Pet Sitting Checklist 2026 (Free Printable)

A consistent pet sitting checklist makes you more reliable, reduces mistakes, and builds client trust. The professional sitters I know all use one. Here's the complete checklist covering the meet-and-greet, every visit, and emergency situations. Print it, keep it on your phone, run through it every time. The clients who book you for years are the ones who feel confident their pets are in capable hands.

Pre-booking: meet and greet checklist

• ☐ Meet client and pets in person
• ☐ Tour the home (where supplies are kept)
• ☐ Get keys, alarm code, gate code
• ☐ Confirm vet contact info (name, phone, address)
• ☐ Confirm emergency vet info
• ☐ Confirm emergency contact (someone besides the owner)
• ☐ Document feeding schedule and amounts
• ☐ Document medications (dosage, timing)
• ☐ Document any behavioral notes (anxiety, food aggression, etc.)
• ☐ Confirm walk routes and any "off-limits" areas
• ☐ Confirm communication preferences (text/app/photos)
• ☐ Sign the contract and exchange contact info
• ☐ Take photos of pets, food brand, and home layout

Every visit: standard checklist

Arrival

• ☐ Send arrival message/photo to client
• ☐ Greet pets calmly
• ☐ Check for any signs of distress or unusual behavior
• ☐ Check water bowl, refresh if needed

During visit

• ☐ Feed per documented schedule
• ☐ Administer medications if applicable
• ☐ Bathroom break (timed walk for dogs)
• ☐ Brief play or affection time
• ☐ Take 2 to 3 photos for client
• ☐ Quick cleanup of any messes

Departure

• ☐ Refresh water
• ☐ Confirm all doors and windows locked
• ☐ Set alarm if applicable
• ☐ Send post-visit report with photos to client
• ☐ Note anything to mention next visit (low food, weird behavior)

Daily report template

Overnight stay extras

Evening

• ☐ Evening meal at consistent time
• ☐ Last walk of the day
• ☐ Settle pets in their normal sleep area
• ☐ Lock all doors, set alarm
• ☐ Send goodnight photo

Morning

• ☐ Morning walk first thing
• ☐ Breakfast at consistent time
• ☐ Send "good morning" photo to client
• ☐ Tidy up any pet messes from overnight

Emergency response checklist

If a pet shows signs of medical distress

1. ☐ Stay calm, assess severity
2. ☐ Take photo/video of symptoms
3. ☐ Call client immediately
4. ☐ If client unreachable, call primary vet
5. ☐ If vet closed, call emergency vet
6. ☐ Transport pet to vet (don't wait)
7. ☐ Document everything for client

If a pet escapes

1. ☐ Don't chase, call them in calm voice
2. ☐ If escaped, call client immediately
3. ☐ Walk the neighborhood looking
4. ☐ Post in local lost pet groups (with client permission)
5. ☐ Call local animal control to report

If client home has emergency (gas leak, fire, flood)

1. ☐ Get pets to safety first
2. ☐ Call 911 if needed
3. ☐ Call client immediately
4. ☐ Document everything

The pet sitting checklist I use before every booking

Pet sitting requires more pre-booking information than dog walking. Specific items I confirm before every sitting job.

Basics: pet's name, breed, age, weight, color/markings (for emergency identification). Sounds obvious but I've showed up to sitting jobs and realized I had a five-pound chihuahua expecting a mid-sized dog.

Health information: any medications, dosing schedule, where medication is kept. Vet name and contact. Pre-existing conditions or recent surgeries. Allergies.

Diet: food type, brand, amount per meal, meal timing. Where food is stored. Treats allowed and treats forbidden.

Behavior: known issues (separation anxiety, reactivity, food aggression, fear of specific things). What works to calm them. What triggers stress.

Walking specifics (if applicable): how long, what route, leash type, harness or collar, what they pull toward, anything to avoid.

House access: keys, codes, alarm system, garage doors. Emergency contact for if access fails.

Emergency procedures: client contact info during their travel, backup contact (relative, friend, neighbor), preferred vet for emergencies, willingness to authorize emergency treatment.

Communication preferences: how often to send updates, photos vs text, what to mention, what's just normal.

Other pets: are there cats, fish, birds, etc. that I'll also be caring for? What do they need?

Household tasks: mail, plants, garbage, alarm, packages.

This checklist gets shared with clients before bookings as a fillable form. Saves significant time during the actual meet-and-greet and ensures nothing critical gets missed.

The first-day-of-pet-sitting checklist

Even with thorough pre-booking info, day one of any pet sit has specific things to verify in person.

Confirm access works: keys turn, codes work, alarm disarms properly. Test before client leaves if possible.

Find food and supplies: actually locate and confirm everything mentioned. "It's in the cabinet" sometimes means a different cabinet than expected.

Note current food and water levels: prevents disputes about whether you fed/watered properly.

Photo of pet's living state: captures starting condition for any "they damaged this" disputes that might arise.

Test emergency contacts: have phone numbers ready and confirm they answer.

Check for signs of pre-existing issues: limp you weren't told about, skin condition, behavioral signs of illness. Document and message client immediately.

Confirm departure is clean: client leaves the home in expected condition, you've documented anything notable.

Establish routine: feed/walk/clean as scheduled. Routine matters for the pet's comfort.

Send first update: photo, brief note that all is well, any observations. Sets expectation for communication frequency.

The first 24 hours of any pet sit determine how the rest goes. Diligent first-day work prevents most issues.

The mid-stay pet sitting checklist

Beyond the first day, longer pet sits need ongoing routines that prevent issues.

Daily checks: pet behavior matches what owner described. Eating normally. Drinking normally. Eliminating normally. Energy level appropriate. Any signs of stress or illness.

House condition: doors locked, alarm armed appropriately, anything broken or damaged documented immediately, plants watered as needed.

Communication maintenance: daily update to client with photo. More frequently if requested. Any concerns flagged immediately.

Mail and packages: brought inside, sorted, marked as picked up.

Trash management: garbage and recycling out on appropriate days. Bins brought back in same day.

Outdoor pet care: yard checked for waste, trees and grass not damaged by pet, gates secure.

Issues to watch: changes in eating, drinking, activity, mood. Any of these warrants closer monitoring and possible vet contact.

Length consideration: stays under 3 days rarely have issues. Stays of 5-10 days have moderate risk of pets developing issues. Stays over 10 days frequently have at least one issue requiring sitter intervention.

The end-of-stay pet sitting checklist

Final day of any pet sit has specific items that prevent client complaints.

Pet condition documentation: photo of pet at end of stay showing good condition. Notes on overall stay (any issues, any behaviors worth knowing about).

House condition: clean to expected standards. Linens used by sitter washed if requested. Any items moved put back.

Final feeding/walking/care: as scheduled. Documented for client awareness.

Mail and packages: organized for client to find easily.

Plants and tasks: completed as agreed.

Departure: keys returned per client preference. Alarm reset. Doors locked.

Final message to client: pet did well, here are any notable items, looking forward to next time. Sets up the relationship for future bookings.

Follow-up: 24-48 hours later, brief check-in to make sure pet adjusted back fine after their return. Builds long-term client relationship.

Done well, this final-day discipline is what creates repeat clients. Done poorly, you're a one-time sitter who never gets booked again.

The pet sitting documentation checklist

Documentation prevents disputes and protects sitters. Specific items to keep records of.

Pre-booking documentation: written client instructions, pet care details, emergency contacts, agreed services, agreed rate. Email or shared document.

Arrival documentation: photo of pet at start of stay (showing condition), photo of home (showing initial state), text/email to client confirming you've arrived and home is in good condition.

Daily documentation: photo of each pet daily, brief note on eating/drinking/elimination, any unusual observations, time of visits.

Issue documentation: any problems noted with pets, home, or services. Time-stamped, photographed if possible. Sent to client immediately.

Departure documentation: photo of pet at end of stay (showing condition), photo of home (showing departure state), summary message to client.

Communication records: keep all client messaging through platforms or saved emails. Don't move important communications to phone calls or texts that aren't preserved.

Receipts: any expenses incurred (vet visits, supplies if needed) with receipts saved.

The walkers and sitters who maintain this documentation rarely face disputes that can't be resolved quickly. Documentation is unsexy but essential.

The end-of-stay sitter task checklist

Final-day sitting tasks that protect your reputation and earn repeat bookings.

Final pet care: complete final feeding, walking, scooping per schedule.

Pet condition photo: final photo showing pet in good condition. Time-stamped via phone.

Home final check: walk through home, return any moved items, dispose of trash, clean any sitter areas used.

Linen handling: bedding used by sitter washed and dried. Either replaced or left clean for client to handle.

Mail and packages organized: arranged for client to find easily.

Plants final care: watered as appropriate.

House security: alarm reset, doors locked, garage closed.

Final summary message: text or email to client summarizing the stay, any notable items, looking forward to next time.

Key returned: per client preference (left in agreed location, dropped off, mailed back).

Done well, this final-day work is what creates 5-star reviews and repeat clients. Skipping these tasks leaves clients with negative impressions even if the rest of the stay went well.

Frequently asked questions