Leashnote

The pet sitter handoff checklist

What to write down, what to leave out on the counter, and what to sort out before you go. Most of the written part fits in a Leashnote guide, but the list is useful even on paper.

A week before

  • Confirm dates and times with your sitter, including which day counts as the first feeding they're responsible for.
  • Check medication supply covers the trip with a few days to spare, and refill if not.
  • Check vaccine dates. Many emergency vets and boarding fallbacks ask for them.
  • Let your regular vet know who's caring for your pets and that you authorise treatment up to a spending limit. Leashnote's PDF includes a letter for this.
  • If your sitter will use a smart lock, make them a temporary code now so you can test it together.

The routine

Write it as a day, in time order, not as a list of facts. A sitter at 7am wants to know what's next, not everything at once.

  • Meals. Time, amount, which food, where it's kept, and anything mixed in. "Half a can of the chicken one, fridge door, with the blue scoop of kibble."
  • Medication. Name, dose, time, how you give it, and what happens if a dose is missed. Say whether it goes with food.
  • Walks and toilet. How long, the usual route, whether they're off lead anywhere, and signs they need to go out.
  • Litter and cleaning. How often, where supplies are, where waste goes.
  • Bedtime and alone time. Where they sleep, whether doors are closed, crate rules, how long they can be left.

Quirks and rules

Separate the safety rules from the nice-to-knows. In Leashnote, Never rules are pinned to the top of the sitter's view.

  • Never. The things that could cause harm. Escapes through a particular gate, steals the cat's food, can't have grapes, bolts at fireworks.
  • Careful. Pulls on the lead, nervous of other dogs, hides when the vacuum runs.
  • Loves. The treat that fixes everything, the favourite toy, the belly-rub spot. These make the first day easier for both of them.
  • Normal for them. Snores, sneezes after drinking, sleeps 20 hours. Save your sitter a worried text.

The emergency plan

  • Regular vet and the nearest 24-hour emergency vet, with addresses. Check the emergency clinic's hours. Not all are truly 24 hours.
  • Poison control. In the US, ASPCA Animal Poison Control is (888) 426-4435 and Pet Poison Helpline is (855) 764-7661. Both charge a consultation fee. Elsewhere, write down your local line.
  • Your number, and a backup contact who can make decisions if you're unreachable or on a plane.
  • A spending limit you authorise for emergency care, and how the bill gets paid. Some clinics will take a card over the phone.
  • Microchip numbers and insurance details, including the claims phone number.
  • Where the carrier is, and a towel or blanket for it.
  • Where the pet first aid kit is, if you have one.

The house

  • Wi-Fi, thermostat, which lights to leave on, trash and recycling day.
  • Door and alarm codes. Use a temporary code where you can, and change codes when you're back. Keep them out of anything that can be forwarded.
  • Where the breaker box and water shutoff are. Rare, but a very bad day without them.
  • Which doors and windows the pets can open, and which rooms are off limits.
  • Neighbours who know you're away and have a spare key.

Supplies to leave out

  • Enough food for the trip plus two days, measured scoop beside it.
  • Medications in labelled containers, with the schedule taped to the lid.
  • Lead, harness, poop bags, towel by the door.
  • Litter, scoop, bags.
  • Treats, with the daily limit written on them.
  • Cleaning spray and paper towels for accidents.
  • A printed copy of the guide, even if you've shared it digitally. Phones die.

Handoff day

  • Walk through the house together, with the guide open. Show, don't just tell, where things are.
  • Do one feeding together if you can.
  • Test the door code and the alarm with your sitter watching.
  • Share the guide and watch them open it, so you know the link works. In Leashnote, the share sheet shows who has it.
  • Agree on how often you'd like to hear from them. Once a day is plenty for most people.

When you're home

  • Change the door and alarm codes, or delete the temporary one.
  • Read through the check-ins. If something odd came up more than once, mention it to your vet.
  • Stop sharing the guide, or let it expire. Leashnote cleans up shared links 30 days after the trip ends.
  • Note anything the sitter asked that wasn't in the guide, and add it for next time.

Ready to write yours? Get Leashnote, or read the owner's guide first.