Life stages
Preparing a dog for a pet sitter
A sitter walks into your home knowing nothing of your dog's quirks: that 'off' means paws down, that the back gate sticks, that the slip lead goes on before the door opens. Dogs often test new people. The fix is a clear handoff, a short rehearsal while you are still around, and a dog who can already cope with some time alone.
Last reviewed October 4, 2026
The handoff kit
Write the plan your sitter actually needs.
Put the essentials on one page: cue words and release word, meal amounts and times, walk route and length, toilet habits, house rules about furniture or doorways, and anything that worries your dog. Add your vet's number, an emergency contact, and where the leash, collar and spare bags live. Lay the gear out in one spot so nobody hunts for a slip lead with an excited dog at the door.
Then rehearse. Have the sitter visit while you are home, let your dog greet at their own pace, and never push a worried dog toward them. Show how you clip on the leash before any door opens, then hand over the leash on a short walk together. Small differences in how two people handle a leash can matter, so show rather than describe.
- One-page cue and rule sheet
- Gear laid out by door
- Meet-and-greet while you're home
- Leash on before doors open
Alone-time skills
Practise the gaps between sitter visits.
Drop-in sitters often leave a dog alone for hours between visits, so alone time is a skill worth building first. Start with short absences after exercise and a meal, with a chew or puzzle feeder, and lengthen them gradually. A camera shows you what really happens. Howling, destruction, heavy drooling or escape attempts are a reason to pause and get a professional assessment, not to push on.
Give the sitter a short list of things not to try: off-leash time, new dog parks, greetings with unfamiliar dogs, or tools you have not shown them how to use. Fewer variables means fewer surprises. If alone time or the handoff still looks shaky, Private Training at $150 + GST is a one-hour session with a written plan you practise all week before you go.
Asked and answered
The questions people ask us.
How do I prepare my dog for a dog sitter?
Write a one-page plan with cues, rules, routine, gear and contacts, then have the sitter visit and walk with you before the trip. Build some alone-time tolerance too, especially if the sitter drops in rather than stays.
What should I tell my pet sitter about my dog?
Share cue words, the release word, house rules, feeding and walk details, and anything that worries your dog. Include your vet's number and an emergency contact.
Will my dog behave differently with a sitter?
Often, yes. Dogs tend to test new people, and small handling differences can change how a walk feels. A rehearsal while you are still home narrows that gap.
What if my dog panics when left alone?
Hold off on long absences and get a professional assessment, since that kind of distress needs more than a sitter's routine. A vet check is sensible too, to look for anything physical.
Keep reading
Hand over a calmer dog
Book a consultation to work on alone time and a clean handoff before your next trip.
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