I will travel around 15 days on vacation and need to leave my shitzu in a hotel.
I would like to know the facilities e cost of it.
Thank you!
Hi, anyone has a recomendation for a dog hotel near to Buchs SG?
Smarley, don't let distance dictate where your dog goes for holiday care.
The first priority should be the quality of the facility. There are some terrible places in Switzerland, some mediocre ones, and a few good kennels. Make finding the good ones your priority - no matter where those might be.
You will want to do thorough due diligence on any kennel or pension you are considering. This is one area where you cannot assume quality 'because Switzerland'.
Before going farther, perhaps you can tell us a bit more about the kind of care your dog needs - that will help us make appropriate recommendations.
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Costs are all over the ballpark btw, depending on your dog's needs and your expectations. As in anywhere from 35 to 350+ per day. So again, a bit more info will help.
Hi, for sure I will choose the best one.
But you do not have in all cities a good service?
Because here in Brazil you have at least two or three places in each city for your dog stay, even when you go to work you can leave the dog there to play with others.
There are not that many dog care facilities, largely due to lack of appropriate space, economics, and difficulty of getting permission to run such a business. Add to that, many, perhaps most, people want to travel at the same time (Schuleferien, holidays) so can be difficult to find a place during those times. You have to be willing to go as far as necessary to find a decent dog care provider.
So what type of dog care are you looking for - a kennel, a pension/Hort, or a private sitter?
What are your expectations for the kind of daily are your dog would receive?
There is a kennel about half an hour from you, NF Dogshome - but without knowing the above I can’t say if it would be the right kind of place for your dog, or not.
ETA:
Here’s the website for NF Dogshome:
https://www.nf-dogshome.ch/
It is highly regarded, btw.
A quick explanation of terminology, just to make sure we are on the same page:
A kennel is an establishment where dogs are housed in small enclosures, most with an attached fenced run. The enclosure might house single or multiple dogs, the run will vary in size and might or might not have a strip of grass. The enclosure might have solid walls, or might be open wire. The walls might reach to the ceiling, or might not. Single occupancy will likely be charged at a higher price.
A Hort is a more 'family-like' setting, where the dogs live in a group. Sometimes these will offer separate sleeping spaces within a group 'dormitory'. Most will have a group exercise area, some will have exercise areas split by need. Generally speaking, your dog must be able to live happily with other dogs, and be unphased by changes to the group.
A private sitter generally takes your dog into his or her own home. Your dog needs to be able to slot into the sitter's family life, including living with other dogs, cats, small animals, and children.
There are a few private sitters who provide care for your dog in your own home.
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Under Swiss animal welfare laws, any facility caring for more than 20 dogs at a time must be led by someone holding a Tierpfleger diploma.
Those caring for 6-19 dogs at a time must be led by someone holding the FBA.
Sitters caring for up to 5 dogs at a time do not need any credentials.
Be aware that the latter category is largely unregulated, and be aware that it is up to you to ensure the carer is working legally. In most cases a private sitter working legally expects to work as your employee, with you paying taxes and social contributions and to work under your liability insurance.
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The price of care, for all categories, will vary with the services offered.
At a kennel, for istance, the basic charge might cover accomodation and feeding X times per day with kennel provided dry diet, and one walk of X minutes. Additional walks, play, different feeding needs, medication, grooming all might be charged as add-ons. Some, perhaps many, kennels are not staffed overnight, the dogs are alone for 10 hours or so. Others are not staffed on premises, but there might be watched via a video feed. Many kennels are not set up for special medical needs, this would need to be clarified.
A Hort might have similar add-on charges, although these tend to include more 'interactive time' in the basic price. The ability to take dogs with medical needs will vary, and must be clarified.
When you hire a private sitter you generally pay by the hour, so you need to clarify how many hours per day the sitter will be responsible for your dog, as well as what care is expected.
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Be aware that the terms Hundehotel, Hundepension could refer to either a kennel or a Hort.
Also be aware that the term Tierheim - generally kennel accomodation - can house both holiday dogs and homeless dogs. The commercial holiday care side contributes to funding the animal welfare side.
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Anyway, a bit more about your needs and expectations will help us give you better recommendations.
Thank you for the very good explanation.
Here in Brazil we already used a Hort and private sitter.
Nice to know the termns they use.
I will need to find some places and visit.
Here in Brazil we have a website for private sitter, do you have something similar?
This is the largest platform to connect pet owners with people offering pet care.
You have to take out a membership to post an ad, but it’s inexpensive if you get a year’s membership.
Thank you, but this service is to the person go at your house probably, as is charged by hour.
Do you know a platform for the case that the person receive the dog at her/his house?
I will not be confortable opening my house to a stranger person.
There really isn’t much else out there. It’s a constant struggle to find good holiday pet care here. You should also start googling around for Pensions, Horts, Doghotels, Doggie daycare etc to look for commercial providers within a radius you are willing to travel.
‘24’ lists private carers offering both holiday care in the carer’s home and stop-by care, but you have to hunt through the ads to find someone who offers what you need. Better yet, post an ad of your own detailing exactly what you need, then see who responds.
Yes, there are more people offering dog walking or care for a very limited time rather than holiday sitting, as the type of person who does private pet care is generally looking for a casual job and generally is not willing to take on round the clock responsibility. Finding a professionally-minded pet carer offering holiday care takes a fair amount of work on your part.
You might find someone offering a ‘per day’ rate, but it is more common for carers - in their home and in yours - to charge by the hour. Again i will stress that you likely must take on the role of employer, paying taxes and taking on the administrative work, in addition to the carer’s per hour fee.
Also be aware that ‘24’ is a connection platform, nothing more. It is up to you to do due diligence to ensure the carer is willing and able to provide the care your dog needs.
In Switzerland demand for good pet care far outstrips supply, so when you find a good person, do all you can to keep them happy!
ETA:
You might also try Rent-a-Rentner, a platform of retired folks looking for casual or occasional work:
https://www.rentarentner.ch/v2/index.html
Same caveats apply.
Because of the difficulty of finding reliable private care, many dog owners have no choice but to rely on kennels/Tierheime. Or plan holidays where your dog can come with you.
It's both ways - some sitters will come to your house, and some will take your dog in their house.
That said - most sitters will charge by the hour, regardless. (welcome to Switzerland ).
So a dog at a sitter for 7 days could be charged at 168 hours. Some charger overnight differently (at a lower cost) than daylight hours.
This petsitting group https://www.facebook.com/groups/pets.zurich.community focuses on Zurich, but there are sitters from other parts of Switzerland in the group that might be able to help you with dog sitting. Just thought I would share in case you don’t end up finding someone on Petsitting24.
Coming from Brazil you likely need to steel yourself for the shock of Swiss prices. Any work in the 'household services' area will be significantly more expensive than what you might expect.
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Would you consider taking your dog to Germany while you are gone? I know of two kennels, one almost 'Hort-like', that offer better accomodation, much better care, and far better prices. (I would trust these to care for my difficult dog, whereas Swiss kennels are not appropriate for him.) Both are about 3 hours or so from you, so not too bad.
Yes, it's not a problem if it is in Germany, I will have a car soon, please share the contact with me.
Häuser der Hoffnung, in 83233 Bernau
https://www.haeuser-der-hoffnung.de
This is the one that is more ‘Hort-like’. Look under Hundepension. (The Tierheim side cares for and finds families for homeless dogs.) They have a very good reputation within the Tierschutz community.
Tom’s Hundewelt in 79359 Reigel
https://toms-hundewelt.de
Tom is one of the few who will take difficult dogs - Tom himself is a behaviorist and trainer. This is where my very difficut dog goes. You’ll likely see many CH license plates in the parking lot, as few places in Switzerland will take dogs with behavior issues.
We almost forgot to mention the easiest solution:
If you are blessed with nice neighbors who have a dog yours gets along with well, you might propose an exchange: You care for their dog when they travel, they care for yours when you do. You'll need to get to know the neighbors and neighborhood very well - as in 'Du' terms - before you propose something like this, as well as establish yourself as a helpful all-round good neighbor first, as it would be something of a faux pas to ask for such a big favor soon after moving in.
I've never been so blessed here, but you might be.
(My dogs are too much work to ask a friend to care for them. Not to mention things must be done a specific way, and you simply can't dictate terms when someone is doing you a favor. Hence why I prefer to pay a professional, or someone professionally-minded), to care for my mutts.)
No where near Buchs, but places in Switzerland with good reputations:
VI Pets, in Morgarten and Gossau:
https://www.vipets.ch/de/
Happy Dogs Aigle:
https://www.happydogsaigle.com/#/
Tierschutz Beider Basel:
https://www.tbb.ch/de/Tierheim/Tierpension
This is a very highly regarded shelter for homeless pets; they also run a pension for holiday dogs. I see, however, that they are fully booked now and so are not taking new pension bookings. When they are able to book again they will update the website.
FYI, this is typical in the summer and school holidays - everyone in Switzerland seems to travel at the same time, so the good places get booked out very early. As in, many people schedule a year in advance. Keep that in mind as you plan your travel.
And another thing to mention: Make sure you understand the vaccination requirements for any kennel you are considering.
For instance, NF Dogshome, the kennel near you I mentioned upthread, requires the dogs have the nasal KC vaxx - the combi is not enough.
Requiring the nasal vaxx is not uncommon so if you plan on any kind of group accomodation, probably something you should add to your vaxx regime. Given the risk of KC, a good practice methinks.
Rabies will likely be required by most places, and obviously necessary if you cross the border. Some places also ask for recent worming. Always bring your pet passport with proof of vaccination with you when you book, and be aware that many will ask you to leave the passport with them for the dog's stay.
Be aware some places will not take a female in estrus, for those that will, there is usually an additional fee. Also be aware that it is becoming common that males are left intact in Switzerland, so if applicable, make sure you understand liability for an accidental pregnancy in such a case.
Thank you very much Meloncollie!
I will bring to Switzerland my cat too.
I saw that VI Pets seems to be very nice and accept dog/cat.
We used to use these folks in Bäretswil (they do dogs and cats)
https://tierpension-wyrsch.ch/
They were very nice, and our old dog liked them. Then, they took time off to do a bicycle tour of Australia, I think, and we ended up using
https://www.mydogcare.ch/ in Kollbrun
My dog did well there too. They were also very nice and seemed to really care for the dogs. Our dog died last year at almost 17.
I’ve not used a sitter or pension for our new dog - she’s only 10 months old and still intact.
Hello,
I read your post. Can you recommend me a good place in Germany near Basel to let my dog to stay for a couple of weeks?
Best Regards,
Rodolfo