Dog Sitting Basics: Essential Skills Every Pet Sitter Needs in 2025

Whether you’re considering dog sitting as a side hustle, helping out a neighbor, or preparing to care for your own future pup, understanding the fundamentals of responsible dog care is essential. Dog sitting isn’t just about keeping a furry friend company—it requires knowledge of pet care basics, from feeding schedules and exercise needs to recognizing signs of distress and handling emergencies. In 2025, with more pet owners seeking reliable care for their beloved companions, mastering these dog sitting basics will set you up for success and ensure every dog in your care stays happy, healthy, and safe.

Essential Pre-Sitting Preparation: Getting to Know Your Furry Client

The foundation of successful dog sitting starts well before you walk through the door. A comprehensive preparation phase ensures you’re equipped to handle everything from daily routines to unexpected situations.

Conducting a Thorough Meet-and-Greet

Schedule an in-person meeting at least a week before your sitting assignment. This isn’t just a formality—it’s your chance to observe the dog’s personality, energy level, and comfort around strangers. Watch how the dog interacts with their owner and note any behavioral quirks or triggers. Some dogs may be protective of their home, while others might be overly excited around new people.

During this visit, ask the owner to demonstrate their usual routines. Where does the dog eat? Which door do they prefer for bathroom breaks? What commands do they know? This hands-on observation prevents confusion later and helps you maintain the dog’s familiar patterns.

Documenting Critical Care Information

Create a detailed care sheet that covers every aspect of the dog’s needs. Feeding schedules should include exact meal times, portion sizes, and the location of food and treats. Note any dietary restrictions—many dogs have allergies or sensitivities that could cause serious health issues if ignored.

Record the dog’s exercise requirements in detail, including any specific training techniques that help manage their energy levels. A senior Golden Retriever might need gentle 20-minute walks twice daily, while a Border Collie mix could require an hour of intensive exercise plus mental stimulation activities. Understanding these needs prevents behavioral problems and keeps dogs physically healthy.

Medical Needs and Emergency Planning

Gather comprehensive medical information including vaccination records, regular medications, and your local veterinary contacts. For dogs with ongoing health issues, ask for written instructions about medication timing, dosage, and administration techniques.

Take the case of caring for a 12-year-old Golden Retriever named Max who requires daily joint supplements and has mobility issues. His owner provided detailed instructions about helping him up stairs, the location of his orthopedic bed, and signs that his arthritis might be flaring up. This preparation ensured Max remained comfortable throughout the sitting period.

Daily Care Fundamentals: Feeding, Exercise, and Routine Management

Consistency is the cornerstone of stress-free dog sitting. Dogs thrive on predictable routines, and maintaining their established patterns helps them feel secure in their owner’s absence.

Maintaining Feeding Schedules and Nutrition

Stick religiously to established meal times, even if they don’t align with your personal schedule. A dog accustomed to breakfast at 6:30 AM will likely wake you at that time regardless. Use the exact same food bowls in the same location, and measure portions precisely using the owner’s measuring cups.

Never introduce new treats or foods without explicit permission. What seems like a harmless snack could trigger allergic reactions or digestive upset. Keep all human food securely stored, as many common foods like chocolate, grapes, and onions are toxic to dogs.

Exercise and Mental Stimulation Requirements

Different breeds and individual dogs have vastly different exercise needs. A high-energy Border Collie mix named Luna taught me this lesson when her owner mentioned she needed “good exercise.” After a standard 30-minute walk, Luna began destructively chewing furniture and pacing anxiously. Her owner later clarified that “good exercise” meant at least 90 minutes of active play, including fetch and puzzle games. Understanding breed-specific energy levels prevents these situations.

Create a mental stimulation plan for intelligent or active breeds. Puzzle feeders, Kong toys, and basic training sessions can tire a dog’s mind as effectively as physical exercise.

Bathroom Management and Accident Protocols

Maintain the established bathroom schedule, but be flexible enough to accommodate the dog’s needs. Young puppies and senior dogs may need more frequent breaks than middle-aged adults. Learn the dog’s specific signals—some dogs bark, others pace or sit by the door.

Prepare for accidents by locating cleaning supplies and understanding the owner’s preferred cleanup methods. Clean accidents immediately using enzymatic cleaners to prevent repeat incidents in the same spot.

Safety First: Recognizing Warning Signs and Emergency Preparedness

Your ability to recognize and respond to health emergencies could save a dog’s life. Developing these observation skills is crucial for any serious pet sitter.

Identifying Health Concerns

Learn to distinguish between normal behavior variations and concerning symptoms. Lethargy that includes refusing food, excessive panting without exercise, or difficulty standing warrants immediate attention. Digestive issues like repeated vomiting, diarrhea with blood, or signs of abdominal pain require veterinary consultation.

Bloat represents a life-threatening emergency, particularly in large breeds—understanding comprehensive dog health indicators helps you recognize this and other serious conditions quickly. Symptoms include a distended, hard abdomen, repeated attempts to vomit without producing anything, excessive drooling, and obvious distress. This condition requires immediate emergency veterinary care—every minute counts.

Creating Emergency Action Plans

Maintain a readily accessible list of emergency contacts including the owner’s phone number, local emergency veterinary clinic, and the dog’s regular veterinarian. Know the fastest route to the emergency clinic and keep a pet carrier or leash easily accessible.

Understand your decision-making authority. Most owners prefer to be contacted before non-emergency veterinary visits, but true emergencies require immediate action. Discuss these scenarios during your initial meeting to avoid confusion during stressful moments.

Dog-Proofing and Hazard Prevention

Survey the home for potential hazards, even if the dog is well-behaved with their owners. Stress or excitement about new people can lead to destructive behaviors or attempts to escape. Secure garbage cans, remove small objects that could be swallowed, and ensure doors and gates are properly latched.

Check for toxic plants, medications left within reach, and household chemicals. A dog who normally ignores these items might investigate them when feeling anxious about their owner’s absence.

Building Trust and Managing Behavior During Your Stay

Establishing yourself as a calm, confident caregiver helps dogs adjust to temporary changes in their routine and reduces anxiety-related behavioral issues.

Establishing Leadership and Trust

Approach nervous dogs calmly and avoid overwhelming them with attention. Let them come to you rather than forcing interactions. Use the dog’s name frequently and stick to commands they already know rather than trying to teach new behaviors.

Maintain the owner’s house rules consistently. If the dog isn’t allowed on furniture, enforce this boundary even if you don’t mind. Inconsistency confuses dogs and can create behavioral problems that persist after the owner returns.

Managing Separation Anxiety and Stress

Some dogs experience increased anxiety when their primary caregiver is absent. Signs include excessive barking, destructive chewing, or attempts to escape. Combat these behaviors by maintaining normal routines, providing engaging activities, and offering calm reassurance without reinforcing anxious behaviors.

For dogs with severe separation anxiety, consider staying close to home during your first day to help them adjust gradually to the new arrangement.

Using Positive Reinforcement

Reward good behavior immediately with treats, praise, or play, depending on what motivates the individual dog. This approach builds positive associations with your presence and encourages cooperation throughout your stay.

Avoid punishment-based corrections, which can increase stress and damage the trust you’re building. Instead, redirect unwanted behaviors toward appropriate alternatives using proven behavior modification techniques that build trust and cooperation.

Professional Tips for Successful Dog Sitting

Developing professional habits sets you apart as a reliable pet sitter and builds trust with pet owners who are entrusting you with their beloved companions.

Communication Excellence

Send regular updates including photos and brief messages about the dog’s activities, meals, and mood. Most owners appreciate knowing their pet is thriving, and consistent communication demonstrates your attentiveness and professionalism.

Be honest about any issues or concerns that arise. Owners prefer to know about minor problems immediately rather than discover them upon return.

Documentation and Record-Keeping

Keep detailed records of feeding times, bathroom breaks, exercise sessions, and any notable behaviors. This information helps you maintain consistency and provides valuable feedback to the owner.

Take photos and videos that showcase positive moments—dogs playing, sleeping contentedly, or enjoying their walks. These images provide peace of mind for worried owners.

Handling Complex Situations

When caring for multiple dogs, pay attention to pack dynamics and feeding hierarchies. Some dogs need to be fed separately to prevent resource guarding, while others require individual attention to prevent jealousy.

Dogs with special needs—whether medical conditions, behavioral issues, or advanced age—require extra patience and specialized knowledge. Consider these assignments only when you feel confident in your abilities and have received thorough training from the owner.

Building a reputation for reliable, professional pet care takes time and consistency. Focus on exceeding expectations through careful preparation, attentive care, and clear communication. Word-of-mouth recommendations from satisfied pet owners remain the most valuable marketing tool for building a successful dog sitting practice.

The investment you make in mastering these dog sitting basics pays dividends in the form of stress-free experiences, happy dogs, grateful owners, and personal satisfaction knowing you’ve provided excellent care for someone’s cherished family member.