Write for Someone Busy, Not for Yourself
A boarder may be feeding, walking, and settling several dogs, so instructions only work if they can be followed at a glance, mid-task, without ringing you for clarification. Put the essentials first: what your dog eats, how much, and when; when he toilets and walks; where he sleeps; and anything about his health or behaviour that changes how he should be handled. Write the way you would want to read it at six in the morning with a hungry dog watching you. Short lines beat paragraphs, and one clear instruction beats a page of background about why you do things a certain way.
Order Everything by the Day
Structure the sheet in the order events actually happen: morning toilet, breakfast, walk, midday routine, evening meal, last toilet, and bedtime. Under each heading, give the practical detail the boarder needs in that moment, such as which door to use, how long a walk should be, and whether your dog toilets on grass, on a lead, or only after a few minutes of sniffing. If a step depends on something being in a particular place, say where it is: food measured in the labelled tub by the sink, lead hanging by the back door, towel for wet paws in the hall. A boarder should never have to hunt through cupboards while your dog waits.
Be Exact About Food, Walks, and House Rules
Vague feeding notes cause most boarding muddles. State the food, the amount using the scoop or measure you are leaving, and what to do if he leaves some or begs for more. Note any foods, chews, or table scraps he must not have, in plain terms. For walks, say how long, whether he pulls, how he reacts to other dogs, cyclists, or traffic, and whether he is ever allowed off lead; if the answer is never, write that plainly rather than assuming it is obvious. Add house rules that matter, such as no access to stairs, no rough play, or a gate that must stay closed, and explain them in one short clause so the boarder understands they are safety rules, not preferences.
Put Health and Behaviour Warnings Where They Cannot Be Missed
Anything that could affect your dog's safety belongs near the top, not buried after feeding details. Note ongoing conditions in general terms, signs that mean the boarder should call you or a vet, and behaviours to manage, such as guarding food, chewing when anxious, or slipping a collar. Describe what your dog actually does and what helps: for example, that he barks at the doorbell but settles with a chew in his bed, or that he needs his harness rather than a collar because he pulls backward when startled. Give your mobile number, a backup contact who knows the dog, and your veterinarian's details, and say clearly who can authorise emergency treatment if you cannot be reached.
Test the Instructions Before the Stay
Walk the boarder through the sheet in your home or theirs while your dog is present, and watch for the questions they ask; every question marks a gap to fix in writing. Better still, let them do one feeding or walk with you watching, so portion sizes, lead handling, and settling routines are demonstrated rather than described. Leave a printed copy where the care happens as well as a shared copy they can check on a phone. Keep the tone friendly and the list finite; a boarder who trusts the sheet will follow it, while one facing three pages of anxious detail may skim the part that mattered. Handed over through KinsLe's Care Pass, those instructions give a trusted boarder temporary, clear access to your dog's routine and key details for the whole stay.