5 Tips for Creating The Ultimate Pet Sitting Instructions

You’re heading away from home for a period of time and leaving your best friend in the hands of a trusted pet sitter. Ensure the whole experience runs smoothly by leaving a clear and detailed set of instructions your pet sitter can reference when needed. Your pet sitter will have an easier time, and your pet will stay happy and healthy while you’re gone.

Here are 5 tips to help you create that list of instructions:

Write Everything Down

Don’t rely on anyone’s memory to recall details of your instructions. At the time you’re relaying these instructions, they may seem straightforward and easy to remember. But, it’s very easy for someone to get caught up in other things and forget even the simplest of things. “Even if they don’t end up needing them, there’s no harm in having all of the details of your instructions written down, just in case they need to reference them,” explains Arthur Cardona, writer at OxEssays and Academized.

If you’re unsure about your writing skills, there are sites like Writing Populist, UK Services Reviews, Studydemic, BestBritishEssays may help improve your writing skills. And, if you’re just looking for proofreading help to ensure your instructions are clear, Boom essays and Essayroo can help with proofreading.

Clear instructions about feeding times and amounts, medications, walks and other activities are important to lay out in order to keep your pet on the same schedule and keep them on their routine. Writing down the particular mannerisms can help your pet sitter understand whether your pet is acting normally.

If they’re unsure about a specific behavior or any other concern, ask them to contact you. You may even want to schedule a daily check, where your sitter gives your pet a look-over for anything that is obviously wrong.

Share Your Contact Information

Leave your pet sitter with all available ways of contacting you, including any phone numbers, an email address and the contact information for where you’ll be staying. The easier it is to get in contact with you, the more at ease you’ll both be because you’ll know if there’s a problem your sitter will almost certainly be able to get in touch with you, and vice versa.

“You should also leave your vet’s contact information, and let your vet know you’re having someone watch your pet. You can also set out guidelines for care with your vet, should they be unable to reach you if something should happen,” says Larry Brandon, writer from Top Canadian Writers and Revieweal.

If you have a neighbor with spare keys, leave their contact information and introduce your neighbor to the pet sitter, so they are familiar with the person who they’ll see coming and going from your house while you’re gone.

Walk the Walk

Pets are creatures of habit. They enjoy walking the same route, passing the same familiar spots. Let your sitter tag along for a few walks to see the normal route you’re taking, as well as to get a feel for how your pet behaves during walks. Whether your pet gets excited when people or other pets pass by, or if there are certain pets on the regular walk that should be avoided, your pet sitter needs to have this information.

Make Important Items Known

Everything from your pet’s food to medicine and toys need to be mapped out for your pet sitter. They shouldn’t have to search through your house to find any of these things. Also, in case accidents should happen, it’s a good idea to show them where cleaning supplies are kept.

Make it clear if there are certain areas of the house that are off-limits for your pet, or if they are free to go wherever they please.

Expect the Unexpected

Even though you’ve got a date planned for your return, the unexpected is always a possibility. Delays can happen, and you don’t want to leave your pet stranded without a sitter. Make sure your sitter knows they are on call for your pet until you’ve actually made it home. Leave enough food for much more time than you’re gone. Once you’ve made it home, give your sitter a call to let them know.

Make sure you’ve set your pet sitter up for success with a concise list of instructions. You’ll also help yourself enjoy your time away from home even more because your mind will be at ease.