Preparing Your Dog for a Pet Sitter

Dogs cope with your absence far better when everything else stays the same. In-home pet sitting already protects most of that sameness — the bed, the smells, the yard, the routine — but a little preparation makes the first visit noticeably calmer.

Write the routine down. Feeding times and amounts, medication doses, walk times, favorite spots, house rules, and the small quirks only you know: which door the dog prefers, whether the neighbor's dog is a trigger, how long they usually nap. Specific notes are more useful than general ones, and they let the sitter step into your day rather than improvise.

Arrange a short meet-and-greet before the first solo visit. Ten minutes of the sitter being present while you are still there tells your dog this person is approved, which is worth far more than any introduction made on day one of your trip.

Leave the familiar things out and easy to find: the usual food (never switch brands right before you travel), the favorite toy, the bed, the leash on its normal hook. Keep the same feeding schedule even if it is inconvenient, because meal timing anchors a dog's whole day.

Finally, share emergency information — your vet's name and number, the nearest emergency clinic, and how to reach you. Jumpin' Hounds sends updates during visits, so you know how your dog is eating, moving, and resting instead of guessing from the airport.