Sitter Mode Overview

Sitter mode lets pet caregivers access your pet's information and log their activities while caring for your pet. Whether it's a professional sitter, family member, or friend, sitter mode keeps everyone connected.

What Is Sitter Mode?

When you share your pet's profile with a sitter, they get:

• Care information - Feeding schedules, medications, routines
• Emergency contacts - Your info and vet details
• Activity logging - Ability to record what they do
• Photo updates - Share moments during their visit

You see their updates in real-time, giving you peace of mind.

How Sitters Access Your Pet's Profile

1. You create a share link (see Creating Share Links)
2. Send the link to your sitter
3. They click the link to view your pet's profile
4. No Petfolio account required

The sitter sees a special view designed for caregiving.

What Sitters See

Care Instructions

• Feeding schedule - When and how much to feed
• Food details - Brand, type, any restrictions
• Special instructions - Anything they need to know

Medication Information

If medications are enabled in your share:

• Medication list - What your pet takes
• Dosages - How much of each
• Schedules - When medications are due
• Instructions - How to administer

Emergency Contacts

Critical information for urgent situations:

• Your phone number - Primary contact
• Vet contact - For medical emergencies
• Additional contacts - Secondary contacts you've added

Basic Profile

• Pet's name and photo
• Species, breed, age
• Any important health notes

Sitter Activity Logging

Sitters can record what they do during visits:

Check-In

When the sitter arrives:

1. They click Check In on your pet's sitter page
2. This logs their arrival time
3. You receive a notification (if enabled)

Activity Logging

During the visit, sitters can log:

• Feeding - Meals given, amounts, times
• Medications - Doses administered
• Walks/Exercise - Duration and notes
• Playtime - Activities and observations
• Other notes - Anything noteworthy

Photo Updates

Sitters can share moments:

1. Click Add Photo during a visit
2. Take or upload a photo
3. Add an optional caption
4. You see the photo in real-time

Check-Out

When leaving:

1. Sitter clicks Check Out
2. Visit duration is recorded
3. All activities from the visit are bundled together

Setting Up for a Sitter

Before your sitter arrives:

1. Update Care Instructions

Make sure your pet's profile has:

• Current feeding schedule
• Updated medication list
• Any special instructions
• Recent photo for identification

2. Create a Share Link

1. Go to your pet's Share page
2. Enable relevant sections:
   • Feeding instructions (essential)
   • Medications (if applicable)
   • Vet information (for emergencies)
   • Photos (optional, for context)
3. Create the link

3. Send Instructions

Share the link with your sitter along with:

• Any house access information
• Your travel schedule
• How you'd like to be updated

Viewing Sitter Activity

To see what your sitter has logged:

1. Go to your pet's Visits or Activity page
2. View recent check-ins and activities
3. See timestamps for everything logged
4. View photos they've shared

Real-Time Updates

With notifications enabled:

• Get alerts when sitters check in
• See activity logs as they happen
• Receive photos immediately

Multiple Sitters

If multiple people care for your pet:

• Each uses the same share link
• Or create separate links for different access levels
• All activities are logged with timestamps
• You see everything in one activity feed

Sitter Best Practices

For Pet Owners:

• Keep information current - Update before trips
• Include enough detail - Don't assume they know your routine
• Add emergency contacts - Your vet and a backup person
• Test the link - View it yourself before sharing

For Pet Sitters:

• Check in on arrival - Let owners know you're there
• Log activities - Owners appreciate updates
• Send photos - A picture is worth 1000 words
• Check out when leaving - Complete the visit record

Privacy and Security

Sitter mode is designed with privacy in mind:

• Sitters only see what you enable
• They cannot edit your pet's profile
• Links can be revoked anytime
• You control all access

Troubleshooting

Sitter can't access the link

• Verify the link hasn't expired
• Ensure the link wasn't revoked
• Check they're using the complete URL
• Try creating a new link

Not seeing sitter updates

• Ensure notifications are enabled
• Check the Visits page directly
• Verify sitter is using the activity logging features

Need Help?

If you have questions about sitter mode, contact support@petfolio.io.