Determining how to take a vacation when you have a pet dog can be challenging. Unlike a cat, a dog cannot be safely left alone for even a single night. Usually when we go on a short trip we take our rescue dog Lulu to the dog kennel. And when we do this, we leave some pet sitter instructions.
As we enter the unofficial start of summer and the vacation season, I figured now was a good time to review our pet sitter instructions and add to them or update them. Pet needs and preferences may change so a period review is helpful to perform to make sure no needs are being overlooked.
Pet Sitter Instructions
Pet Care Options
Before getting into pet sitter instructions, I wanted to review our situation and experience over the years of having our dog. When we first got our pet dog Lulu we had a conundrum. Quickly we realized we would need to figure out a plan for vacations or travel.
From the start we realized Lulu didn’t enjoy riding in the car or being left alone so traveling with our pet soon seemed like an unlikely option. We settled on using a kennel, which at the time was housed within her veterinarian’s office. Unfortunately about five years ago her veterinarian switched to medical boarding only.
Because Lulu remains in great health and has no medications or medical issues she does not qualify for this boarding service. Using the kennel works well for us for anywhere from one to three nights away from home. While we believe our dog is under responsible care at the kennel, we know she doesn’t receive much one-on-one attention, does not receive daily walks and spends most of her days in a dog crate.
Many pet boarding facilities will perform these “services” but only for added fees which can quickly add up. Using a kennel isn’t exactly cheap to begin with, especially a reputable and safe kennel. While this is safe for her I’m sure she is isn’t terribly happy while she is there, which is another reason why we prefer not to leave her at a kennel for more than a few days.
In the past she has at times refused her meals or will only eat half her normal dog food, which right now is is Fromm dog food. There are more expensive kenneling options, and ones with socialization, walks and doggy daycare under camera – but a hefty price comes with this luxurious service. While we know this isn’t ideal for her for a few days, it does keep her safe and her daily needs met.
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I just shared a little bit about using a dog kennel or boarding facility. Here are the typical options when planning a trip or vacation:
• Pet Stays in Your Home (pet sitter visits at least twice a day)
• Pet Stays at Pet Sitter’s Home (or under care of family or friend)
• Use a Kennel or Overnight Boarding (usually through veterinarian or doggy daycare)
• Travel with Your Pet (stay at pet friendly hotels or stay in a camper or RV)
In full disclosure, we have rarely traveled with our dog Lulu. She rides with us two to three hours in the car for Christmas (and occasionally other visits) to see family. These are trips where we accompany her. However, she has never enjoyed car rides and gets very upset and has even thrown up. Enter dog sitter instructions.
We have found it best not to make her travel further than this so we have used a few options when we travel that allow everyone to be comfortable. You know your pet best and your family situation so any of these options are healthy for you and your pet, select which one works best.
Right now a kennel continues to work best for us. We have found as Lulu has gotten older she isn’t as energetic or upset over our departure. She often enjoys all of her food while we are gone too. We have had to try a few different kennels, however, to find one that fits our budget and also offers a level of care we are comfortable with. This may change in the future, especially as she ages, or if she encounters any health issues.
The interesting part about having a dog is every dog and family is different. We know people who go camping with their dogs, we know people who select dog-friendly hotels and we know dogs that can sit in a hotel room all day not cause a mess or bark or any stirring! This is great. It’s important to think about your lifestyle, your dog’s personality and behavior and what is least stressful for you when planning out how to handle pet sitting.
Additional Tips
If you opt to send your dog to a pet sitter, the sitter could be hired help or a family member or friend, depending on your preferences and needs. When we have taken a week long vacation in the past, we asked family if they could watch Lulu. Kenneling her for a week seemed very long and thankfully we had family that offered to help.
At the time particular family members who have pet sat before, have been around Lulu a lot and who Lulu seems to enjoy. They did not have a dog of their own but have had them in the past – which was also reassuring. In preparation for Lulu’s stay I wrote up guidelines on how to care for her. Today I am sharing a few ideas to include on your tip sheet for pet sitter instructions.
This can be helpful for pets staying overnight, for an extended period of time or even a pet sitter who agrees to come to your home to check on your animal – instead of taking them under their own wing. They will need dog sitter instructions.
The following are guidelines I use when writing pet sitter instructions. Read through each item and see what might apply to your dog. You can use this list as a pet sitter instructions template if that’s helpful to you:
• Share an Outline of Your Pet’s Daily Routine. Dogs in particular, are creatures of habit. While it wasn’t necessary for her normal routine to be followed exact, following it at least somewhat would provide Lulu comfort. If that daily routine includes a walk, be sure to pack your dog’s collar and leash (I recommend a 6-foot nylon leash). Also clarify what your dog is used to. Some athletic breeds can walk for hours without discomfort. Other smaller dogs may enjoy a simple 20-minute walk each day.
• Include Directions on Any Commands or Training Your Pet Has. Written explanation of commands is important, especially if there is an emergency and your pet needs to “come” back to the pet sitter. Showing physical hand signs in person is also helpful. If your pet sitters follow some of your routine commands your pet may also feel more at home hearing familiar commands during your absence.
• Provide Guidelines on Feeding & Amounts. You may also include hazardous foods, feeding times, feeding measurements and typical routines. It also doesn’t hurt to bring your dog bowls. Someone who has or has had a dog in the past usually knows about hazardous foods, but it does not hurt to offer a reminder. Providing a measuring cup for the food is helpful as it is easy to eyeball a food measurement and have it be inaccurate.
• Include Contact Information for Your Veterinarian. Include the vet’s name, address, phone number and hours of operation – just in case. If there is any medical history that is important to share, this can be written down as well.
• Include Information on Allergies, Special Needs, Etc. If your pet takes medication, has allergies or any other special needs, be sure to communicate them as well. In this situation it may be more vital to hire a pet sitter who has this experience. For example, I have a friend with a diabetic cat and this cat requires daily shots. This is something the average pet owner or family member may not be comfortable with. A pet sitter who does this for a full-time job will have the experience and qualifications to provide this service.
• If Your Pet is Traveling to their Caretaker, Bring Familiar Surroundings. After writing out your pet sitter instructions and printing a copy for the sitter, next make a list of what items you will need to pack for your dog or have available for the dog sitter.
From your dog crate, to bedding and toys (Lulu loves her Bowsers Dog Bed and her Loofa Plush Dog Toy), bring objects they are familiar with and use during daily life. This will also help keep them in their routine and feel more at home in a strange place. Any blankets or bedding the dog sleeps with will help them with providing the comforts of home and even a bit of their owner’s smell. Don’t forget things like dog food and water bowls or provide travel bowls.
• Stay Accessible. Even after you provide a detailed list of pet sitter instructions to your dog sitter, it’s still important you remain accessible should an emergency arise. As a pet owner it’s not realistic to completely disengage on your vacation. You may need to touch base with the pet sitter or family member to make sure your pet is doing well. Or they may have questions that come up during your time away.
Discuss the plan for contact. It might include leaving your phone on while you travel, checking voicemail once a day or email. Because we have a pet dog, we didn’t feel comfortable leaving town for a full week and turning off our phones.
What if there was an emergency or question? We decided to take one cell phone with us and keep it on for emergency only. In the past during a week long vacation we touched base about every other day on Lulu’s well-being. This gave everyone peace of mind and wasn’t an interference with our vacation.
Dog Sitter Instructions
In Summary
I hope these pet sitter instructions were helpful. These tips for writing pet sitter instructions will work whether your dog stays at a kennel or doggy daycare, or if they stay at home with a pet sitter or with family.
Making sure you leave clear, easy to understand instructions for the care of your pet is important for your pet’s safety and well-being along with your peace of mind.
What comforts your pet while you are away?
Definitely remain accessible to the sitter via phone number for calling or texting. You may even want to ask them to give you an update every few hours or so if they are house sitting for you as well.
Great input. Thanks!
That’s a good idea to leave the number for the veterinarian just in case something bad happens to your pet while you’re gone. I would want to make sure that if my pet was sick while I was gone that he would get the best treatment possible, as soon as possible. That’s a good benefit of having a sitter while you’re gone, is that they can take your pet to the vet if something goes wrong.