for the dogs and their care givers to keep our household running smoothly?

 

Dear R and R,

     It is great to be able to rely on friends and family when we go away. Mom always makes a VERY detailed list of who eats when and where, what medications are used and by whom. I am assuming your neighbors are used to your dogs and are willing to help out. There are also professional pet sitter services in most communities you might look into. Here is a sample of what works for us:

 

Both dogs eat 2 times a day and get the same amount a.m. and p.m. They are used to breakfast about 8 in the morning and dinnertime is usually around 4 for them. Both get supplements with their morning meal. Each get one squirt of Lipiderm (omega3 and fatty acid skin supplement) on their food

 

· Roger (red collar) get 1 1/2 cups of kibble, a spoonful of cottage cheese mixed with water. He eats in the family room on the rug.

· Ricky (green collar) gets 3/4 cups of kibble and a few tablespoons of canned food mixed with water. He gets a Deramax pill (hidden in a cheese treat) right after he eats for his arthritis. He eats in the kitchen in front of the fridge. He will try and eat Roger’s food too so keep an eye out on him.

· Please be sure they get clean water in their water bowl twice a day. There is a bowl in the kitchen and one in the family room.

· When you leave Roger likes to sleep on the bed in the kid’s room. Keep a towel  at the foot of the bed and he makes himself comfortable there. Ricky likes to be in the family room and we close the gate so he doesn’t have free roaming rights as he gets into the trash can in the office if we do.

· Both dogs sleep in their crates in our bedroom at night. They are used to going to bed around 10:30 after their last trip out in the yard.

· Both dogs like to walk in the morning. Their leashes are hanging on the rack outside the back door. There are poop bags there too.

· Ricky HATES the vacuum, lawn mower and anything LOUD! He can sit in the car in the garage while these horrors are happening.

· Both dogs go to Vet _________________. The emergency Vet is located at __________________. Leave phone numbers and driving directions if your care givers are not familiar with them.

You can personalize this to your own needs, but this gives you an idea of where you can start.