Guide

The 5 things every dog sitter should get in writing

Updated June 2026 · ~5 min read

Before you take a single overnight or walk, five things should be in writing: a liability waiver, an emergency-vet authorization, the dog's care details, your cancellation & payment terms, and photo/update consent. Together they protect the pet, the owner, and you. Here's what each one is and why it matters.

This is general information for solo dog-care pros, not legal advice — requirements vary by state, so check yours or ask a local attorney for the real thing.

Why do dog sitters need anything in writing?

Because memory and goodwill aren't a plan when a dog gets hurt at 2am, an owner disputes a charge, or a stay gets cancelled last-minute. Getting the basics in writing sets clear expectations up front, documents consent, and gives you something to stand on if there's ever a disagreement. It also makes you look like the professional you are.

1. A signed liability waiver

A liability waiver documents that the owner understands the normal risks of pet care and agrees to them. It doesn't make you immune to everything, but it establishes that the owner accepted the arrangement knowingly — which is exactly what you want on file. Have it signed before the first stay, not after something happens.

2. Emergency vet authorization (with a dollar cap)

This is the owner's written consent for you to get their dog veterinary care if it gets sick or hurt and you can't reach them — usually up to a dollar amount they choose. It's the single most important thing to have, because it lets you act fast in an emergency without guessing whether you're allowed to. Capture the cap and their vet's info together.

3. The dog's care details (intake)

Vet name and phone, current medications and doses, allergies, feeding routine, behavior notes, vaccination status, and an emergency human contact. Collect it once, in writing, so you're not texting “wait, which food?” at dinnertime. This is also where a bite-history question belongs — awkward to ask, essential to know.

4. Cancellation & payment terms

Spell out your rates, when payment is due, and what happens on a late cancellation or no-show. You don't need legalese — a couple of clear sentences the client agrees to up front prevents almost every money argument before it starts.

5. Photo & update consent

Get a simple yes/no on whether you can photograph their dog and send updates — and whether you can ever share a photo publicly. Most owners love the updates; a few are private about it. Asking once, in writing, keeps you on the right side of it.

The five at a glance

How do you collect all this without the paperwork mess?

You can absolutely do it with a PDF and a signature app — plenty of sitters do. The catch is chasing five things across texts and emails before every new client. Purpose-built dog-care software can bundle it into a single step: one intake link the client fills once that captures the dog's details, e-signs the waiver and the emergency-vet authorization, and books the stay — so nothing's missing on day one.

Full disclosure: we make one such tool.Houndtrust does exactly that in one link, built for solo dog-care pros. But the five documents above matter whatever you use to collect them — that's the part worth getting right.

Common questions