Brief the ordinary day, hour by hour
A month is long enough for small misunderstandings to become habits, so walk your parents through a normal day in order rather than handing over a list of facts. Start with waking and first toilet break, then breakfast — the exact food, amount, and where your dog eats if he wolfs meals or guards his bowl. Cover walk times, the usual route, how he behaves at road crossings and around other dogs, and what to do if he pulls toward something. Include the unglamorous details owners forget to mention: which door he asks at, the cue words he actually knows, where he sleeps, and what settles him in the evening. A weekend stay survives on goodwill; a month runs on this routine.
Be honest about the hard parts of your particular dog
Parents often get the edited version because nobody wants to worry them. Resist that. If your dog counter-surfs, bolts through open gates, is frightened of thunder, chews when bored, or has a tense history with a neighbour's cat, say so plainly and explain what works. Describe early warning signs in your dog's own language — the stiff stare before reactivity, the pacing before a toilet accident — so your parents can act early instead of managing a bigger problem. Also brief them on people and places to avoid, delivery drivers at the gate, and any child in the family whose hugs your dog tolerates only briefly.
Sort vet cover, money, and decision rights before you fly
A month abroad means a vet visit is a real possibility, from an ear infection to a torn nail. Tell your parents which vet to use, where the records are, and that they have your permission to authorise urgent care without reaching you first — then leave a payment method or agree how you will reimburse them, so cost never delays treatment. Name the situations that should trigger an immediate call to the vet, such as repeated vomiting, laboured breathing, a swollen abdomen, or refusing food for a full day, and which smaller things can wait for your daily message. If your dog has ongoing care — joint supplements with food, ear cleaning, a weight target — demonstrate it once in person rather than describing it.
Set up communication that survives time zones
Agree a rhythm before you leave: a short daily update at a time that works in both places, photos a few times a week, and one route for genuine urgency that will actually wake you. Tell your parents what you can and cannot fix from abroad, and give them a local backup person — a friend, neighbour, or professional sitter — who can take over for a night if they are ill or simply need a break during the month. A month is a big favour; building in relief cover protects the arrangement and your dog's consistency if plans change.
Leave the house, not just the dog, explained
Brief the practical setting too: alarm and heating quirks, which cleaning products are safe around the dog, where spare food, leads, poo bags, and towels live, and what to do if he comes in muddy or rolls in something foul. Do a full practice day together if you can, with your parents running the routine while you watch and correct gently. Keeping your dog's profile and care details shared through KinsLe Family Sharing lets your parents check the current routine themselves at any hour, without waiting for you to wake up and answer.