Pet Sitter Meet-and-Greet Checklist — What to Cover

A sitting meet-and-greet takes longer than a walking one — 45–60 minutes is appropriate — because the sitter needs to understand the full daily routine, any medication protocols, home access for an overnight stay, and what a normal evening looks like for your dog. Rushing this meeting is the most common reason first stays go poorly.

Before the meeting: what to prepare

Your dog's profile on TruePath. Update everything: current medications (name, dose, timing, administration method), known triggers, food routine, energy level, sleep spot, any recent health changes. The sitter will have read this before arriving.

A draft handover document. Even a rough draft on your phone that you can walk through together. This becomes the final reference document the sitter uses during the stay.

Medications visible and accessible. Have everything out — don't put the sitter in the position of hunting through cupboards to confirm what's been described.

The checklist — in order

Your dog (15 minutes)

• Introduce the dog with no time pressure. Let the dog approach the sitter. Don't rush it.
• Walk through the dog's specific triggers: what they react to, what the first signal looks like before a full reaction, what helps.
• Describe the dog's settling pattern: how long does it typically take for the dog to relax with a new person? Does the first night tend to be unsettled?
• Show calming tools: where the scatter treats are kept, what phrases the dog responds to, what the pre-bed routine looks like.
• Physical characteristics: any lumps, skin conditions, limping, or monitoring notes the vet has flagged.

Feeding and medication (15 minutes)

• Show where all food is stored. Pre-measured or free-portioned? Bowl location.
• Walk through the complete feeding schedule: times, amounts, any supplements.
• Go through every medication: name, dose, timing, how it's administered. Demonstrate physically if it involves a pill, liquid, injection, or topical.
• Show where medications are stored. If refrigerated, point out the shelf.
• Ask the sitter to repeat back the medication schedule in their own words — the repetition confirms understanding and surfaces any ambiguity.
• Confirm what to do if a dose is accidentally missed or the dog refuses.

Home access and logistics (10 minutes)

• Walk through the full access sequence: front door, building entry, keysafe, any gate.
• Show any door, lock, or gate quirks ("lift handle while turning," "gate needs to be lifted before it latches").
• Walk the dog's sleep area. Where does the dog sleep? Are they allowed on the furniture?
• Show the kitchen: water bowl location, where the dog's things are kept, bin under the sink.
• Walk through the garden or balcony if used for toileting.
• Any rooms the dog is not allowed in — close them or explain the rule clearly.
• Wi-fi password and any appliance instructions if the stay is overnight.

Emergency protocols (5 minutes)

• Confirm your contact details and a backup local contact (someone who can make decisions if you're unreachable).
• Confirm the vet: name, address, phone number, whether they have your dog's history on file.
• Confirm the nearest 24-hour emergency vet to your suburb. The sitter should know it independently, but confirm together.
• What should the sitter do if the dog shows sudden illness? Clarify: "Call me first, then the vet" or "Go straight to the vet and call me on the way" — depends on your preference and whether you'll be reachable.
• If you're travelling internationally: time zone, best contact window, local emergency contact authority ("If I'm unreachable and the vet recommends treatment, proceed — I'll handle costs on return").

Communication during the stay (5 minutes)

• Agree on check-in frequency: daily photo, every-other-day message, or "only if something's wrong."
• What does an update include? Photo, brief note on how the dog is doing, any observations.
• Preferred communication channel: app, text, or WhatsApp.

After the meeting

Walk out together — watch how the dog is when you leave. A dog that's relaxed when the sitter is present but unsettled when you leave is showing separation anxiety; a dog that's been tense throughout the visit has a different signal. Both are useful information.

Finalise and send the written handover document within 24 hours while the meeting is fresh.

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Frequently asked questions

How long should a pet sitter meet-and-greet take?

What questions should I ask a dog sitter at the meet-and-greet?

Should the dog sitter do a trial night before a long stay?

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