How to Prepare Your Dog for a Sitter

The most common dog-sitting problem — a dog that's anxious, won't eat, or behaves unusually with the sitter — is almost always preventable with better preparation. The dog hasn't failed; the introduction was rushed. Here's how to do it properly.

Before the first stay: the introduction sequence

Meet-and-greet at your home. The sitter meets your dog in their own space — least threatening, maximum familiarity. The sitter should arrive, greet you first, then let the dog approach them at their own pace. This visit is 30–45 minutes minimum: enough time for your dog to settle, for you to walk through the handover document, and for the physical access logistics to be confirmed.

Trial run (recommended, not optional for anxious dogs). A one or two-night trial stay 2–4 weeks before the main booking. This achieves three things: your dog experiences the sitter in a real overnight context, you get feedback before a 10-day Christmas trip, and any incompatibilities are discovered when you're still home to fix them.

Gradual departure on the first real stay. If your dog has separation anxiety, the owner's departure is the trigger — not the sitter's presence. Plan the first stay so you depart before the sitter arrives (for home-boarding at the sitter's home) or leave the dog with the sitter for a short period before the main departure (for in-home sitting).

The handover document — make it thorough

Leave this document in the home (printed or in a shared document). A digital copy on your phone is useful for quick reference; a printed copy on the kitchen bench is what the sitter will actually use.

Daily routine:

• Wake-up time and morning process
• Feeding schedule: times, amounts, where the food is stored, brand if the dog is particular
• Walk schedule: morning and evening, which lead, preferred routes, any parks the dog knows
• Evening routine: what time the dog usually settles, where they sleep, what signals they need to go out for a final toilet

Medication:

• Name, dose, timing, administration method
• Storage location in the home
• What to do if a dose is missed
• Any side effects to watch for

Known triggers and quirks:

• What the dog reacts to (people at the door, specific dogs on the street, bins)
• What calms them (a specific phrase, scatter feeding, a favourite spot)
• Any history of escape attempts, fence-testing, or door-bolting

Emergency contacts:

• Your mobile (and time zone if you're travelling)
• A local backup contact (neighbour, family member who can make decisions)
• Your vet: name, address, phone
• The nearest 24-hour emergency vet

House logistics:

• Key access and any codes
• Rubbish bin day if the stay is long
• Any appliances the sitter might use (coffee machine, washing machine for dog bedding)
• What rooms the dog is allowed in, and which are off-limits

What to leave physically

Food for the full stay plus 20% buffer. Pre-measure daily portions into labelled containers or ziploc bags (Day 1, Day 2, etc.) — it removes all ambiguity.

Familiar bedding. Your dog's regular bed or blanket, with its existing smell. Adding a recently worn item of your clothing (a t-shirt you slept in) to the sleeping area significantly helps anxious dogs settle with the familiar scent present.

Their usual leads and harness. On the hook where they always are. Label them if there are multiple.

Medication in a clearly labelled location. Not tucked in a drawer — on the bench, in a labelled bag, with the written instructions on top.

Toys and comfort items. Your dog's usual toys — familiar objects help with environment transitions, especially for dogs going to a sitter's home.

How to handle the departure

Don't make the goodbye dramatic. A prolonged, tearful, apologetic goodbye tells your dog that something significant is happening — which increases their anxiety about your absence more than the actual leaving does.

The most effective departure approach:

• Keep your pre-departure routine calm and normal
• Give the dog a filled Kong or chew — something to occupy them as you leave
• Leave matter-of-factly, without extended goodbye rituals
• Don't return to "check" if you hear them vocalising — this reinforces the vocalisation

Most dogs that are difficult at departures settle within 15–30 minutes once the owner is gone. The anxiety is about the moment of departure more than the sustained absence. The sitter will be there through the hard minutes.

After the stay

Ask the sitter for specific feedback: how the dog ate, how the first night went, any moments of stress or reluctance, anything unusual they observed. This feedback informs the next stay — and the next sitter's briefing if you use a different person.

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Frequently asked questions

How do I prepare my dog for their first sitter?

Will my dog be okay with a sitter for the first time?

What should I leave for a dog sitter?

How do I help my dog adjust to a dog sitter?

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