Build the notes around your hamster's evening clock
A Campbell's dwarf hamster sleeps through most of the day and becomes active at dusk, so the sitter's notes should be timed to that clock rather than to a human morning routine. Write down when the main check happens, ideally early evening as your hamster wakes, and explain that a motionless hamster in a nest at midday is normal, not a cause for alarm. Note where the enclosure sits, that it stays out of direct sun and away from radiators, and that the room should stay at a steady, comfortable temperature because a palm-sized animal gets cold and overheats quickly. A sitter who understands the rhythm will not go digging through bedding looking for a sleeping pet.
Food rules that matter for this species
Campbell's dwarfs are prone to blood-sugar problems, so the feeding section of your notes needs to be unusually strict for such a small animal. State the exact daily measure of seed mix, where it is kept, and whether it goes in a bowl or is scattered into the bedding for foraging. List approved extras in plain terms, such as a tiny piece of plain vegetable, and list what is banned outright: sugary treats, fruit, sticky snack bars, and yoghurt drops. Tell the sitter not to top up a bowl that still looks full, because dwarf hamsters selectively eat the fatty seeds first and leave the rest, which skews the diet within days.
Water, wheel, and bedding checks
The single most important daily check for a Campbell's dwarf is the water bottle, because the ball in the spout can stick and leave a tiny animal with no water at all. Instruct the sitter to tap the spout tip at every visit and watch a drop appear. Describe the deep bedding your hamster burrows through, and ask the sitter only to lift out the damp corner where the toilet spot is, leaving tunnels and the nest untouched. Name the solid-surface wheel and ask that it keeps spinning freely, and note that loose food stashed in the nest is normal hoarding, not mess to be thrown away mid-stay.
Handling notes for a fast, easily startled pet
A Campbell's dwarf is quick, territorial about its enclosure, and inclined to nip a finger that smells of food or grabs from above. Write handling guidance that keeps contact minimal: the sitter should wash hands first, let the hamster wake fully, and scoop it from below with cupped hands only if it must be moved for cleaning. State plainly whether your hamster lives alone or with a cage mate, because dwarfs housed in pairs can fall out suddenly, and the sitter needs to know what a serious squabble sounds like and when to separate them into the spare enclosure you have left ready.
Warning signs and the call list
Close the notes with the signs that should trigger a call to you or your vet the same day: a Campbell's dwarf that has not eaten overnight, wetness or mess around the tail, a hunched posture with half-closed eyes at waking time, laboured breathing, or any escape. Give the exotic vet's number, your own number, and permission for the sitter to seek help first and report afterwards, because a pet this small can decline fast. Leaving all of it in KinsLe's Care Pass means your sitter holds the feeding rules, the bottle check, and the vet's number in one place instead of hunting through scattered messages.