Be frank about strength and experience
Strength is the first honest topic in a Doberman handover. Tell the carer your dog's weight, how hard he can pull when something catches his attention, and exactly which harness, collar and lead combination you use, including the rule that he is never walked on a retractable lead. Say whether one handler is enough or whether two people manage outings better, and make clear that a first-time sitter should already be experienced with large, strong breeds. A Doberman is affectionate and bright, but the wrong handler learns his power at the worst moment, usually at a road crossing.
Exercise, training and keeping his mind occupied
Exercise for a Doberman is both physical and mental, so give the carer the real daily total: walk lengths, any running or play sessions and the training drills woven into the day. List the commands he knows and the hand signals or words you pair with them, and warn that inconsistent rules confuse a dog who watches his people closely. Suggest the work that settles him, such as scent games, structured fetch with rules, or practising place and settle indoors, and note what over-arouses him, like rough wrestling games with visitors.
Loyalty, visitors and the first night apart
Loyalty defines the Doberman temperament section of the handover. Explain that your dog may shadow the sitter, watch the door for you and take a night or two to eat and rest normally. Tell the carer how he greets visitors, whether he should be put behind a gate for arrivals, and how he behaves with children and strangers on walks. Describe his behaviour around other dogs truthfully: friendly, selective or reactive, and the distance and crossing routine you use if he is reactive, so the sitter never has to improvise at close quarters.
Feeding, health notes and rest
Feeding notes for your Doberman should give the food, measured amounts, meal times and the rule about rest around meals and hard exercise, as you follow it at home. Add his sleeping arrangement, since many Dobermans expect to sleep near their people and may pace in a strange house. Pass on the practical health record: vaccination status, your vet's details, any checks or monitoring your vet has in place, and the changes you want reported at once, such as unusual tiredness, coughing, loss of appetite or a swollen-looking belly, which always warrants an urgent vet call rather than waiting until morning.
Security, rules and emergency permission
Security rules matter with a dog who is both strong and devoted. Cover fence height, gate habits, which doors he can open, and the rule that he is never left tied up outside a shop. State how long he can be left alone, what he does when bored, and which chew items are safe for him. Finish with written permission for emergency veterinary care, an emergency contact, and your preferred way to receive updates during the stay. Note his favourite training reward as well, because food, a ball and praise produce very different levels of focus in a working-minded Doberman.
A detailed KinsLe Care Pass lets a capable sitter take on your Doberman's strength, routine and loyalties with the full picture in hand from the start.