Take care of your pup when you’re not there: Tips for your next dog sitter's checklist

When dog owners are away at work or even on vacation, they still make it a priority to make sure that their dog is well cared for while they are away.

The American Kennel Club provides a helpful checklist of everything a dog owner should leave their pet sitter with, so they can have a stress-free time apart.

Maintain the same routine: Keeping your dog on their usual schedule while you are away will help make the transition easier and even prevent accidents. Be sure to give the sitter a detailed breakdown of when to walk and feed your pup.

Enforce the house rules: Make sure your sitter knows what your dog is and isn’t allowed to do in the house. Just because you are away from home, your pet does not get to break the rules.

Leave emergency contact information: Make sure there’s a backup person the sitter can call if you’re unreachable. It is important to also include your emergency veterinarian contact in the event your dog gets sick or injured. If you’re going on vacation, leave the name and number of your hotel as well as your itinerary.

Create a list of medications and conditions: Make sure the sitter knows of any medical conditions or allergies to report in case of an emergency or if they need to reach your dog’s vet for assistance.

Leave a credit card and authorization letter: Leave this information with your vet in case they need to charge an emergency vet visit while you’re away. Include a signed letter stating that you give permission for the vet’s office to use your card for your pet’s care.

Prepare your dog and your home: Make sure all cleaning products, insect and weed killers, rat poison and medicines are out of your dog’s reach. Also repair any holes in your fence and secure all gates.

Maintain extra food and supplies at home: If you’re going on vacation, make sure you have enough food, medicines, doggie bags and other supplies on hand for the sitter in case your return gets delayed.

For more information on responsible dog ownership, visit the AKC at www.akc.org.