Start With Food, Because Labradors Always Ask for More
The most important page in a Labrador handover is the feeding page. Write the exact measured amount for each meal, the times he is fed, and where his food is stored, and say plainly that his pleading is performance rather than hunger. A sitter who does not know the breed can easily double a Labrador's intake in a weekend of soft-heartedness, and can also be charmed into sharing foods that will upset his stomach.
Add his treat allowance, what he may have as a chew, and a firm list of what stays out of reach. Then cover the other Labrador appetite: objects. Note whether your dog steals socks, tears soft toys, raids bins, or picks up stones, and tell the sitter which rooms and cupboards stay shut. If he swallows something he should not, or retches, strains, or goes off his food afterwards, that is a same-day call to your vet rather than a wait-and-see.
Walks, Energy, and Lead Manners
Describe a normal day's exercise honestly: how long his walks are, whether he pulls at the start, how reliable his recall is, and whether he is allowed off lead at all in your absence. Many owners sensibly ask a sitter to keep the dog on a long line, because a Labrador who recalls perfectly for you may test a new person near water, mud, or another dog's ball.
Mention swimming directly. If there is a pond, river, or pool on his usual routes, say whether he may go in, and ask the sitter to dry his ears afterwards if he does, since Labradors who swim often are prone to sore, head-shaking ears. Note his reaction to other dogs, cyclists, and visitors at the door, and the words that work: his release cue, his wait, and what to say instead of repeating his name.
Health Notes and Who to Call
Leave your vet's name, address, and phone number, the out-of-hours arrangement, and an emergency contact who can authorise decisions if you cannot be reached. List anything current in plain language: a stiff back leg after long runs, an ear that has needed attention before, a sensitive stomach with certain foods, or a tendency to lick a paw raw when bored. Say what normal looks like for him, because a sitter who knows his usual appetite and energy spots a change early.
Be specific about the thresholds you want acted on: not eating for a day, repeated vomiting, limping that does not ease with rest, or frantic scratching and head shaking all warrant a call to you and, if you cannot be reached, to the vet.
House Rules and Daily Rhythm
Write down where he sleeps, whether he is allowed on sofas, which doors stay closed, and what happens at mealtimes and bedtime, so his routine feels familiar even though you are missing. Include the small things that keep a Labrador settled: the chew routine you use in the evening, his favourite game, and how long he is usually left alone.
Finish with your return time, how you prefer updates, and permission for a photo or two a day, which most sitters are glad to send. A walk-through together before you leave, ideally with the sitter doing one feed and one short walk while you watch, turns the written notes into something they have already practised, and KinsLe makes that handover easier through Care Pass, which hands a trusted sitter temporary clear access to your Labrador's routine and key details while you are away.