Every smooth pet sitting booking starts the same way: with a sitter who has everything they need written down in one place. After years of pet sitting in Frederick, MD, this is the exact checklist we wish every client handed us on day one. It works just as well as a dog sitter checklist or a cat sitter checklist — print it, fill it out, and stick it on the fridge before your next trip.
1. Contact & Emergency Information
- ☐ Your cell number, and the best backup way to reach you (text, email, WhatsApp)
- ☐ Your travel dates, flight times, and where you're staying
- ☐ A local emergency contact (neighbor, friend, or family member) with a key
- ☐ Your vet's name, address, and phone number
- ☐ The nearest 24-hour emergency vet (in Frederick: note it even if you hope to never need it)
- ☐ A signed note authorizing your sitter to seek veterinary care, and a spending limit for emergencies
- ☐ Pet insurance policy details, if you have coverage
2. Feeding Instructions
- ☐ What each pet eats, exactly how much, and at what times
- ☐ Where the food is kept — and where the backup bag is
- ☐ Treats: which ones, how many per day, and any that are off-limits
- ☐ Food allergies or foods that make your pet sick
- ☐ Picky-eater tricks (warm water on kibble, a spoonful of pumpkin, hand-feeding quirks)
- ☐ Where water bowls and fountains live, and how often to refresh them
3. Medications & Health
- ☐ Every medication: name, dose, time, and how your pet takes it (pill pocket? cheese? straight down?)
- ☐ For diabetic pets: insulin dose, injection time, storage, and what to do if a dose is missed
- ☐ Ongoing conditions your sitter should know about (arthritis, seizures, anxiety)
- ☐ What "normal" looks like for your pet — appetite, energy, bathroom habits — so changes stand out
- ☐ Signs that mean "call the vet now" for your specific pet
4. Routine, Exercise & Behavior
- ☐ Daily schedule: wake-up, meals, walks, potty breaks, bedtime
- ☐ Walk details: route, leash and harness location, pulling habits, reactivity to other dogs
- ☐ Commands your pet knows, and the exact words you use
- ☐ Favorite toys and games — and any toys that cause guarding
- ☐ Fears and triggers: thunderstorms, fireworks, doorbells, the vacuum
- ☐ Where your pet is and isn't allowed (couch? bedroom? outside unsupervised — never?)
- ☐ Litter box location, scooping routine, and where the bags and extra litter live
5. Home Access & Security
- ☐ Keys, door codes, garage codes — and which door actually works
- ☐ Alarm system instructions, including what to do if it goes off
- ☐ Wi-Fi password (for camera check-ins and updates)
- ☐ Cameras: where they are, so your sitter knows (and isn't startled)
- ☐ Lights to rotate, blinds to open or close, mail and package pickup
- ☐ Trash and recycling day, and where the bins go
- ☐ Plants to water and any other house tasks
6. The Small Stuff That Saves the Day
- ☐ Where you keep the leash, carrier, towels, and pet first-aid supplies
- ☐ Cleaning supplies for accidents — and which floors need which cleaner
- ☐ The circuit breaker and water shutoff, just in case
- ☐ Quirks only you would know: "she hides behind the dryer," "he opens the pantry," "the cat bolts if the front door opens slowly"
- ☐ Microchip numbers and a recent photo of each pet, in case one slips out
7. Before You Leave
- ☐ Do a walkthrough with your sitter at the meet & greet — it beats any written note
- ☐ Stock more food and medication than the trip needs, in case you're delayed
- ☐ Leave this checklist, filled out, somewhere obvious (the fridge is traditional)
- ☐ Confirm dates, visit times, and how often you'd like photo updates
- ☐ Tell your sitter about anyone who might stop by the house while you're gone
Why This Checklist Matters
A great pet sitter can improvise, but your pet does best when nothing needs improvising. The more your sitter knows, the more your trip feels — to your pet — like just another normal week. That's the whole goal.
Looking for a sitter to hand this checklist to? We'd love to meet you and your crew. See our in-home pet sitting visits, check our rates, or book a free meet & greet — we serve Frederick, Urbana, Middletown, and Walkersville, MD.
