Prepare one page that another responsible person could follow. Include the pet’s routine, equipment, fears, relevant health instructions, veterinarian, emergency contact and the decisions the provider may make without calling. Use actions—“backs out of this harness” or “hides when the buzzer sounds”—instead of personality labels.
Test access before the paid booking
Try the key, fob, buzzer, alarm and elevator with the actual caregiver. Agree where credentials are stored, who may receive them and how they are returned. Do not send a door code in an unsecured group message.
Put the date, arrival window, promised time with the pet, update method, price and cancellation deadline in the calendar. On the first day, stay reachable and check that the final lock-up message arrives.
Set the walking plan
Photograph the fitted harness or collar and identify the leash to use. Write the permitted route, toilet disposal, dog-contact rule and whether off-leash time is allowed. The City of Vancouver says dogs must be leashed in parks except in designated off-leash areas; do not let “park walk” stand in for an agreed route.
Write the route and contact rules
Name the allowed neighbourhood, streets or park rather than saying “usual route.” State whether the dog may greet people or dogs, enter an off-leash area, ride in a vehicle or receive treats. The City of Vancouver says dogs must be leashed in parks except in designated off-leash areas and leashed while entering and leaving those areas. If off-leash activity is not allowed for your dog, put that in the service note even when the walker normally uses a designated park.
Give a same-day number and a backup who can make decisions. Define which changes need approval. A blocked sidewalk may allow a nearby detour; vehicle transport or a different dog group should not be assumed.
Rehearse entry and exit
Meet the assigned walker at the actual pickup point. Have them unlock the door, handle the alarm, find the leash and fit the equipment while you watch. Photograph how the harness sits and identify any backup equipment the walker may use. If the dog rushes the doorway, practise the barrier or station that keeps the dog inside until the leash is secure.
For a condo, include the buzzer name, fob-controlled doors, elevator rule and the safest lobby exit. Decide where muddy paws are cleaned and whether that time is part of the booking. Never label a key with the full address. Record who holds it and how it will be returned.
Use a day-of checklist
Before leaving home, place the approved equipment where agreed, clear the doorway and check that contact numbers are current. The walker should message only after they have safely entered, not while driving or controlling the dog.
After the first walk, check five facts: arrival within the window, promised walking time, route used, dog returned to the agreed place and home locked. Then update the care sheet. “Avoid the west elevator between noon and one because of a resident dog” is more useful than “can be reactive.”
Keep the first version short
A walker needs a usable instruction sheet, not every story about the dog. Put urgent items first: escape risks, equipment, dog-contact rule, health instructions and emergency numbers. Keep optional preferences below them. Ask the walker to repeat the route and access plan in their own words. If they interpret a line differently, rewrite it before the key changes hands.
Browse Vancouver dog-care listings or BC dog walkers, then ask shortlisted providers to price the same route and time.
