The basics a Labrador sitter needs on page one
A care log for a Labrador Retriever should open with identity and contacts before it gets to food: your dog's name, age, and weight range, your phone number, a backup person nearby who can step in, and your veterinary clinic's name, address, and after-hours option. Add any microchip or ID details and a short note on temperament — friendly with visitors, strong on the lead, nervous in thunderstorms — so the sitter is not learning your dog's personality by surprise. Labradors are famously sociable, which helps a sitter, but their size and enthusiasm mean a stranger still needs fair warning about greeting jumps and lead pulling.
Feeding notes written for a dog who always looks hungry
Spell out the exact food, the measured amount per meal, and the feeding times, and say plainly where the food and measuring scoop live. The single most important line in a Labrador log is the treat rule: this breed is exceptionally food-driven, will work every angle for extras, and gains weight quietly under generous hands. State how many treats a day are allowed, what counts as a treat, and that table scraps are off limits. Note where fresh water is kept, how often the bowl is refreshed, and anything your Labrador must never reach, from the kitchen bin to a child's snack stash.
Exercise, ears, and the daily rhythm
Describe the usual walk length and route, off-lead rules, and favourite games, and warn that a young Labrador who misses exercise will invent entertainment involving shoes or cushions. If your dog swims, say where that is permitted and add the step sitters most often miss: dry the ears thoroughly afterwards, because a Labrador's heavy ear flaps hold moisture against the canal and set up irritation. Include bathroom break timing, the cue words you use, sleep arrangements, and which doors, gates, and rooms stay closed.
What the sitter should write back each day
A care log works in both directions, so leave space for the sitter's own entries: meals eaten or refused, water intake if it looks unusual, bathroom habits, exercise done, mood and energy, and anything out of the ordinary such as scratching at an ear, a limp after a run, or a chewed object that might have been swallowed. Ask for a photo or short message at a set time so silence never has to be interpreted. Note the threshold for calling you or the vet directly — repeated vomiting, a swallowed non-food item, bloat-type signs such as a swollen belly and restless retching, or any collapse should never wait for your return.
House rules and the handover itself
Close the log with the practical household layer: alarm and key arrangements, where cleaning supplies and old towels live, what to do with accidents, and neighbours who should not be disturbed. Walk the sitter through the log in person or on a call before you leave, and have them repeat the feeding amounts back to you — that one check catches most misunderstandings. Keeping that log in KinsLe through Care Pass gives your sitter temporary, clear access to your Labrador's routine and key details, so nothing important depends on a hurried note left on the counter.