A sitter caring for a Border Collie needs information about work, not just care. Meals and walks are the easy part of the handover; what decides whether the stay goes well is whether the sitter understands how much exercise and mental occupation your Collie needs daily, which commands the dog lives by, and what an under-occupied Border Collie does with its spare intelligence. Write it all down as a daily plan the sitter can follow hour by hour.
The Daily Workload, Written as a Schedule
Give the sitter your Border Collie's real day: morning exercise type and length, midday activity, evening session, and the wind-down routine that tells the dog work is finished. Be specific about what counts — a leash stroll around the block does not tire this breed, while fetch with rules, training drills, or a puzzle feeder genuinely does. Name the games your dog knows, where the toys are kept, and any game that is banned because it winds the dog up instead of settling it. If the sitter can only do less on one day, tell them which extra indoor training session compensates, so the dog's behavior does not unravel by day three.
Commands, Cues, and House Rules in Your Words
List the exact words your Border Collie knows — recall, down, stay, leave it, the release word, and the cue that means settle on your bed — because a sitter using different words gets a confused dog that looks disobedient but is not. Note hand signals if you use them, and which rules are absolute: no chasing the cat, no herding visiting children, no bolting through the front door. Explain how you interrupt staring or stalking behavior before it escalates, and what reward the dog works for, whether that is a specific treat, a ball throw, or praise. Consistency here is what keeps a clever dog from training the sitter instead.
Triggers, Risks, and Escape Habits to Flag
Warn the sitter about your Border Collie's known triggers in plain terms: moving bikes, joggers, skateboards, squirrels, and livestock if you live near fields. State the walking equipment that gives control — the harness or lead setup you use — and that the dog is never off leash anywhere unfenced, however reliable the recall seems at home. Mention sensitivity to storms, fireworks, or household noises if your dog has it, and what helps: a particular room, background sound, or a familiar blanket. Add gate and door discipline, because a bored Collie studies latches, and a dog that has escaped before will try the same route again.
Feeding, Health, and Contact Information
Record feeding amounts and times, the treats approved for training sessions, and anything that upsets your Border Collie's stomach, since training-heavy days can add up to more treats than the dog usually gets. Note normal energy and appetite so the sitter can spot a dog that is off — a Border Collie that refuses work or food is telling you something and should prompt a vet call. Include your vet's details, the emergency clinic, your contact order, and a local person who knows the dog and can step in. Flag any ongoing care the sitter must keep up, described exactly as you do it at home.
A Trial Run Makes the Written Notes Work
Before a long trip, have the sitter run one full day with your Border Collie while you are still nearby. The trial shows whether the sitter can deliver the workload, whether the dog responds to them, and which parts of your written plan are unclear in practice. Fix the notes after the trial, not during the trip. KinsLe's Care Pass gives your Border Collie's sitter temporary access to this schedule, command list, and contact set in one place, so the dog's working routine survives your absence intact.