Checklists
Why every position and shift runs on a checklist, and the rule for using one correctly.
Purpose
At Partners Dog Training, every position and every shift runs on a checklist, not because paperwork looks tidy, but because it's how a team this size keeps a dog's day safe and consistent no matter who is on shift. Checklists live on our kennel system, and using them is required, every shift, no exceptions.
At a Glance
- A checklist exists for every position and every shift.
- Checklists are found on the kennel system.
- Every task on the list must be completed during your shift, tracked as you go, not rushed through at the end.
- Checklists cover feeding, medication, exercise, and daily routines.
- Using your checklist is required.
How to Use Your Checklist
- Pull up your checklist for your position and shift on the kennel system.
- Reference it throughout your shift, marking items as you complete them, not saving it for the end.
- Confirm each task is finished before you check it off; a checklist only helps if it reflects what really happened.
- Complete every item, feeding, medication, exercise, and daily routine tasks alike, before your shift ends.
How do I verify a checklist task is actually done, not just checked off?
Check it off at the moment you finish the task, while you're still standing at that task, not from memory at the end of your shift. Referencing the list as you go, instead of filling it in all at once later, is what lets a checklist catch a missed step before it becomes a problem.
What Not to Do
Do not treat your checklist as an end-of-shift formality. Waiting until the end of your shift to fill it in defeats the point of having one: it stops being a real-time record and becomes a guess. Checklists can feel repetitive day after day, but that repetition is what keeps communication consistent across shifts and catches errors before they reach a dog.
Where This Connects
Checklist items for medication follow the rules in Daily Medications. Checklist items for feeding follow the label details in Feeding Categories. For how to hand off information that a checklist doesn't cover, see Taking A Message.