Sitter Check-Ins

The check-in system helps pet sitters log their visits and keep you informed about your pet's care. This guide covers how check-ins work from both the owner and sitter perspectives.

How Check-Ins Work

When a sitter visits your pet:

1. Check in - Sitter logs their arrival
2. Log activities - Record feeding, walks, medications
3. Add updates - Photos and notes during the visit
4. Check out - Sitter logs their departure

Each visit creates a complete record you can review.

For Pet Sitters: Checking In

When you arrive to care for a pet:

1. Open the share link the owner sent you
2. Find and click the Check In button
3. Your arrival time is recorded automatically
4. The owner is notified (if they have notifications enabled)

What Happens at Check-In

• A new visit record is created
• Start time is logged
• You gain access to activity logging features
• The owner sees you've arrived

For Pet Sitters: Logging Activities

During your visit, log what you do:

Feeding

1. Click Log Feeding or find the feeding section
2. Note what was fed (meal, treats, etc.)
3. Add the amount if relevant
4. Include any notes (e.g., "Ate all food" or "Left half")

Medications

If the pet takes medications:

1. Find the medication that's due
2. Click Log next to the medication
3. Confirm the dose was given
4. Add notes if needed (e.g., "Took pill in cheese")

Walks and Exercise

1. Click Log Walk or Log Activity
2. Enter the duration
3. Add notes about the walk (potty breaks, behavior, etc.)

General Notes

For anything else:

1. Find Add Note or Add Update
2. Write your observation
3. Save the note

Examples of useful notes:

• "Seemed tired today, took a long nap"
• "Water bowl refilled"
• "Played with favorite toy for 20 minutes"
• "Groomed/brushed fur"

For Pet Sitters: Adding Photo Updates

Share moments with the pet owner:

1. During your visit, click Add Photo
2. Take a new photo or select from your device
3. Add an optional caption
4. The photo uploads and the owner sees it immediately

Photos Are Saved to Memories

All photos you take during visits are automatically saved to the pet's gallery with a caption showing your name and the date (e.g., "📸 From Sarah (Feb 2)"). This means:

• Owners keep all sitter photos in their pet's memories
• Photos are organized chronologically with other memories
• The owner can set a sitter photo as the profile picture if they love it

Photo Tips

• Capture your pet in action or relaxing
• Good lighting helps
• Owners love seeing their pets happy
• One or two photos per visit is usually plenty

For Pet Sitters: Checking Out

When you're leaving:

1. Review that all activities are logged
2. Click the Check Out button
3. Your departure time is recorded
4. The visit is marked complete

Adding a Visit Summary

When checking out, you can add a summary:

• Overall how the visit went
• Anything the owner should know
• Notes for the next visit

For Pet Owners: Viewing Check-Ins

To see sitter activity:

1. Go to your pet's Visits page
2. See recent and past visits listed
3. Click any visit to see full details

Visit Details Include

• Check-in time
• Check-out time (and duration)
• All activities logged
• Photos shared
• Notes and observations

Real-Time Monitoring

With notifications enabled:

• Alert when sitter checks in
• Updates as activities are logged
• Photos appear as they're added
• Notification when sitter checks out

Understanding Visit Status

Visits show different statuses:

• In Progress - Sitter has checked in but not out
• Completed - Sitter has checked out
• Incomplete - Check-in without check-out (sitter may have forgotten)

For Pet Owners: Preparing for Check-Ins

Before your sitter's first visit:

1. Update your pet's profile with current info
2. Add feeding instructions in detail
3. List all medications with clear schedules
4. Include special instructions (house rules, routines)
5. Verify vet contact is current

Setting Expectations

Communicate with your sitter about:

• How often you'd like updates
• What activities to log
• Whether you want photos
• Best way to reach you for questions

Managing Multiple Visits

If you have regular sitting:

• Each visit creates its own record
• Compare visits over time
• See patterns in your pet's behavior
• Track medication consistency

Troubleshooting Check-Ins

Sitter forgot to check out

• The visit stays "In Progress"
• You can view logged activities still
• Ask sitter to check out when they remember
• Or manually note the approximate end time

Activity didn't log

• Check internet connection
• Try refreshing the page
• Re-enter the activity
• Contact the sitter to verify

Not receiving notifications

• Verify notifications are enabled in your profile
• Check phone notification settings
• Ensure you haven't blocked Petfolio notifications

Check-In Best Practices

For Sitters

• Always check in when arriving
• Log activities promptly (don't wait until the end)
• Send at least one photo per visit
• Write helpful notes the owner will appreciate
• Always check out when leaving

For Owners

• Thank sitters for updates
• Review visits to stay informed
• Provide feedback on what updates are most helpful
• Keep your pet's profile information current

Need Help?

If you have questions about the check-in system, contact support@petfolio.io.