pet sitter, especially the first time, brings a particular kind of anxiety. A good handover sheet doesn’t remove the anxiety, but it reduces it a lot: whoever comes to your home knows what to do, and you know that they know.

Here’s what to put in it, in order of importance.

1. Contacts, at the top

• your number and a second number of a trusted person who can be reached;
• your regular vet, with address and opening hours;
• an emergency clinic open at night or on holidays, close to home;
• if you want the pet sitter to be able to decide in an emergency, say so clearly and leave an authorization.

2. Medications: name, amount, times

For each medication: what it is, what it’s for, how much, at what time, with or without food, and what to do if a dose is missed (ask your vet before you leave). Also write what to do if the dog refuses the pill and when to call the clinic. Allergies and intolerances go in bold.

3. Food and water

What they eat, how much, at what time, where supplies are kept. And above all what they must absolutely not eat: forbidden treats, leftovers, foods that make them sick.

4. Walks and bathroom breaks

How many times a day they go out, for how long, at roughly what times. Which routes they love or avoid, which dogs they like meeting and which not. And the leash: type of harness, where it is.

5. Personality and fears

Is your pet afraid of thunderstorms, fireworks, the broom, bikes? Do they get scared if someone touches them from behind? Do they bolt through an open door? This is the most valuable information, and the only kind you won’t find on any vet record.

6. The house and its rules

Where the bowls, bags, litter box and toys are. Which rooms are off-limits. What to do with the front door. Where you keep the first-aid kit.

7. How to tell you everything is fine

A message with a photo in the middle of the day, or a line in the evening. Decide it together: you’ll be calmer, and the pet sitter knows what’s expected.

A sheet that doesn’t get lost

The risk with a paper sheet is that it stays on the fridge while the pet sitter is out with the dog. With Cloud Pet you can invite them into the circle with the pet sitter role: on their phone they see the medications and times, confirm doses from the notification and write in the diary how the days went. You see everything from afar, and when you get back the story of those days is already written. The shared profile is included in Premium.

It works with pen and paper too, though. What matters is that whoever arrives already knows everything before closing the door.