The essentials of a Shih Tzu sitter log
A care log for a Shih Tzu with a sitter in charge looks different from a working breed's log: the centre of gravity is grooming, gentle exercise, and keeping a flat-faced little dog comfortable rather than worn out. Include measured meals and times, water, toilet breaks, short walks, the daily coat and face routine, health care already directed by the vet, house rules, emergency contacts, and a daily record the sitter fills in. A Shih Tzu will not announce that his eyes are sore or his coat is pulling into mats, so the log has to schedule those checks instead of leaving them to chance.
Feeding, water, and toilet rhythm
Feeding notes for a Shih Tzu should state the food, the modest measured amount per meal, and meal times, with a warning against grazing all day, because this breed gains weight quietly under that coat and extra weight makes breathing harder work. Note where his water bowl sits and that it needs checking after walks and on warm days, since a Shih Tzu drinks in short bouts. Toilet expectations deserve honesty in the log: many Shih Tzus take their time and are fussy about wet grass or cold ground, so write his usual times, his preferred spot, and the instruction to wait patiently rather than cut the break short, which prevents indoor accidents being logged as naughtiness.
Coat, face, and eye care the sitter must repeat daily
Grooming is the section a Shih Tzu care log cannot compress. Write the daily routine in order: a gentle brush through the coat down to the skin, paying attention behind the ears, under the collar, and in the armpits where mats start, plus how his topknot or fringe is tied up so hair stays out of his eyes. The face routine follows: wipe the muzzle folds and the corners of the eyes with a soft damp cloth, check that the eyes look clear rather than weepy or cloudy, and note any head-shaking or ear scratching for the record. Tell the sitter plainly that if the coat is clipped short instead, the brushing still happens, just faster, and the face wipe never gets skipped.
Gentle exercise and warm-weather rules
Exercise notes for a Shih Tzu should describe short, unhurried walks and indoor play rather than distance targets, with the timing rule written in bold terms: walk in the cooler parts of the day, keep it brief in heat, and come home if breathing becomes noisy or laboured. A Shih Tzu's short nose means he cannot shed heat like a long-muzzled dog, so the log should name the signs that end an outing at once: heavy panting, drooling more than usual, wobbliness, or wanting to stop and lie down. Add his limits at home as well: supervision on stairs if he is older, a ramp or a lift onto furniture he is allowed on, and no rough play with bigger dogs.
Contacts and what the sitter records each day
Contacts for a Shih Tzu sitter log run in the usual order but with grooming help included: you, a nearby backup, the regular vet, the out-of-hours service, and the groomer if a bath or a coat emergency falls inside the stay. The daily record the sitter keeps should cover meals, toilet breaks, the brush and face wipe completed, breathing on walks, eye and ear observations, and mood, each noted with a time. Those small daily lines are how a slowly developing eye problem or appetite dip gets caught early in a breed that hides discomfort well. Loading the finished log into KinsLe Care Pass hands your sitter temporary access to this Shih Tzu's care details for the whole time you are away.