Is there any special word, tone of voice, or toy that creates excitement and gets him or her ready to play? I'd love to know that! Also who his or her friends are in the neighborhood, as well as any houses or yards I should avoid walking in front of if there are any local doggy conflicts. And I will always require detailed instructions regarding any necessary medicine or special needs, issues like food aggression if there are multiple pets, and emergency contact information (a vet and a neighbor or friend, if staying overnight).

This depends on the activity level, age, and health of the pets in question, as well as what the owners prefer and advise regarding their neighborhood, although I have sat for some older, arthritic dogs who still enjoy a bit of a gentle romp with a favorite toy and a game of hide-and-seek inside the house. I owned a Border Collie when I lived in rural Japan, and an hour+ long daily adventure was how we began every morning for years, so I love that side of petsitting, too.